ABSTRACT
Long-term reconstituting haematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) are used to treat blood disorders via stem cell transplantation. The very low abundance of LT-HSCs and their rapid differentiation during in vitro culture hinders their clinical utility. Previous developments using stromal feeder layers, defined media cocktails, and bioengineering have enabled HSC expansion in culture, but of mostly short-term HSCs and progenitor populations at the expense of naive LT-HSCs. Here, we report the creation of a bioengineered LT-HSC maintenance niche that recreates physiological extracellular matrix organisation, using soft collagen type-I hydrogels to drive nestin expression in perivascular stromal cells (PerSCs). We demonstrate that nestin, which is expressed by HSC-supportive bone marrow stromal cells, is cytoprotective and, via regulation of metabolism, is important for HIF-1α expression in PerSCs. When CD34+ve HSCs were added to the bioengineered niches comprising nestin/HIF-1α expressing PerSCs, LT-HSC numbers were maintained with normal clonal and in vivo reconstitution potential, without media supplementation. We provide proof-of-concept that our bioengineered niches can support the survival of CRISPR edited HSCs. Successful editing of LT-HSCs ex vivo can have potential impact on the treatment of blood disorders.
Subject(s)
Extracellular Matrix , Hematopoietic Stem Cells , Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit , Nestin , Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism , Hematopoietic Stem Cells/cytology , Animals , Nestin/metabolism , Nestin/genetics , Extracellular Matrix/metabolism , Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism , Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/genetics , Mice , Stem Cell Niche , Hydrogels/chemistry , Bioengineering/methods , Humans , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/cytology , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation , Antigens, CD34/metabolism , Collagen Type I/metabolism , Cell Differentiation , Mice, Inbred C57BLABSTRACT
As Toxoplasma gondii disseminates through its host, the parasite must sense and adapt to its environment and scavenge nutrients. Oxygen (O2) is one such environmental factor and cytoplasmic prolyl 4-hydroxylases (PHDs) are evolutionarily conserved O2 cellular sensing proteins that regulate responses to changes in O2 availability. Toxoplasma expresses 2 PHDs. One of them, TgPHYa hydroxylates SKP1, a subunit of the SCF-E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. In vitro, TgPHYa is important for growth at low O2 levels. However, studies have yet to examine the role that TgPHYa or any other pathogen-encoded PHD plays in virulence and disease. Using a type II ME49 Toxoplasma TgPHYa knockout, we report that TgPHYa is important for Toxoplasma virulence and brain cyst formation in mice. We further find that while TgPHYa mutant parasites can establish an infection in the gut, they are unable to efficiently disseminate to peripheral tissues because the mutant parasites are unable to survive within recruited immune cells. Since this phenotype was abrogated in IFNγ knockout mice, we studied how TgPHYa mediates survival in IFNγ-treated cells. We find that TgPHYa is not required for release of parasite-encoded effectors into host cells that neutralize anti-parasitic processes induced by IFNγ. In contrast, we find that TgPHYa is required for the parasite to scavenge tryptophan, which is an amino acid whose levels are decreased after IFNγ up-regulates the tryptophan-catabolizing enzyme, indoleamine dioxygenase (IDO). We further find, relative to wild-type mice, that IDO knockout mice display increased morbidity when infected with TgPHYa knockout parasites. Together, these data identify the first parasite mechanism for evading IFNγ-induced nutritional immunity and highlight a novel role that oxygen-sensing proteins play in pathogen growth and virulence.
