Detection and quantification of viable airborne bacteria and fungi using solid-phase cytometry

This protocol describes the use of solid-phase cytometry for the enumeration of airborne bacteria and fungi. In contrast with conventional methods, accurate results can be obtained in real time, especially for air samples with low numbers of microorganisms. Air samples are collected by impaction on a water-soluble polymer that is subsequently dissolved. Part of the sample can be filtered over two membrane filters with different pore sizes. One filter is used to obtain a total count of all viable microorganisms, and a second filter is used to determine the number of airborne fungi. Microorganisms present on the filter are labeled with a viability substrate and subsequently detected and quantified using a solid-phase cytometer. The detected spots are microscopically validated using an epifluorescence microscope to discriminate between bacteria, fungi and fluorescent particles. The whole procedure takes 5 h to complete and results in the accurate quantification of airborne bacteria and fungi for samples with a low or high microbial load

How to sell a boring action hero? An analysis of the success of the Bourne films within the context of Corporate Hollywood

status: publishe

Territoriale culten in West-Congo: verdwijning of transformatie?

This paper discusses some of the key issues in my current research on the history of the relationship between society, tradition and Christianity in the west of Congo-Kinshasa over the last century. My focus here is on the process ofprogressive transformation of the nineteenth-century territorial cults and the structural continuity which is apparent in the development of the Congolese Christian church in the area. In presenting some of my working hypotheses I am suggesting that after an initial period of open hostility towards the first missionaries, BaKongo became aware - 'empirically' as it were - of the fact that new ways were to be explored in order to compete with the challenges of Western colonialism and the forces of modernity and globalisation. In this regard, the history of religious life in West Congo can be described as a progressive attempt to regain control over the relations between human society and the supernatural world

Comparison of multiple typing methods for Aspergillus fumigatus

As part of studies on the spread of infections, risk factors and prevention, several typing methods were developed to investigate the epidemiology of Aspergillus fumigatus. In the present study, 52 clinical isolates of A. fumigatus from 12 airway specimens from patients with invasive aspergillosis (hospitalized in three different centres) were characterized by short tandem repeat (STR) typing and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). These isolates were previously typed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), sequence-specific DNA polymorphism (SSDP), microsatellite polymorphism (MSP) and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE). STR typing identified 30 genotypes and, for most patients, all isolates were grouped in one cluster of the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean dendrogram. Using MLST, 16 genotypes were identified among 50 isolates, while two isolates appeared untypeable. RAPD, MSP, SSDP and MLEE allowed identification of eight, 14, nine and eight genotypes, respectively. Combining the results of these methods led to the delineation of 25 genotypes and a similar clustering pattern as with STR typing. In general, STR typing led to similar results to the previous combination of RAPD, SSDP, MSP and MLEE, but had a higher resolution, whereas MLST was less discriminatory and resulted in a totally different clustering pattern. Therefore, this study suggests the use of STR typing for research concerning the local epidemiology of A. fumigatus, which requires a high discriminatory power

Development of an experimental inactivated PRRSV vaccine that induces virus-neutralizing antibodies

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) can induce reproductive disorders and is involved in the porcine respiratory disease complex, causing tremendous economic losses to the swine industry. Inactivated PRRSV vaccines are preferred over attenuated vaccines because of their safety and flexibility towards emerging virus strains, but the efficacy of current inactivated PRRSV vaccines is questionable. In this study, experimental inactivated PRRSV vaccines were developed, based on two formerly optimized inactivation procedures: UV irradiation and treatment with binary ethylenimine (BEI). In a first experiment, it was shown that vaccination with UV- or BEI-inactivated virus in combination with Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant induced virus-specific antibodies and strongly primed the virus-neutralizing (VN) antibody response. Subsequently, the influence of adjuvants on the immunogenicity of neutralizing epitopes on the inactivated virus was investigated. It was shown that vaccination with BEI-inactivated virus in combination with a commercial oil-in-water adjuvant induced high titers (3.4 log(2)) of VN antibodies in 6/6 pigs, instead of only priming the neutralizing antibody response. After challenge, neutralizing antibody titers in these vaccinated animals rose to a mean value of 5.5 log(2), and the duration of the viremia was reduced to an average of 1 week. This study shows that, by the use of an optimized inactivation procedure and a suitable adjuvant, inactivated PRRSV vaccines can be developed that induce VN antibodies and offer partial protection upon challenge

Cyber Safety: A theoretical Insight

This paper is written by the EUCPN Secretariat following the topic of the Estonian Presidency of the Network, which is Cyber Safety. It gives a theoretical insight in what Cyber Safety is. Furthermore, we take interest in what the exact object is of cybercrime and have a deeper look into two European policy priorities, namely cyber-attacks and payment fraud. Moreover, these priorities are the subject of the European Crime Prevention award. The goal of this paper is to add to the digital awareness of local policy-makers and practitioners on a theoretical level. A toolbox will follow with legislative measures, existing policies and best practices on this topic