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Anaerobe Jun 2024Spore-forming pathogens have a unique capacity to thrive in diverse environments, and with temporal persistence afforded through their ability to sporulate. Their... (Review)
Review
Spore-forming pathogens have a unique capacity to thrive in diverse environments, and with temporal persistence afforded through their ability to sporulate. Their prevalence in diverse ecosystems requires a One Health approach to identify critical reservoirs and outbreak-associated transmission chains, given their capacity to freely move across soils, waterways, foodstuffs and as commensals or infecting pathogens in human and animal populations. Among anaerobic spore-formers, genomic resources for pathogens including C. botulinum, C. difficile, and C. perfringens enable our capacity to identify common and unique factors that support their persistence in diverse reservoirs and capacity to cause disease. Publicly available genomic resources for spore-forming pathogens at NCBI's Pathogen Detection program aid outbreak investigations and longitudinal monitoring in national and international programs in public health and food safety, as well as for local healthcare systems. These tools also enable research to derive new knowledge regarding disease pathogenesis, and to inform strategies in disease prevention and treatment. As global community resources, the continued sharing of strain genomic data and phenotypes further enhances international resources and means to develop impactful applications. We present examples showing use of these resources in surveillance, including capacity to assess linkages among clinical, environmental, and foodborne reservoirs and to further research investigations into factors promoting their persistence and virulence in different settings.
Topics: Humans; One Health; Clostridium Infections; Animals; Clostridium; Disease Outbreaks; Genomics; Bacterial Toxins
PubMed: 38552896
DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2024.102839 -
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. :... Oct 2023Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a zoonotic bacterial disease presenting public health, veterinary, and economic threats around the globe. Although cattle producers rely on... (Review)
Review
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a zoonotic bacterial disease presenting public health, veterinary, and economic threats around the globe. Although cattle producers rely on regular testing and management practices to minimize domestic herd exposure, wildlife species around the world continue to be the main reservoirs for disease. Wildlife reservoirs for bTB include the Eurasian badger (Meles meles) in Great Britain and Ireland, the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) in New Zealand, wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Spain, as well as white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the United States and red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Spain. Although all reservoir species share the ability to infect cattle, they differ in transmission capability, disease pathogenesis, diagnostic detection, and vaccination strategies. In this review, bTB interactions with these wildlife reservoirs are discussed, illustrating the need to address bTB disease in wildlife hosts to achieve eradication in domestic livestock.
Topics: Cattle; Animals; Mycobacterium bovis; Animals, Wild; Deer; Disease Reservoirs; Tuberculosis, Bovine
PubMed: 37782851
DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300323 -
Trends in Parasitology Feb 2024The relationship between biodiversity and infectious disease, where increased biodiversity leads to decreased disease risk, originated from research in terrestrial... (Review)
Review
The relationship between biodiversity and infectious disease, where increased biodiversity leads to decreased disease risk, originated from research in terrestrial disease systems and remains relatively underexplored in marine systems. Understanding the impacts of biodiversity on disease in marine versus terrestrial systems is key to continued marine ecosystem functioning, sustainable aquaculture, and restoration projects. We compare the biodiversity-disease relationship across terrestrial and marine systems, considering biodiversity at six levels: intraspecific host diversity, host microbiomes, interspecific host diversity, biotic vectors and reservoirs, parasite consumers, and parasites. We highlight gaps in knowledge regarding how these six levels of biodiversity impact diseases in marine systems and propose two model systems, the Perkinsus-oyster and Labyrinthula-seagrass systems, to address these gaps.