Subject(s)
Interferon-gamma , Oxygen , Protozoan Proteins , Toxoplasma , Animals , Toxoplasma/pathogenicity , Interferon-gamma/metabolism , Mice , Protozoan Proteins/metabolism , Protozoan Proteins/genetics , Oxygen/metabolism , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Virulence , Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase/metabolism , Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase/genetics , Female , Brain/parasitology , Brain/metabolism , Toxoplasmosis, Animal/immunology , Toxoplasmosis, Animal/metabolism , Toxoplasmosis, Animal/parasitology , Toxoplasmosis/immunology , Toxoplasmosis/metabolism , Toxoplasmosis/parasitologyABSTRACT
Background: Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) improves symptoms and delays degenerative changes in patients with acetabular dysplasia. Yet, eventual total hip arthroplasty (THA) is needed in many of these patients. The impact of PAO on subsequent THA outcomes is not well defined. The purpose of this study is to define: 1) clinical outcomes, 2) post-operative complications and 3) implant survivorship for patients undergoing THA after prior ipsilateral PAO. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted at three institutions to identify individuals undergoing THA after ipsilateral PAO surgery with minimum 1 year follow up. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) were collected preoperatively and at final follow-up. Surgical details, radiographic and clinical outcomes, and major complications according to the modified Dindo-Clavien classification system were identified through review of the medical record. Regression analysis and student's t-test were used to compare pre- and post-operative outcome scores. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to estimate reoperation-free survivorship. Results: A total of 113 THA in 112 patients were identified with initial review. 103 hips had a minimum of 1-year follow-up and an average follow of 5 ± 4 years (range, 1 to 20). 10 hips (9%) were lost to follow-up leaving 103 (91%) hips available for review with a minimum of 1-year follow-up (mean = 5 years). Mean interval from PAO to THA was 7.7 years (range, 2-15). The average post-operative mHHS improved 37 points (50 to 87, P < 0.001) when compared to pre-operative scores. Eight patients (7.1%) experienced a major grades III-V) surgical complication. These included 2 cases of instability, 2 cases of acetabular loosening, and one case each of periprosthetic fracture, wound dehiscence, periprosthetic infection, acetabular loosening and pneumonia. Failures occurred early at average 3.2 years and survivorship analysis for all-cause revision demonstrated 96% survivorship at both 5 and 10 years. Conclusion: THA after PAO achieves significant clinical improvement and satisfactory survivorship (96%) at mid-term follow-up, with a major complication rate of 7.1%. Level of Evidence: III.
Subject(s)
Acetabulum , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip , Osteotomy , Reoperation , Humans , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/methods , Osteotomy/methods , Retrospective Studies , Female , Male , Adult , Acetabulum/surgery , Middle Aged , Follow-Up Studies , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult , Postoperative Complications , Hip Joint/surgery , Hip Joint/diagnostic imaging , Hip Joint/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Contemporary discussion of the baroreflex includes the efferent vascular-sympathetic and cardiovagal arms. Since sympathetic postganglionic neurons also innervate the left ventricle (LV), it is often assumed that the LV produces a sympathetically mediated increase in contractility during baroreceptor unloading, but this has not been characterized using a load-independent index of contractility. We aimed to determine 1) whether LV contractility increases in response to baroreceptor unloading and 2) whether such increases are mediated via the sympathetic or parasympathetic arm of the autonomic nervous system. Ten male Wistar rats were anesthetized (urethane) and instrumented with arterial and LV pressure-volume catheters to measure mean arterial pressure (MAP) and load-independent LV contractility [maximal rate of increase in pressure adjusted to end-diastolic volume (PAdP/dtmax)], respectively. Rats were placed in a servo-controlled lower-body negative pressure (LBNP) chamber to reduce MAP by 10% for 60 s to mechanically unload baroreceptors under control conditions. LBNP was repeated in each animal following infusions of cardiac autonomic blockers using esmolol (sympathetic), atropine (parasympathetic), and esmolol + atropine. Under control conditions, PAdP/dtmax increased during baroreceptor unloading (26 ± 6 vs. 31 ± 9 mmHg·s-1·µL-1, P = 0.031). During esmolol, there was no increase in LV contractility during baroreceptor unloading (11 ± 2 vs. 12 ± 2, P = 0.125); however, during atropine, there was an increase in LV contractility during baroreceptor unloading (26 ± 6 vs. 31 ± 9, P = 0.019). During combined esmolol and atropine, there was a small increase in contractility versus control (13 ± 3 vs. 15 ± 4, P = 0.046). Our results demonstrate that, in anesthetized rats, LV contractility increases in response to baroreceptor unloading, which is largely sympathetically mediated.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study empirically demonstrates a sympathetically mediated increase in LV contractility in response to baroreceptor unloading using a load-independent index of cardiac contractility in the anesthetized rat.
