Combined approaches, including long-read sequencing, address the diagnostic challenge of HYDIN in primary ciliary dyskinesia.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a disorder of the motile cilia, is now recognised as an underdiagnosed cause of bronchiectasis. Accurate PCD diagnosis comprises clinical assessment, analysis of cilia and the identification of biallelic variants in one of 50 known PCD-related genes, including HYDIN. HYDIN-related PCD is underdiagnosed due to the presence of a pseudogene, HYDIN2, with 98% sequence homology to HYDIN. This presents a significant challenge for Short-Read Next Generation Sequencing (SR-NGS) and analysis, and many diagnostic PCD gene panels do not include HYDIN. We have used a combined approach of SR-NGS with bioinformatic masking of HYDIN2, and state-of-the-art long-read Nanopore sequencing (LR_NGS), together with analysis of respiratory cilia including transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence to address the underdiagnosis of HYDIN as a cause of PCD. Bioinformatic masking of HYDIN2 after SR-NGS facilitated the detection of biallelic HYDIN variants in 15 of 437 families, but compromised the detection of copy number variants. Supplementing testing with LR-NGS detected HYDIN deletions in 2 families, where SR-NGS had detected a single heterozygous HYDIN variant. LR-NGS was also able to confirm true homozygosity in 2 families when parental testing was not possible. Utilising a combined genomic diagnostic approach, biallelic HYDIN variants were detected in 17 families from 242 genetically confirmed PCD cases, comprising 7% of our PCD cohort. This represents the largest reported HYDIN cohort to date and highlights previous underdiagnosis of HYDIN-associated PCD. Moreover this provides further evidence for the utility of LR-NGS in diagnostic testing, particularly for regions of high genomic complexity.

Part-Time and Cofunded Pharmacy Faculty and Their Perceptions of Professional and Organizational Identity Formation.

OBJECTIVE: To gain a better understanding of professional and organizational identity formation and workplace climate issues among part-time and cofunded pharmacy faculty. METHODS: This study had a cross-sectional, prospective design using a semistructured interview guide developed by the researchers of this study. The interview guide drew themes from motivating language theory, social provisions, and previous research on professional identity. Pharmacy faculty with varying part-time and cofunded appointments, representing a cross section of demographic characteristics, and working in different types of practice sites and institutions, were invited to participate. RESULTS: Data saturation was reached at 14 participants. Participants had a variety of professional roles, namely teaching and precepting, as well as clinical, research, service, and administrative responsibilities. Three general themes emerged: (1) the struggle with having multiple aspects of professional identity, (2) facing the perception that academia is a "lifestyle" that not all faculty can fully participate, and (3) the need for properly constructed and tailored communication from peers and supervisors. CONCLUSION: A key component to mitigating the struggle with multiple aspects of professional identity and the feeling that part-time and cofunded faculty cannot fully participate in the academic lifestyle seemed to be informed, empathetic, inclusive, and tailored communication from supervisors.

Ultrastructural insight into SARS-CoV-2 entry and budding in human airway epithelium.

Ultrastructural studies of SARS-CoV-2 infected cells are crucial to better understand the mechanisms of viral entry and budding within host cells. Here, we examined human airway epithelium infected with three different isolates of SARS-CoV-2 including the B.1.1.7 variant by transmission electron microscopy and tomography. For all isolates, the virus infected ciliated but not goblet epithelial cells. Key SARS-CoV-2 entry molecules, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, were found to be localised to the plasma membrane including microvilli but excluded from cilia. Consistently, extracellular virions were seen associated with microvilli and the apical plasma membrane but rarely with ciliary membranes. Profiles indicative of viral fusion where tomography showed that the viral membrane was continuous with the apical plasma membrane and the nucleocapsids diluted, compared with unfused virus, demonstrate that the plasma membrane is one site of entry where direct fusion releasing the nucleoprotein-encapsidated genome occurs. Intact intracellular virions were found within ciliated cells in compartments with a single membrane bearing S glycoprotein. Tomography showed concentration of nucleocapsids round the periphery of profiles strongly suggestive of viral budding into these compartments and this may explain how virions gain their S glycoprotein containing envelope.

UA-Zero as a Uranyl Acetate Replacement When Diagnosing Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia by Transmission Electron Microscopy.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a disorder affecting motile cilia. An early accurate diagnosis helps prevent lung damage and preserve lung function. To make a diagnostic assessment, one of the commonly used methods that allows for the examination of ciliary ultrastructure is transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This allows for a quantitative assessment of ciliary components to identify defects associated with PCD. Heavy metal staining is required to provide a contrast when imaging cilia in the TEM. One of the most commonly used stains is uranyl acetate (UA). UA can be applied to cellular material before embedding (en bloc), or to ultrathin sections of embedded samples (grid staining). UA is radioactive and, due to growing safety concerns and restrictions by government bodies, universities and hospitals, it is essential to find a suitable alternative. We show UA-zero (UAZ), when used en bloc, provides a high contrast and is a suitable replacement for UA. PCD diagnostic experts, having reviewed ciliary cross-sections stained with UAZ en bloc, are confident that the staining and PCD defects are readily detectable similar to samples that have been stained with UA.

Use of a Team-Based Video Simulation to Complement a Lecture in Motivational Interviewing to Develop Students' Initial Attitudes and Skills.