Topics: Animals; Ecosystem; Biodiversity; Parasites
PubMed: 38212198
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.12.004 -
Viruses Dec 2023There is currently no cure for HIV infection although adherence to effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppresses replication of the virus in blood, increases CD4... (Review)
Review
There is currently no cure for HIV infection although adherence to effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppresses replication of the virus in blood, increases CD4 T-cell counts, reverses immunodeficiency, and increases life expectancy. Despite these substantial advances, ART is a lifelong treatment for people with HIV (PWH) and upon cessation or interruption, the virus quickly rebounds in plasma and anatomic sites, including the central nervous system (CNS), resulting in disease progression. With recent advances in quantifying viral burden, detection of genetically intact viral genomes, and isolation of replication-competent virus from brain tissues of PWH receiving ART, it has become apparent that the CNS viral reservoir (largely comprised of macrophage type cells) poses a substantial challenge for HIV cure strategies. Other obstacles impacting the curing of HIV include ageing populations, substance use, comorbidities, limited antiretroviral drug efficacy in CNS cells, and ART-associated neurotoxicity. Herein, we review recent findings, including studies of the proviral integration sites, reservoir decay rates, and new treatment/prevention strategies in the context of the CNS, together with highlighting the next steps for investigations of the CNS as a viral reservoir.
Topics: Humans; HIV Infections; Central Nervous System; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Macrophages; Virus Replication; Viral Load; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
PubMed: 38140626
DOI: 10.3390/v15122385 -
Neuro-oncology Mar 2024Hypoxia is associated with poor prognosis in many cancers including glioblastoma (GBM). Glioma stem-like cells (GSCs) often reside in hypoxic regions and serve as...
BACKGROUND
Hypoxia is associated with poor prognosis in many cancers including glioblastoma (GBM). Glioma stem-like cells (GSCs) often reside in hypoxic regions and serve as reservoirs for disease progression. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in GBM. However, the lncRNAs that modulate GSC adaptations to hypoxia are poorly understood. Identification of these lncRNAs may provide new therapeutic strategies to target GSCs under hypoxia.
METHODS
lncRNAs induced by hypoxia in GSCs were identified by RNAseq. LUCAT1 expression was assessed by qPCR, RNAseq, Northern blot, single molecule FISH in GSCs, and interrogated in IvyGAP, TCGA, and CGGA databases. LUCAT1 was depleted by shRNA, CRISPR/Cas9, and CRISPR/Cas13d. RNAseq, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, co-IP, ChIP, ChIPseq, RNA immunoprecipitation, and proximity ligation assay were performed to investigate mechanisms of action of LUCAT1. GSC viability, limiting dilution assay, and tumorigenic potential in orthotopic GBM xenograft models were performed to assess the functional consequences of depleting LUCAT1.
RESULTS
A new isoform of Lucat1 is induced by HIF1α and NRF2 in GSCs under hypoxia. LUCAT1 is highly expressed in hypoxic regions in GBM. Mechanistically, LUCAT1 formed a complex with HIF1α and its co-activator CBP to regulate HIF1α target gene expression and GSC adaptation to hypoxia. Depletion of LUCAT1 impaired GSC self-renewal. Silencing LUCAT1 decreased tumor growth and prolonged mouse survival in GBM xenograft models.
CONCLUSIONS
A HIF1α-LUCAT1 axis forms a positive feedback loop to amplify HIF1α signaling in GSCs under hypoxia. LUCAT1 promotes GSC self-renewal and GBM tumor growth. LUCAT1 is a potential therapeutic target in GBM.
PubMed: 38456228
DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noae036 -
Translational Andrology and Urology Dec 2023Penile prosthesis surgery is considered a safe and effective treatment for patients with erectile dysfunction. Implantation in the medically complex patient can be a... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Penile prosthesis surgery is considered a safe and effective treatment for patients with erectile dysfunction. Implantation in the medically complex patient can be a challenge. The benefits of treatment must outweigh the possible risks or complications. A description of possible problems and how to cope with them is given in this narrative review.
METHODS
Literature search was performed in January 2023 using different search prompts in PubMed. These articles, excluding non-English and non-full text articles, were listed by the two authors and afterwards, the most relevant ones were included.
KEY CONTENT AND FINDINGS
This article is divided into five important topics. We evaluated different comorbidities such as spinal cord injury, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, in which preoperative work-up and counseling is of significant importance. A detailed description of these comorbidities and how to handle these can be found in each section. In addition to the preoperative aspect in organ transplant patients, problems during surgery can arise, e.g., with the reservoir placement. Similarly, in patients with previous pelvic surgery, an ectopic reservoir placement can prevent possible complications.
CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative diagnostics are crucial and prosthetic surgery should be done by an experienced high-volume surgeon with a diverse range of surgical techniques at his disposal.
