Evaluation of the available animal models for Bartonella infections.

The diseases caused by the Bartonella genus of bacteria are clinically diverse, and can be challenging to cure. The study of bartonellosis has been hampered by the lack of a suitable animal model. Preclinical studies for novel therapeutics and a competent host for vector transmission studies are needed to fill critical knowledge gaps. The studies included here are a representation of in vivo Bartonella research and the corresponding challenges. This review examines the current state of available animal models by assessing the success of various model species and strains in Bartonella infection. With a focus on the strengths and weaknesses of current animal models, the importance of these models for improvement of human health and veterinary care is emphasized.

Elevated soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor is associated with renal dysfunction in a Chlorocebus atheiops COVID-19 model.

Increases of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) were measured in both urine and plasma of a Chlorocebus aethiops (African green monkey; AGM) mucosal infected with SARS-CoV-2. The data indicate that elevated suPAR may be associated with renal dysfunction and pathology in the context of COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 infection of African green monkeys results in mild respiratory disease discernible by PET/CT imaging and shedding of infectious virus from both respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.

Vaccines are urgently needed to combat the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and testing of candidate vaccines in an appropriate non-human primate (NHP) model is a critical step in the process. Infection of African green monkeys (AGM) with a low passage human isolate of SARS-CoV-2 by aerosol or mucosal exposure resulted in mild clinical infection with a transient decrease in lung tidal volume. Imaging with human clinical-grade 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) co-registered with computed tomography (CT) revealed pulmonary lesions at 4 days post-infection (dpi) that resolved over time. Infectious virus was shed from both respiratory and gastrointestinal (GI) tracts in all animals in a biphasic manner, first between 2-7 dpi followed by a recrudescence at 14-21 dpi. Viral RNA (vRNA) was found throughout both respiratory and gastrointestinal systems at necropsy with higher levels of vRNA found within the GI tract tissues. All animals seroconverted simultaneously for IgM and IgG, which has also been documented in human COVID-19 cases. Young AGM represent an species to study mild/subclinical COVID-19 disease and with possible insights into live virus shedding. Future vaccine evaluation can be performed in AGM with correlates of efficacy being lung lesions by PET/CT, virus shedding, and tissue viral load.

Antifungal and Cytotoxic Activities of Sixty Commercially-Available Essential Oils.

There is an urgent and unmet need for new antifungal therapies. Global fungal infection rates continue to rise and fungal infections pose increasing burdens on global healthcare systems. Exacerbating the situation, the available antifungal therapeutic arsenal is limited and development of new antifungals has been slow. Current antifungals are known for unwanted side effects including nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. Thus, the need for new antifungals and new antifungal targets is urgent and growing. A collection of 60 commercially-available essential oils has been screened for antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans, as well as for cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast tumor cell lines; the chemical compositions of the essential oils have been determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Ten essential oils showed remarkable antifungal and cytotoxic activities: Indian, Australian, and Hawaiian sandalwoods; melissa; lemongrass; cilantro; cassia; cinnamon; patchouli; and vetiver.