Placement, management and complications associated with peripheral intravenous catheter use in UK small animal practice.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the techniques for preparation and placement of peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs), to describe the complications associated with PIVCs, and to identify factors associated with PIVC complications in small animal practice in the United Kingdom. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective multicentre observational study was undertaken between January 2022 and January 2023. Data collected included patient information, information regarding the placement and maintenance of PIVCs, and PIVC complications, from privately owned cats and dogs presenting to veterinary institutes in the United Kingdom. Patients required a PIVC to be placed as part of their care and the PIVC was anticipated to be in situ for >24 hours to be eligible for PIVC complication analysis. RESULTS: A total of 19 institutes recorded data regarding 382 PIVCs, with 325 (85.1%) placed in dogs and 57 (14.9%) in cats. The most common reasons for placement were to administer intravenous fluid therapy (74.3%) and intravenous medications (71.7%). There were 102 of 382 (26.7%) PIVCs associated with a complication, with limb swelling/suspected phlebitis in 44 of 382 (11.5%) and PIVC dislodgement/patient interference in 30 of 382 (7.9%) PIVCs. Factors associated with increased risk of complication were more than 1 attempt to place the PIVC, a second or subsequent PIVC being placed during hospitalisation, flush frequency different than every 1 to 24 hours, and flush solution with compound sodium lactate. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Veterinary professionals must be vigilant when monitoring a patient with a PIVC in situ, particularly if a PIVC is associated with one of the aforementioned factors of increased likelihood of complication.

Association Between Self-Reported Infections and Seropositivity Among Pregnant Women With Gastroschisis: A Case Control Study, With Emphasis on Chlamydia trachomatis.

BACKGROUND: Gastroschisis is a birth defect with the greatest risk among women <20 years of age. METHODS: Pregnant women attending the University of Utah's Maternal-Fetal Medicine Diagnostic Center between 2011 and 2017 for either their routine diagnostic ultrasound or referral were recruited (cases: pregnant women with fetal gastroschisis, n = 53 participated/57, 93%; controls: pregnant women without fetal abnormalities, n = 102 participated/120, 85%). A clinic coordinator consented and interviewed women and obtained a blood sample and prenatal medical records. We evaluated self-reported maternal characteristics, risk factors, and infections. To assess pathogen seropositivity we used Serimmune's Serum Epitope Repertoire Analysis validated 35 pathogen panels and Chlamydia trachomatis and compared seropositivity to self-report and prenatal medical record screening to assess sensitivity. RESULTS: Cases were more likely to report a younger age at sexual debut (p = <0.01), more sexual partners (p = 0.02), being unmarried (p < 0.01), changing partners between pregnancies (p = <0.01), smoking cigarettes (<0.01), and a recent sexually transmitted infection (STI) (p = 0.02). No differences were observed for self-report of illicit drug use or periconceptional urinary tract infections. Cases had a higher seropositivity for cytomegalovirus (p = 0.01). No differences were observed for herpes simplex I, II, or Epstein-Barr. Though based on small numbers, C. trachomatis seropositivity was highest in cases (17%) compared to controls (8.8%) with the highest proportion observed in case women <20 years of age (cases 33%; controls 0%). Any STI (self-report or seropositivity) was also highest among cases <20 years of age (cases 47%; controls 0%). Among C. trachomatis seropositive women, self-report and prenatal medical record sensitivity was 27.8% and 3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Cases were more likely to engage in behaviors that can increase their risk of exposure to sexually transmitted pathogens. Case women <20 years of age had the highest proportion of C. trachomatis seropositivity and any STI. Prenatal medical records and self-report were inadequate to identify a recent chlamydial infection whereas, the SERA assay is a novel approach for evaluating subclinical infections that may impact the developing embryo.

Structural insights into Frizzled3 through nanobody modulators.

The Wnt receptor Frizzled3 (FZD3) is important for brain axonal development and cancer progression. We report structures of FZD3 in complex with extracellular and intracellular binding nanobodies (Nb). The crystal structure of Nb8 in complex with the FZD3 cysteine-rich domain (CRD) reveals that the nanobody binds at the base of the lipid-binding groove and can compete with Wnt5a. Nb8 fused with the Dickkopf-1 C-terminal domain behaves as a FZD3-specific Wnt surrogate, activating ß-catenin signalling. The cryo-EM structure of FZD3 in complex with Nb9 reveals partially resolved density for the CRD, which exhibits positional flexibility, and a transmembrane conformation that resembles active GPCRs. Nb9 binds to the cytoplasmic region of FZD3 at the putative Dishevelled (DVL) or G protein-binding site, competes with DVL binding, and inhibits GαS coupling. In combination, our FZD3 structures with nanobody modulators map extracellular and intracellular interaction surfaces of functional, and potentially therapeutic, relevance.

Immunogenicity of Abdala COVID-19 vaccine in Vietnamese people after primary and booster vaccinations: A prospective observational study in Vietnam.