PubMed: 38196703
DOI: 10.21037/tau-23-71 -
International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2024Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has significantly improved the prognosis of individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Acquired... (Review)
Review
Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has significantly improved the prognosis of individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome has transformed from a fatal disease to a treatable chronic infection. Currently, effective and safe anti-HIV drugs are available. Although cART can reduce viral production in the body of the patient to below the detection limit, it cannot eliminate the HIV provirus integrated into the host cell genome; hence, the virus will be produced again after cART discontinuation. Therefore, research into a cure (or remission) for HIV has been widely conducted. In this review, we focus on drug development targeting cells latently infected with HIV and assess the progress including our current studies, particularly in terms of the "Shock and Kill", and "Block and Lock" strategies.
Topics: Humans; HIV Infections; Virus Latency; HIV-1; Anti-HIV Agents; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Virus Activation
PubMed: 38473868
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052621 -
Trends in Parasitology Aug 2023Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica are liver flukes causing fascioliasis, a worldwide zoonotic, complex disease. Human infection/reinfection occurs in endemic areas... (Review)
Review
Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica are liver flukes causing fascioliasis, a worldwide zoonotic, complex disease. Human infection/reinfection occurs in endemic areas where preventive chemotherapy is applied, because of fasciolid transmission ensured by livestock and lymnaeid snail vectors. A One Health control action is the best complement to decrease infection risk. The multidisciplinary framework needs to focus on freshwater transmission foci and their environment, lymnaeids, mammal reservoirs, and inhabitant infection, ethnography and housing. Local epidemiological and transmission knowledge furnished by previous field and experimental research offers the baseline for control design. A One Health intervention should be adapted to the endemic area characteristics. Long-term control sustainability may be achieved by prioritizing measures according to impact depending on available funds.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Fascioliasis; One Health; Fasciola hepatica; Zoonoses; Snails; Mammals
PubMed: 37385922
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.05.009 -
Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases... Sep 2023Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA rhabdovirus capable of causing fatal acute encephalitis in humans with similar pathogenesis to... (Review)
Review
Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA rhabdovirus capable of causing fatal acute encephalitis in humans with similar pathogenesis to its closest serologic relative, rabies virus (RABV). In this review, we describe emergence and classification of ABLV, its known virology, reservoirs, and hosts, as well as both the pathogenesis and treatment approaches currently employed for presumed infections. ABLV was first identified in New South Wales, Australia in 1996 and emerged in humans months later in Queensland, Australia. Only five known bat reservoirs, all of which fall within the and genera, have been identified to date. Although ABLV antigens have been identified in bats located outside of Australia, the three known human ABLV infections to date have occurred within Australia. As such, there remains a potential for ABLV to expand its presence within and beyond Australia. ABLV infections are currently treated as if they were RABV infections by administering neutralizing antibodies against RABV at the site of the wound and employing the rabies vaccine upon possible exposures. Due to its recent emergence, there is still much left unknown about ABLV, posing concerns with how to safely and effectively address current and future ABLV infections.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Australia; Rhabdoviridae Infections; Lyssavirus; Rabies virus; Tropism; Chiroptera
PubMed: 37335942
DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2022.0089 -
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023Antibiotic resistance is a global concern that affects not only human health but also the health of wildlife and the environment. Wildlife can serve as reservoirs for... (Review)
Review
Antibiotic resistance is a global concern that affects not only human health but also the health of wildlife and the environment. Wildlife can serve as reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and antibiotics in veterinary medicine and agriculture can contribute to the development of resistance in these populations. Several European carnivore species, such as wolves, foxes, otters, and bears, can be exposed to antibiotics by consuming contaminated food, water, or other resources in their habitats. These animals can also be indirectly exposed to antibiotics through interactions with domestic animals and human activities in their environment. Antibiotic resistance in wildlife can harm ecosystem health and also impact human health indirectly through various pathways, including zoonotic disease transmission. Moreover, the spread of resistant bacteria in wildlife can complicate conservation efforts, as it can threaten already endangered species. This review aims to describe the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wild carnivores in Europe.
PubMed: 38136759
DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12121725