Subject(s)
Baroreflex , Heart Ventricles , Myocardial Contraction , Pressoreceptors , Rats, Wistar , Sympathetic Nervous System , Ventricular Function, Left , Animals , Male , Myocardial Contraction/physiology , Myocardial Contraction/drug effects , Rats , Pressoreceptors/physiology , Pressoreceptors/drug effects , Baroreflex/physiology , Baroreflex/drug effects , Sympathetic Nervous System/physiology , Sympathetic Nervous System/drug effects , Heart Ventricles/drug effects , Ventricular Function, Left/physiology , Ventricular Function, Left/drug effects , Blood Pressure/physiology , Blood Pressure/drug effects , Arterial Pressure/physiology , Arterial Pressure/drug effects , Atropine/pharmacology , Anesthesia , PropanolaminesABSTRACT
Toxoplasma gondii is a foodborne pathogen that can cause severe and life-threatening infections in fetuses and immunocompromised patients. Felids are its only definitive hosts, and a wide range of animals, including humans, serve as intermediate hosts. When the transmissible bradyzoite stage is orally ingested by felids, they transform into merozoites that expand asexually, ultimately generating millions of gametes for the parasite sexual cycle. However, bradyzoites in intermediate hosts differentiate exclusively to disease-causing tachyzoites, which rapidly disseminate throughout the host. Though tachyzoites are well-studied, the molecular mechanisms governing transitioning between developmental stages are poorly understood. Each parasite stage can be distinguished by a characteristic transcriptional signature, with one signature being repressed during the other stages. Switching between stages require substantial changes in the proteome, which is achieved in part by ubiquitination. F-box proteins mediate protein poly-ubiquitination by recruiting substrates to SKP1, Cullin-1, F-Box protein E3 ubiquitin ligase (SCF-E3) complexes. We have identified an F-box protein named Toxoplasma gondii F-Box Protein L2 (TgFBXL2), which localizes to distinct perinucleolar sites. TgFBXL2 is stably engaged in an SCF-E3 complex that is surprisingly also associated with a COP9 signalosome complex that negatively regulates SCF-E3 function. At the cellular level, TgFBXL2-depleted parasites are severely defective in centrosome replication and daughter cell development. Most remarkable, RNAseq data show that TgFBXL2 conditional depletion induces the expression of stage-specific genes including a large cohort of genes necessary for sexual commitment. Together, these data suggest that TgFBXL2 is a latent guardian of stage specific gene expression in Toxoplasma and poised to remove conflicting proteins in response to an unknown trigger of development.
Subject(s)
Protozoan Proteins , Toxoplasma , Toxoplasma/genetics , Toxoplasma/metabolism , Protozoan Proteins/metabolism , Protozoan Proteins/genetics , Animals , Humans , F-Box Proteins/metabolism , F-Box Proteins/genetics , Toxoplasmosis/parasitology , Toxoplasmosis/metabolism , Toxoplasmosis/genetics , Life Cycle StagesABSTRACT
Hypoxia is a pivotal factor in the pathophysiology of various clinical conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, which has a strong association with cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, posing significant health risks. Although the precise mechanisms linking hypoxemia-associated clinical conditions with hypertension remains incompletely understood, compelling evidence suggests that hypoxia induces plasticity of the neurocirculatory control system. Despite variations in experimental designs and the severity, frequency, and duration of hypoxia exposure, evidence from animal and human models consistently demonstrates the robust effects of hypoxemia in triggering reflex-mediated sympathetic activation. Both acute and chronic hypoxia alters neurocirculatory regulation and, in some circumstances, leads to sympathetic outflow and elevated blood pressures that persist beyond the hypoxic stimulus. Dysregulation of autonomic control could lead to adverse cardiovascular outcomes and increase the risk of developing hypertension.