Background: Motivational interviewing (MI) is increasingly recognized for its patient-centered approach to clinician-patient communication and often effective in evoking appropriate changes in patient behavior. Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs are increasingly incorporating MI education; however, doing so represents a challenge regarding availability of both time and labor capital. Case Description: This study reports on the use of a 90-minute software-based simulation and tutorial coupled with a 90-minute lecture in a 3-hour course session. In a subsequent session consisting of several brief interactions with standardized patients (SPs), students reflected upon their strengths and challenges as a result of attempting to apply the MI principles they learned during the educational intervention. Case Themes: Students' responses to a questionnaire delivered both before and after the simulation and lecture, showed improvements in several attitudinal components related to use of MI, as well as developing self-efficacies in deploying patient-centered communication strategies. A post-intervention survey without students' opportunity to study/prepare saw gains in student knowledge about MI. Case Impact: The measurements employed to determine student's attitude and knowledge showed good to very good internal consistency reliably based on calculated Cronbach's alpha and KR-20. Student reflections indicated their understanding of MI principles, even though they fell short of implementing them in large part during their encounters with SPs. Conclusion: Use of a video simulation undergone by teams of PharmD students coupled with a brief lecture might be an effective and efficient way of building a foundation for MI competency among PharmD students where instructors might lack labor capital and significant space in the curriculum.

Ciliary Feature Counter: A program for the Quantitative Assessment of Cilia to Diagnose Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a disorder that affects motile cilia in the airway that are required for the removal of mucus, debris, and pathogens. It is important to diagnose PCD in early childhood to preserve lung function. The confirmation of a diagnosis relies on the assessment of ciliary ultrastructure by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM involves the quantitative assessment of the ciliary ultrastructure to identify PCD defects as well as abnormalities resulting from infection. Many specialist diagnostic centres still rely on physical counters to tally results and paper notes to summarise findings before transferring the results to computer databases/records. To speed up the diagnostic data collection and increase the protection of patient information, we have developed digital ciliary feature counters that conform to the PCD reporting international consensus guideline. These counters can be used on a computer or tablet, and automatically generate notes regarding sample observations. We show that the digital counters are easy to use and can generate TEM diagnostic reports that will be useful for many PCD diagnostic centres.

Differential Response of Gestational Tissues to TLR3 Viral Priming Prior to Exposure to Bacterial TLR2 and TLR2/6 Agonists.

Background: Infection/inflammation is an important causal factor in spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB). Most mechanistic studies have concentrated on the role of bacteria, with limited focus on the role of viruses in sPTB. Murine studies support a potential multi-pathogen aetiology in which a double or sequential hit of both viral and bacterial pathogens leads to a higher risk preterm labour. This study aimed to determine the effect of viral priming on bacterial induced inflammation in human in vitro models of ascending and haematogenous infection. Methods: Vaginal epithelial cells, and primary amnion epithelial cells and myocytes were used to represent cell targets of ascending infection while interactions between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and placental explants were used to model systemic infection. To model the effect of viral priming upon the subsequent response to bacterial stimuli, each cell type was stimulated first with a TLR3 viral agonist, and then with either a TLR2 or TLR2/6 agonist, and responses compared to those of each agonist alone. Immunoblotting was used to detect cellular NF-κB, AP-1, and IRF-3 activation. Cellular TLR3, TLR2, and TLR6 mRNA was quantified by RT-qPCR. Immunoassays were used to measure supernatant cytokine, chemokine and PGE2 concentrations. Results: TLR3 ("viral") priming prior to TLR2/6 agonist ("bacterial") exposure augmented the pro-inflammatory, pro-labour response in VECs, AECs, myocytes and PBMCs when compared to the effects of agonists alone. In contrast, enhanced anti-inflammatory cytokine production (IL-10) was observed in placental explants. Culturing placental explants in conditioned media derived from PBMCs primed with a TLR3 agonist enhanced TLR2/6 agonist stimulated production of IL-6 and IL-8, suggesting a differential response by the placenta to systemic inflammation compared to direct infection as a result of haematogenous spread. TLR3 agonism generally caused increased mRNA expression of TLR3 and TLR2 but not TLR6. Conclusion: This study provides human in vitro evidence that viral infection may increase the susceptibility of women to bacterial-induced sPTB. Improved understanding of interactions between viral and bacterial components of the maternal microbiome and host immune response may offer new therapeutic options, such as antivirals for the prevention of PTB.

Detection of recombinant Hare Myxoma Virus in wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus).

In late 2018, an epidemic myxomatosis outbreak emerged on the Iberian Peninsula leading to high mortality in Iberian hare populations. A recombinant Myxoma virus (strains MYXV-Tol and ha-MYXV) was rapidly identified, harbouring a 2.8 kbp insertion containing evolved duplicates of M060L, M061L, M064L, and M065L genes from myxoma virus (MYXV) or other Poxviruses. Since 2017, 1616 rabbits and 125 hares were tested by a qPCR directed to M000.5L/R gene, conserved in MYXV and MYXV-Tol/ha-MYXV strains. A subset of the positive samples (20%) from both species was tested for the insert with MYXV being detected in rabbits and the recombinant MYXV in hares. Recently, three wild rabbits were found dead South of mainland Portugal, showing skin oedema and pulmonary lesions that tested positive for the 2.8 kbp insert. Sequencing analysis showed 100% similarity with the insert sequences described in Iberian hares from Spain. Viral particles were observed in the lungs and eyelids of rabbits by electron microscopy, and isolation in RK13 cells attested virus infectivity. Despite that the analysis of complete genomes may predict the recombinant MYXV strains' ability to infect rabbit, routine analyses showed species segregation for the circulation of MYXV and recombinant MYXV in wild rabbit and in Iberian hares, respectively. This study demonstrates, however, that recombinant MYXV can effectively infect and cause myxomatosis in wild rabbits and domestic rabbits, raising serious concerns for the future of the Iberian wild leporids while emphasises the need for the continuous monitoring of MYXV and recombinant MYXV in both species.