OBJECTIVES: We studied the immunogenicity after primary and booster vaccinations of the Abdala COVID-19 vaccine, a receptor-binding domain protein subunit vaccine, in Vietnamese people by determining the level of neutralization and cross-neutralization activities against the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and its variants and SARS-CoV-1. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study, enrolling adults aged 19-59 years in Dong Thap province, southern Vietnam, and collected blood samples from baseline until 4 weeks after the booster dose. We measured anti-nucleocapsid, anti-spike, and neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and assessed the cross-neutralization against 14 SARS-CoV-2 variants and SARS-CoV-1. Complementary antibody data came from Vietnamese health care workers fully vaccinated with ChAdOx1-S. RESULTS: After primary vaccination, anti-spike antibody and neutralizing antibodies were detectable in 98.4% and 87% of 251 study participants, respectively, with neutralizing antibody titers similar to that induced by ChAdOx1-S vaccine. Antibody responses after a homologous (Abdala COVID-19) or heterologous (messenger RNA BNT162b2) booster could neutralize 14 SARS-CoV-2 variants (including Omicron) and SARS-CoV-1. CONCLUSIONS: Abdala COVID-19 vaccine is immunogenic in Vietnamese people. Enhanced antibody response after a booster dose could cross-neutralize 14 SARS-CoV-2 variants and SARS-CoV-1. Our results have added to the growing body of knowledge about the contribution of protein subunit vaccine platforms to pandemic control.

Vineyard management systems influence arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi recruitment by grapevine rootstocks in New Zealand.

AIMS: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can perform significant functions within sustainable agricultural ecosystems, including vineyards. Increased AMF diversity can be beneficial in promoting plant growth and increasing resilience to environmental changes. To effectively utilize AMF communities and their benefits in vineyard ecosystems, a better understanding of how management systems influence AMF community composition is needed. Moreover, it is unknown whether AMF communities in organically managed vineyards are distinct from those in conventionally managed vineyards. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, vineyards were surveyed across the Marlborough region, New Zealand to identify the AMF communities colonizing the roots of different rootstocks grafted with Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir in both conventional and organic systems. The AMF communities were identified based on spores isolated from trap cultures established with the collected grapevine roots, and by next-generation sequencing technologies (Illumina MiSeq). The identified AMF species/genera belonged to Glomeraceae, Entrophosporaceae, and Diversisporaceae. The results revealed a significant difference in AMF community composition between rootstocks and in their interaction with management systems. CONCLUSIONS: These outcomes indicated that vineyard management systems influence AMF recruitment by rootstocks and some rootstocks may therefore be more suited to organic systems due to the AMF communities they support. This could provide an increased benefit to organic systems by supporting higher biodiversity.

Southeast Asia initiative to combat SARS-CoV-2 variants (SEACOVARIANTS) consortium.

A strong and effective COVID-19 and future pandemic responses rely on global efforts to carry out surveillance of infections and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and to act accordingly in real time. Many countries in Southeast Asia lack capacity to determine the potential threat of new variants, or other emerging infections. Funded by Wellcome, the Southeast Asia initiative to combat SARS-CoV-2 variants (SEACOVARIANTS) consortium aims to develop and apply a multidisciplinary research platform in Southeast Asia (SEA) for rapid assessment of the biological significance of SARS-CoV-2 variants, thereby informing coordinated local, regional and global responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our proposal is delivered by the Vietnam and Thailand Wellcome Africa Asia Programmes, bringing together a multidisciplinary team in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam with partners in Singapore, the UK and the USA. Herein we outline five work packages to deliver strengthened regional scientific capacity that can be rapidly deployed for future outbreak responses.

Our project strengthens local scientific capacity in South East Asia (SEA) and therefore enables the rapid assessment of SARS-CoV-2 variants as they emerge within the region. While COVID-19 remains a global pandemic, future emerging infections caused by a novel virus is an inevitable event, with SEA being a global hot-spot for pathogen emergence. Consequently, the research capacity built, the scientists trained and the research network formed as part of this project will lay the foundation for future locally-led outbreak responses. Our project will demonstrate that novel research platforms can be set up in other low and middle income countries to address the unprecedented challenges presented by emerging infections.

Diversity of Rhizophydiales (Chytridiomycota) in Thailand: unveiling the hidden gems of the Kingdom.

Chytrids, often overshadowed by their other fungal counterparts, take center stage as we unravel the mysteries surrounding new species within Rhizophydiales and explore their unique characteristics. In the broader spectrum of chytrids, their significance lies not only in their roles as decomposers but also as key players in nutrient cycling within aquatic ecosystems as parasites and saprobes. Baited soil and aquatic samples collected from various provinces of Thailand, yielded new species of the Rhizophydiales (Chytridiomycota), some of which expanded previously single species genera. Our investigation incorporated a combination of morphological and phylogenetic approaches, enabling us to identify these isolates as distinct taxa. The novel isolates possess distinguishing features, such as variations in size and shape of the sporangium and zoospores, that somewhat differentiate them from described taxa. To confirm the novelty of the species, we employed robust phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood and bayesian methods. The results provided strong support for the presence of eight distinct lineages within the Rhizophydiales, representing our newly discovered species. Furthermore, we employed Poisson Tree Processes to infer putative species boundaries and supplement evidence for the establishment of our new Rhizophydiales species. By meticulously exploring their morphological characteristics and genetic makeup, we expand the known catalogue of fungal diversity by describing Alphamyces thailandicus, Angulomyces ubonensis, Gorgonomyces aquaticus, G. chiangraiensis, G. limnicus, Pateramyces pingflumenensis, Terramyces aquatica, and T. flumenensis and also provide valuable insights into the intricacies of this order. This newfound knowledge not only enriches our understanding of Rhizophydiales but also contributes significantly to the broader field of mycology, addressing a critical gap in the documentation of fungal species. The identification and characterization of these eight novel species mark a noteworthy stride towards a more comprehensive comprehension of fungal ecosystems and their vital role.