Subject(s)
Hypoxia , Reflex , Humans , Hypoxia/physiopathology , Animals , Reflex/physiology , Sympathetic Nervous System/physiopathology , Blood Pressure/physiology , Hypertension/physiopathology , Autonomic Nervous System/physiopathology , Cardiovascular System/physiopathology , Cardiovascular System/innervationABSTRACT
Studying photoemission from free, unsupported aerosol particles is a powerful method for gaining insight into light-matter interactions at the nanoscale. We used single-shot velocity map imaging to experimentally measure kinetic energy and angular distributions of ions emitted following interaction of sub-micrometer NaCl particles with femtosecond pulses of near infrared (NIR, 800 nm) and ultraviolet (UV, 266 nm) light. We combined this with time-dependent simulations of light propagation through the particles and a rate equation approach to computationally address the origin of the observed ion emission. For both NIR and UV pulses, ion emission is caused by the formation of an under-dense nanoplasma with similar densities, although using an order of magnitude weaker UV intensities. Such conditions result in remarkably similar ion fragments with similar kinetic energies, and no obvious influence of the plasma formation mechanism (photoionization or collisional ionization). Our data suggests that Coulomb explosion does not play a significant role for ion emission, and we discuss alternative mechanisms that can lead to material ablation from under-dense nanoplasma. Finally, we show how finite size effects play an important role in photoemission through generation of spatially inhomogeneous nanoplasmas, which result in asymmetric ion emission that depends on particle size and laser wavelength. By utilizing the single-particle information available from our experiments, we show how finite size effects and inhomogeneous nanoplasma formation can be exploited to retrieve the size and orientation of individual submicrometer aerosol particles.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To develop an in-depth understanding of spinal cord injury (SCI) researchers' barriers and facilitators to deciding to use 1) a partnered approach to research and, 2) systematically developed principles for guiding Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) in spinal cord injury research (IKT Guiding Principles). METHODS: Qualitative interview study with North American SCI researchers who were interested in using a partnered research approach. The research was conducted using an IKT approach, and interview data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Thirteen SCI researchers whose research focused on prevention, clinical, rehabilitation, and/or community SCI research were interviewed. Three themes were co-constructed with partners: 1) the principles are necessary but not sufficient for the implementation of a partnered approach to research; 2) relational capacity building is needed; and 3) institutional transformation is needed to value, resource, and support meaningful engagement. CONCLUSIONS: Supporting change that enables SCI researchers to adopt and implement the IKT Guiding Principles will require transformation at the individual (theme 1), relational (theme 2), and institutional levels (theme 3). Findings provide clear, practical, and tangible actions to promote change that can support meaningful engagement in the SCI Research System.
Providing researchers with clear, procedural information and strategies to use each of the Integrated Knowledge Translation Guiding Principles in practice can support the implementation of the principles and partnered research in rehabilitation-based research.Fostering and evaluating resources and initiatives that help researchers network, build connections, and receive mentorship could help spinal cord injury researchers partner more effectively.Academic, research, and funding systems must ensure their practices, structures, culture, and processes enable, value, resource, support, and/or incentivize partnered research to ensure the research being conducted is relevant and useful in addressing the needs and priorities of research users.
ABSTRACT
Like most eukaryotes, the pre-metazoan social amoeba Dictyostelium depends on the SCF (Skp1/cullin-1/F-box protein) family of E3 ubiquitin ligases to regulate its proteome. In Dictyostelium, starvation induces a transition from unicellular feeding to a multicellular slug that responds to external signals to culminate into a fruiting body containing terminally differentiated stalk and spore cells. These transitions are subject to regulation by F-box proteins and O2-dependent posttranslational modifications of Skp1. Here we examine in greater depth the essential role of FbxwD and Vwa1, an intracellular vault protein inter-alpha-trypsin (VIT) and von Willebrand factor-A (vWFA) domain containing protein that was found in the FbxwD interactome by co-immunoprecipitation. Reciprocal co-IPs using gene-tagged strains confirmed the interaction and similar changes in protein levels during multicellular development suggested co-functioning. FbxwD overexpression and proteasome inhibitors did not affect Vwa1 levels suggesting a non-substrate relationship. Forced FbxwD overexpression in slug tip cells where it is normally enriched interfered with terminal cell differentiation by a mechanism that depended on its F-box and RING domains, and on Vwa1 expression itself. Whereas vwa1-disruption alone did not affect development, overexpression of either of its three conserved domains arrested development but the effect depended on Vwa1 expression. Based on structure predictions, we propose that the Vwa1 domains exert their negative effect by artificially activating Vwa1 from an autoinhibited state, which in turn imbalances its synergistic function with FbxwD. Autoinhibition or homodimerization might be relevant to the poorly understood tumor suppressor role of the evolutionarily related VWA5A/BCSC-1 in humans.
