The Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (LPEP) programme: update and interim analysis.

Innovative approaches are required to further enhance leprosy control, reduce the number of people developing leprosy, and curb transmission. Early case detection, contact screening, and chemoprophylaxis currently is the most promising approach to achieve this goal. The Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (LPEP) programme generates evidence on the feasibility of integrating contact tracing and single-dose rifampicin (SDR) administration into routine leprosy control activities in different settings. The LPEP programme is implemented within the leprosy control programmes of Brazil, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. Focus is on three key interventions: tracing the contacts of newly diagnosed leprosy patients; screening the contacts for leprosy; and administering SDR to eligible contacts. Country-specific protocol adaptations refer to contact definition, minimal age for SDR, and staff involved. Central coordination, detailed documentation and rigorous supervision ensure quality evidence. Around 2 years of field work had been completed in seven countries by July 2017. The 5,941 enrolled index patients (89·4% of the registered) identified a total of 123,311 contacts, of which 99·1% were traced and screened. Among them, 406 new leprosy patients were identified (329/100,000), and 10,883 (8·9%) were excluded from SDR for various reasons. Also, 785 contacts (0·7%) refused the prophylactic treatment with SDR. Overall, SDR was administered to 89·0% of the listed contacts. Post-exposure prophylaxis with SDR is safe; can be integrated into the routines of different leprosy control programmes; and is generally well accepted by index patients, their contacts and the health workforce. The programme has also invigorated local leprosy control.

Emerging pests and diseases of South-east Asian cassava: a comprehensive evaluation of geographic priorities, management options and research needs.

Cassava is a major staple, bio-energy and industrial crop in many parts of the developing world. In Southeast Asia, cassava is grown on >4 million ha by nearly 8 million (small-scale) farming households, under (climatic, biophysical) conditions that often prove unsuitable for many other crops. While SE Asian cassava has been virtually free of phytosanitary constraints for most of its history, a complex of invasive arthropod pests and plant diseases has recently come to affect local crops. We describe results from a region-wide monitoring effort in the 2014 dry season, covering 429 fields across five countries. We present geographic distribution and field-level incidence of the most prominent pest and disease invaders, introduce readily-available management options and research needs. Monitoring work reveals that several exotic mealybug and (red) mite species have effectively colonised SE Asia's main cassava-growing areas, occurring in respectively 70% and 54% of fields, at average field-level incidence of 27 ± 2% and 16 ± 2%. Cassava witches broom (CWB), a systemic phytoplasma disease, was reported from 64% of plots, at incidence levels of 32 ± 2%. Although all main pests and diseases are non-natives, we hypothesise that accelerating intensification of cropping systems, increased climate change and variability, and deficient crop husbandry are aggravating both organism activity and crop susceptibility. Future efforts need to consolidate local capacity to tackle current (and future) pest invaders, boost detection capacity, devise locally-appropriate integrated pest management (IPM) tactics, and transfer key concepts and technologies to SE Asia's cassava growers. Urgent action is needed to mobilise regional as well as international scientific support, to effectively tackle this phytosanitary emergency and thus safeguard the sustainability and profitability of one of Asia's key agricultural commodities. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of hsp65 DNA vaccination carrying immunostimulatory DNA sequences (CpG motifs) against Mycobacterium leprae multiplication in mice.

A DNA expressing hsp65 of Mycobacterium leprae (pACB/hsp65) was constructed by using a vector containing immunostimulatory DNA sequences (pACB). At 12 weeks post-immunization, spleen cells from BALB/cA mice immunized with pACB/hsp65, produced a significantly higher amount of IFN-gamma than mice immunized with pACB in the absence of any in vitro stimulation, and further enhanced its production upon secondary in vitro stimulation with M. leprae lysate and hsp65. On the other hand, while production of IL-12 was observed in mice immunized with pACB/hsp65 12 weeks before, the cytokine production was inhibited by in vitro secondary stimulation with M. leprae or hsp65. At 18 weeks post-immunization, the production of both IFN-gamma and IL-12 was apparently down-regulated, but that of IL-10 was up-regulated. IL-10 seemed to suppress the IFN-gamma and IL-12 productions, because their production was recovered by neutralization of IL-10 with anti-IL-10 mAb. Furthermore, when the efficiency of pACB/hsp65 as a vaccine against M. leprae was evaluated in vivo, the mice immunized with pACB/hsp65 suppressed the multiplication of subsequently challenged M. leprae. These results suggest that a DNA containing M. leprae-derived hsp65 and immunostimulatory sequences might be a potent vaccine candidate against M. leprae infection.

Effect of hsp65 DNA vaccination carrying immunostimulatory DNA sequences (CpG Motifs) against mycobacterium leprae multiplication in mice

A DNA expressing hsp65 of Mycobacterium leprae (pACB/hsp65) was constructed by using a vector containing immunostimulatory DNA sequences (pACB). At 12 weeks post-immunization, spleen cells from BALB/cA mice immunized with pACB/hsp65, produced a significantly higher amount of IFN-gamma than mice immunized with pACB in the absence of any in vitro stimulation, and further enhanced its production upon secondary in vitro stimulation with M. leprae lysate and hsp65. On the other hand, while production of IL-12 was observed in mice immunized with pACB/hsp65 12 weeks before, the cytokine production was inhibited by in vitro secondary stimulation with M. leprae or hsp65. At 18 weeks post-immunization, the production of both IFN-gamma and IL-12 was apparently down-regulated, but that of IL-10 was up-regulated. IL-10 seemed to suppress the IFN-gamma and IL-12 productions, because their production was recovered by neutralization of IL-10 with anti-IL-10 mAb. Furthermore, when the efficiency of pACB/hsp65 as a vaccine against M. leprae was evaluated in vivo, the mice immunized with pACB/hsp65 suppressed the multiplication of subsequently challenged M. leprae. These results suggest that a DNA containing M. leprae-derived hsp65 and immunostimulatory sequences might be a potent vaccine candidate against M. leprae infection.