Improving the representativeness of UK's national COVID-19 Infection Survey through spatio-temporal regression and post-stratification.

Population-representative estimates of SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence and antibody levels in specific geographic areas at different time points are needed to optimise policy responses. However, even population-wide surveys are potentially impacted by biases arising from differences in participation rates across key groups. Here, we used spatio-temporal regression and post-stratification models to UK's national COVID-19 Infection Survey (CIS) to obtain representative estimates of PCR positivity (6,496,052 tests) and antibody prevalence (1,941,333 tests) for different regions, ages and ethnicities (7-December-2020 to 4-May-2022). Not accounting for vaccination status through post-stratification led to small underestimation of PCR positivity, but more substantial overestimations of antibody levels in the population (up to 21 percentage points), particularly in groups with low vaccine uptake in the general population. There was marked variation in the relative contribution of different areas and age-groups to each wave. Future analyses of infectious disease surveys should take into account major drivers of outcomes of interest that may also influence participation, with vaccination being an important factor to consider.

Neuroadaptive Bayesian optimisation to study individual differences in infants' engagement with social cues.

Infants' motivation to engage with the social world depends on the interplay between individual brain's characteristics and previous exposure to social cues such as the parent's smile or eye contact. Different hypotheses about why specific combinations of emotional expressions and gaze direction engage children have been tested with group-level approaches rather than focusing on individual differences in the social brain development. Here, a novel Artificial Intelligence-enhanced brain-imaging approach, Neuroadaptive Bayesian Optimisation (NBO), was applied to infant electro-encephalography (EEG) to understand how selected neural signals encode social cues in individual infants. EEG data from 42 6- to 9-month-old infants looking at images of their parent's face were analysed in real-time and used by a Bayesian Optimisation algorithm to identify which combination of the parent's gaze/head direction and emotional expression produces the strongest brain activation in the child. This individualised approach supported the theory that the infant's brain is maximally engaged by communicative cues with a negative valence (angry faces with direct gaze). Infants attending preferentially to faces with direct gaze had increased positive affectivity and decreased negative affectivity. This work confirmed that infants' attentional preferences for social cues are heterogeneous and shows the NBO's potential to study diversity in neurodevelopmental trajectories.

Endophytic fungal isolates from apple tissue: Latent pathogens lurking within?

Fungal endophytes inhabit a similar ecological niche to that occupied by many phytopathogens, with several pathogens isolated from healthy tissues in their latent phase. This study aimed to evaluate the pathogenicity, the colonisation ability, and the enzyme activity of 37 endophytic fungal isolates recovered from apparently healthy apple shoot and leaf tissues. The pathogenicity of the isolates was assessed on 'Royal Gala' and 'Braeburn' fruit and detached 'Royal Gala' shoots. For the non-pathogenic isolates, their ability to endophytically colonise detached 'Royal Gala' shoots was evaluated. Enzyme activity assays were undertaken to determine whether the pathogenicity of the endophytes was related to the production of the extracellular enzymes, amylase, cellulase, pectinase, protease, and xylanase. Of the 37 isolates studied, eight isolates, representing the genera Colletotrichum, Diaporthe, Fusarium, and Penicillium, were shown to be pathogenic on both apple shoots and fruit. Two isolates identified as Trichoderma atroviride, were pathogenic only on shoots, and three isolates, representing the genus Diaporthe, were pathogenic only on fruit. Of the remaining 24 isolates, 22 (Biscogniauxia (n = 8), Chaetomium (n = 4), Trichoderma (n = 3), Epicoccum (n = 2), Neosetophoma (n = 2), Xylaria (n = 1), Daldinia (n = 1), and Paraphaeosphaeria (n = 1)) were recovered from the inoculated apple shoots but two failed to colonise the shoot tissues. Of the isolates tested, 20 produced amylase, 15 cellulase, 25 pectinase, 26 protease, and 13 xylanase. There was no correlation between the range and type of enzymes produced by the isolates and their pathogenicity or ability to endophytically colonise the shoot tissue. The study showed that approximately one-third (13/37) of the isolates recovered from the apparently healthy apple shoot tissues were observed as latent pathogens. The isolates that did not cause disease symptoms may have the ability to reduce colonisation of apple tissues by pathogens including Neonectria ditissima associated with European canker of apple.