ABSTRACT
Understanding the effects of cash crop expansion on natural forest is of fundamental importance. However, for most crops there are no remotely sensed global maps1, and global deforestation impacts are estimated using models and extrapolations. Natural rubber is an example of a principal commodity for which deforestation impacts have been highly uncertain, with estimates differing more than fivefold1-4. Here we harnessed Earth observation satellite data and cloud computing5 to produce high-resolution maps of rubber (10 m pixel size) and associated deforestation (30 m pixel size) for Southeast Asia. Our maps indicate that rubber-related forest loss has been substantially underestimated in policy, by the public and in recent reports6-8. Our direct remotely sensed observations show that deforestation for rubber is at least twofold to threefold higher than suggested by figures now widely used for setting policy4. With more than 4 million hectares of forest loss for rubber since 1993 (at least 2 million hectares since 2000) and more than 1 million hectares of rubber plantations established in Key Biodiversity Areas, the effects of rubber on biodiversity and ecosystem services in Southeast Asia could be extensive. Thus, rubber deserves more attention in domestic policy, within trade agreements and in incoming due-diligence legislation.
Subject(s)
Conservation of Natural Resources , Forests , Geographic Mapping , Rubber , Satellite Imagery , Asia, Southeastern , Biodiversity , Cloud Computing , Conservation of Natural Resources/statistics & numerical data , Conservation of Natural Resources/trendsABSTRACT
Air-discharged waste from commonly used trenchless technologies of sewer pipe repairs is an emerging and poorly characterized source of urban pollution. This study reports on the molecular-level characterization of the atmospherically discharged aqueous-phase waste condensate samples collected at four field sites of the sewer pipe repairs. The molecular composition of organic species in these samples was investigated using reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector and a high-resolution mass spectrometer equipped with interchangeable atmospheric pressure photoionization and electrospray ionization sources. The waste condensate components comprise a complex mixture of organic species that can partition between gas-, aqueous-, and solid-phases when water evaporates from the air-discharged waste. Identified organic species have broad variability in molecular weight, molecular structures, and carbon oxidation state, which also varied between the waste samples. All condensates contained complex mixtures of oxidized organics, N- and S-containing organics, condensed aromatics, and their functionalized derivatives that are directly released to the atmospheric environment during installations. Furthermore, semi-volatile, low volatility, and extremely low volatility organic compounds comprise 75-85% of the total compounds identified in the waste condensates. Estimates of the component-specific viscosities suggest that upon evaporation of water waste material would form the semi-solid and solid phases. The low volatilities and high viscosities of chemical components in these waste condensates will contribute to the formation of atmospheric secondary organic aerosols and atmospheric solid nanoplastic particles. Lastly, selected components expected in the condensates were quantified and found to be present at high concentrations (1-20 mg L-1) that may exceed regulatory limits.
Subject(s)
Volatile Organic Compounds , Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis , Mass Spectrometry , Water , Aerosols/analysisABSTRACT
Research partnerships, while promising for ensuring translation of relevant and useable findings, are challenging and need support. This study aimed to apply behavior change theory to understand and support researchers' adoption of a research partnership approach and the Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) Guiding Principles for conducting and disseminating spinal cord injury (SCI) research in partnership. Using an IKT approach, SCI researchers across Canada and the USA completed a survey (n = 22) and were interviewed (n = 13) to discuss barriers and facilitators to deciding to partner and follow the IKT Guiding Principles. The Behaviour Change Wheel, Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), and Mode of Delivery Ontology were used to develop the survey, interview questions, and guided analyses of interview data. COM-B and TDF factors were examined using descriptive statistics and abductive analyses of barriers and facilitators of decisions to partner and/or use the IKT Guiding Principles. TDF domains from the interview transcripts were then used to identify intervention, content, and implementation options. 142 factors (79 barriers, 63 facilitators) related to deciding to partner, and 292 factors (187 barriers, 105 facilitators) related to deciding to follow the IKT Guiding Principles were identified. Barriers to partnering or use the IKT Guiding Principles were primarily related to capability and opportunity and relevant intervention options were recommended. Interventions must support researchers in understanding how to partner and use the IKT Guiding Principles while navigating a research system, which is not always supportive of the necessary time and costs required for meaningful research partnerships.
Research partnerships, which expand beyond researchers solely working with other researchers, are said to be promising for helping to move research into practice. However, there is a lack in understanding of how to support meaningful research partnerships with those who are not part of academia. This study interviewed spinal cord injury researchers to understand what helps and prevents them from deciding to partner when conducting research projects. Results suggest that researchers do not lack motivation to partner; however, their ability and opportunity to do so is lacking. Overall, support is needed to help researchers understand how to work in partnership within the research system.
Subject(s)
Research Personnel , Translational Research, Biomedical , Humans , Canada , Surveys and Questionnaires , Qualitative ResearchABSTRACT
The WHIRLY (WHY) family of DNA/RNA binding proteins fulfil multiple but poorly characterised functions in plants. We analysed WHY protein functions in the Arabidopsis Atwhy1, Atwhy3, Atwhy1why3 single and double mutants and wild type controls. The Atwhy3 and Atwhy1why3 double mutants showed a significant delay in flowering, having more siliques per plant but with fewer seeds per silique than the wild type. While germination was similar in the unaged high-quality seeds of all lines, significant decreases in vigour and viability were observed in the aged mutant seeds compared with the wild type. Imbibition of unaged high-quality seeds was characterised by large increases in transcripts that encode proteins involved in oxygen sensing and responses to hypoxia. Seed aging resulted in a disruption of the imbibition-induced transcriptome profile such that transcripts encoding RNA metabolism and processing became the most abundant components of the imbibition signature. The imbibition-related profile of the Atwhy1why3 mutant seeds, was characterised by decreased expression of hypoxia-related and oxygen metabolism genes even in the absence of aging. Seed aging further decreased the abundance of hypoxia-related and oxygen metabolism transcripts relative to the wild type. These findings suggest that the WHY1 and WHY3 proteins regulate the imbibition-induced responses to oxygen availability and hypoxia. Loss of WHY1 and WHY3 functions decreases the ability of Arabidopsis seeds to resist the adverse effects of seed aging.
Subject(s)
Arabidopsis Proteins , Arabidopsis , Arabidopsis/genetics , Arabidopsis/metabolism , Arabidopsis Proteins/genetics , Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism , Oxygen/metabolism , Longevity/genetics , Seeds/genetics , Seeds/metabolism , Hypoxia/metabolism , Germination/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, PlantABSTRACT
The Lluta River is the northernmost coastal wetland in Chile, representing a unique ecosystem and an important source of water in the extremely arid Atacama Desert. During peak season, the wetland is home to more than 150 species of wild birds and is the first stopover point for many migratory species that arrive in the country along the Pacific migratory route, thereby representing a priority site for avian influenza virus (AIV) surveillance in Chile. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of influenza A virus (IAV) in the Lluta River wetland, identify subtype diversity, and evaluate ecological and environmental factors that drive the prevalence at the study site. The wetland was studied and sampled from September 2015 to October 2020. In each visit, fresh fecal samples of wild birds were collected for IAV detection by real-time RT-PCR. Furthermore, a count of wild birds present at the site was performed and environmental variables, such as temperature, rainfall, vegetation coverage (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index-NDVI), and water body size were determined. A generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was built to assess the association between AIV prevalence and explanatory variables. Influenza positive samples were sequenced, and the host species was determined by barcoding. Of the 4349 samples screened during the study period, overall prevalence in the wetland was 2.07% (95% CI: 1.68 to 2.55) and monthly prevalence of AIV ranged widely from 0% to 8.6%. Several hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) subtypes were identified, and 10 viruses were isolated and sequenced, including low pathogenic H5, H7, and H9 strains. In addition, several reservoir species were recognized (both migratory and resident birds), including the newly identified host Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis). Regarding environmental variables, prevalence of AIV was positively associated with NDVI (OR = 3.65, p < 0.05) and with the abundance of migratory birds (OR = 3.57, p < 0.05). These results emphasize the importance of the Lluta wetland as a gateway to Chile for viruses that come from the Northern Hemisphere and contribute to the understanding of AIV ecological drivers.
Subject(s)
Influenza A virus , Influenza in Birds , Influenza, Human , Animals , Humans , Chile/epidemiology , Wetlands , Ecosystem , Prevalence , Remote Sensing Technology , Influenza in Birds/epidemiology , Animals, Wild , Birds , Influenza A virus/geneticsABSTRACT
Backyard production systems (BPS) are highly distributed in central Chile. While poultry BPS have been extensively characterized, there remains a notable gap in the characterization of swine BPS in central Chile. In addition, there is evidence that zoonotic pathogens, such as influenza A virus and Salmonella spp., are circulating in backyard poultry and pigs. A total of 358 BPS located in central Chile were evaluated between 2013 and 2015 by interviewing farm owners. Severe deficiencies in biosecurity measures were observed. The value chain of swine backyard production identified food, veterinary care (visits and products), and replacement or breeding animals as the primary inputs to the backyard. The most common origin of swine replacements was from outside the BPS (63%). The main outputs of the system were identified as meat and live animals, including piglets and breeding animals. In 16% of BPS, breeding animals were lent to other BPS, indicating the existence of animals and animal product movement in and out of backyard farms. Results from this study indicate that swine BPS in central Chile represents an animal-human interface that demands special attention for implementing targeted preventive measures to prevent the introduction and spread of animal pathogens and the emergence of zoonotic pathogens.
ABSTRACT
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A/H5N1 viruses continue to pose a significant threat to animal and human health worldwide. In late 2022, the first confirmed case of HPAI A/H5N1 infection in wild birds in Chile near the Chilean-Peruvian border was reported. Active surveillance by our group in the adyacent Lluta river estuary revealed an increase in A/H5N1 prevalence coinciding with the arrival of migratory birds from the Northern Hemisphere. Genomic analysis of A/H5N1-positive samples demonstrated a close genetic relationship to strains detected in Peru during the same period, which originated from A/H5N1 viruses causing outbreaks in North America. Notably, we identified genetic mutations that did not correlate with known enhanced transmission or binding traits to mammalian receptors. In summary, this study provides valuable genomic insights into the A/H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b viruses in wild birds in Chile, emphasizing the need for enhanced surveillance and response strategies to mitigate the threat posed by these highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in South America.
Subject(s)
Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype , Influenza A virus , Influenza in Birds , Animals , Animals, Wild , Birds , Chile/epidemiology , Influenza A virus/physiology , Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/genetics , Mammals , PhylogenyABSTRACT
Atmospheric organic aerosols (OA) have profound effects on air quality, visibility, and radiative forcing of climate. Quantitative assessment of gas-particle equilibrium of OA components is critical to understand formation, growth, distribution, and evolution of OA in the atmosphere. This study presents a novel ambient pressure measurement approach developed and tested for untargeted screening of individual components in complex OA mixtures, followed by targeted chemical speciation of identified species and assessment of their physicochemical properties such as saturation vapor pressure and enthalpies of sublimation/evaporation. The method employs temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) experiments coupled to "direct analysis in real time" (DART) ionization source and high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) detection. Progression of the mass spectra is acquired in the TPD experiments over a T = 25-350 °C temperature range, and extracted ion chromatograms (EIC) of individual species are used to infer their apparent enthalpies of sublimation/evaporation (ΔHsub*) and saturation vapor pressure (pT*, Pa, or CT*, µg m-3) as a function of T. We validate application of this method for analysis of selected organic compounds with known ΔHsub and CT values, which showed excellent agreement between our results and the existing data. We then extend these experiments to interrogate individual components in complex OA samples generated in the laboratory-controlled ozonolysis of α-pinene, limonene, and ß-ocimene monoterpenes. The abundant OA species of interest are distinguished based on their accurate mass measurements, followed by quantitation of their apparent ΔHsub* and CT* values from the corresponding EIC records. Comparison of C298K* values derived from our experiments for the individual OA components with the corresponding estimates based on their elemental composition using a "molecular corridors" (MC) parametrization suggests that the MC calculations tend to overestimate the saturation vapor pressures of OA components. Presented results indicate very promising applicability of the TPD-DART-HRMS method for the untargeted analysis of organic molecules in OA and other environmental mixtures, enabling rapid detection and quantification of organic pollutants in the real-world condensed-phase samples at atmospheric pressure and without sample preparation.