scholarly journals Anopheles salivary antigens as serological biomarkers of vector exposure and malaria transmission: A systematic review with multilevel modelling

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen A Kearney ◽  
Paul A Agius ◽  
Victor Chaumeau ◽  
Julia C Cutts ◽  
Julie A Simpson ◽  
...  

<b>Background:</b> Entomological surveillance for malaria is inherently resource-intensive and produces crude population-level measures of vector exposure which are insensitive in low-transmission settings. Antibodies against Anopheles salivary proteins measured at the individual-level may serve as proxy biomarkers for vector exposure and malaria transmission, but their relationship is yet to be quantified. <b>Methods:</b> A systematic review of studies measuring antibodies against Anopheles salivary antigens (PROSPERO: CRD42020185449). Multilevel modelling (to account for multiple study-specific observations (level-one), nested within study (level-two), and study nested within country (level-three)) estimated associations between seroprevalence with Anopheles human biting rate (HBR) and malaria transmission measures. <b>Results:</b> From 3981 studies identified in literature searches, 42 studies across 16 countries were included contributing 393 study-specific observations of anti-Anopheles salivary antibodies determined in 42,764 samples. A positive association between HBR (log transformed) and seroprevalence was found; overall a 2-fold (100% relative) increase in HBR was associated with a 23% increase in odds of seropositivity (OR: 1.23, 95%CI: 1.10-1.37, p<0.001). The association between HBR and Anopheles salivary antibodies was strongest with concordant, rather than discordant Anopheles species. Seroprevalence was also significantly positively associated with established epidemiological measures of malaria transmission: entomological inoculation rate, Plasmodium spp. prevalence, and malarial endemicity class. <b>Conclusions:</b> Anopheles salivary antibody biomarkers can serve as a proxy measure for HBR and malaria transmission, and could monitor malaria receptivity of a population to sustain malaria transmission. Validation of Anopheles species-specific biomarkers are important given the global heterogeneity in the distribution of Anopheles species. Salivary biomarkers have the potential to transform surveillance by replacing impractical, inaccurate entomological investigations, especially in areas progressing towards malaria elimination. <b>Funding:</b> Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen A Kearney ◽  
Paul A Agius ◽  
Victor Chaumeau ◽  
Julia C Cutts ◽  
Julie A Simpson ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundEntomological surveillance for malaria is inherently resource-intensive and produces crude population-level measures of vector exposure which are insensitive in low-transmission settings. Antibodies against Anopheles salivary proteins measured at the individual-level may serve as proxy biomarkers for vector exposure and malaria transmission, but their relationship is yet to be quantified.MethodsA systematic review of studies measuring antibodies against Anopheles salivary antigens (PROSPERO: CRD42020185449). Multilevel modelling estimated associations between seroprevalence with Anopheles human biting rate (HBR) and malaria transmission measures.ResultsFrom 3981 studies identified in literature searches, 42 studies across 16 countries were included contributing 393 meta-observations of anti-Anopheles salivary antibodies determined in 42,764 samples. A positive non-linear association between HBR and seroprevalence was found; overall a 50% increase in HBR was associated with a 13% increase in odds of seropositivity (OR: 1.13, 95%CI: 1.06-1.20, p<0.001). The association between HBR and Anopheles salivary antibodies was strongest with concordant, rather than discordant Anopheles species. Seroprevalence was also significantly positively associated with established epidemiological measures of malaria transmission: entomological inoculation rate, Plasmodium spp. prevalence, and malarial endemicity class.ConclusionsAnopheles salivary antibody biomarkers can serve as a proxy measure for HBR and malaria transmission, and could monitor vectorial capacity and malaria receptivity of a population to sustain malaria transmission. Validation of Anopheles species-specific biomarkers are important given the global heterogeneity in the distribution of Anopheles species. Salivary biomarkers have the potential to transform surveillance by replacing impractical, inaccurate entomological investigations, especially in areas progressing towards malaria elimination.FundingAustralian National Health and Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust.


2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 541-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
MIKKEL BARSLUND ◽  
MARTEN VON WERDER ◽  
ASGHAR ZAIDI

ABSTRACTIn the context of emerging challenges and opportunities associated with population ageing, the study of inequality in active-ageing outcomes is critical to the design of appropriate and effective social policies. While there is much discussion about active ageing at the aggregate country level, little is known about inequality in active-ageing experiences within countries. Based on the existing literature on active ageing, this paper proposes an individual-level composite active ageing index based on Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) data. The individual-level nature of the index allows us to analyse inequality in experiences of active ageing within selected European countries. One important motivation behind measuring active ageing at the individual level is that it allows for a better understanding of unequal experiences of ageing, which may otherwise be masked in aggregate-level measures of active ageing. Results show large differences in the distribution of individual-level active ageing across the 13 European countries covered and across age groups. Furthermore, there is a positive association between the country-level active ageing index and the equality of its distribution within a country. Hence, countries with the lowest average active ageing index tend to have the most unequal distribution in active-ageing experiences. For nine European countries, where temporal data are also available, we find that inequality in active-ageing outcomes decreased in the period 2004 to 2013.


PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nargesalsadat Dorratoltaj ◽  
Ryan Nikin-Beers ◽  
Stanca M. Ciupe ◽  
Stephen G. Eubank ◽  
Kaja M. Abbas

Objective The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review of multi-scale HIV immunoepidemiological models to improve our understanding of the synergistic impact between the HIV viral-immune dynamics at the individual level and HIV transmission dynamics at the population level. Background While within-host and between-host models of HIV dynamics have been well studied at a single scale, connecting the immunological and epidemiological scales through multi-scale models is an emerging method to infer the synergistic dynamics of HIV at the individual and population levels. Methods We reviewed nine articles using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework that focused on the synergistic dynamics of HIV immunoepidemiological models at the individual and population levels. Results HIV immunoepidemiological models simulate viral immune dynamics at the within-host scale and the epidemiological transmission dynamics at the between-host scale. They account for longitudinal changes in the immune viral dynamics of HIV+ individuals, and their corresponding impact on the transmission dynamics in the population. They are useful to analyze the dynamics of HIV super-infection, co-infection, drug resistance, evolution, and treatment in HIV+ individuals, and their impact on the epidemic pathways in the population. We illustrate the coupling mechanisms of the within-host and between-host scales, their mathematical implementation, and the clinical and public health problems that are appropriate for analysis using HIV immunoepidemiological models. Conclusion HIV immunoepidemiological models connect the within-host immune dynamics at the individual level and the epidemiological transmission dynamics at the population level. While multi-scale models add complexity over a single-scale model, they account for the time varying immune viral response of HIV+ individuals, and the corresponding impact on the time-varying risk of transmission of HIV+ individuals to other susceptibles in the population.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Anita Feher ◽  
Paul F. Tremblay

The current cross-cultural study explored the associations between relationship enhancing traits (interpersonal trust, importance of close relationships, sociability), characteristics corresponding to an individualistic attitude (competition, autonomy), and life satisfaction. Data for this study was from 24 of the 59 countries used in the World Values Survey Wave 6. Multilevel modelling was used as a means to analyse the influence of individual level (Level 1) and country level (Level 2) variables on life satisfaction. Results indicated that the individual level predictors interpersonal trust and importance of close relationships made meaningful positive contributions to life satisfaction. The competition variable aggregated at the country level significantly negatively predicted life satisfaction, while country-level aggregated autonomy shared a positive relationship with life satisfaction.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Bastianelli ◽  
Anne Charmantier ◽  
Clotilde Biard ◽  
Suzanne Bonamour ◽  
Céline Teplitsky ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTAlthough it has been shown that phenology can respond to temporal environmental variation in free ranging populations of several species, little is known about the mechanisms of these responses and their effects on demography, and in particular on survival. Exploring phenological responses and their associated consequences on survival can be achieved at two distinct scales: the population scale, which focusses on a set of common responses to environmental conditions, and the individual scale, focusing on the relative position of each individual in the distribution of survival and phenology under particular conditions. In this study, we apply capture-mark-recapture multistate modelling on a 38-year monitoring dataset of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) to investigate the effects of breeding phenology and some demographic covariates (breeding density, average and individual breeding success) on adult survival, at both population and individual scales. Our analysis revealed that (i) at the population scale, early breeding years are followed by lower average adult survival. (ii) At the individual level, earlier breeders within the population have higher subsequent survival than later breeders, although this relationship is reversed in years with very harsh conditions, e.g. warm spring and high breeding density. (iii) High individual relative breeding success is also associated with higher subsequent survival and explains more survival variation than relative phenology. Overall, our study indicates that, although earlier breeding is associated with a survival cost at the population level, substantial intrapopulation hererogeneity shapes a positive association between earlier breeding, breeding success and survival at the individual level.


Author(s):  
Jayati Das-Munshi

Ecological studies use aggregated data to infer correlation of exposures with outcomes over time, or by place. One of the first examples of an ecological study was Emile Durkheim’s exploration of country-level factors underlying suicide, first published in 1897. Ecological studies have continued to hold an important place in psychiatry, particularly for developing hypotheses. They can also be used to assess the impact of policies on health outcomes over time. There are important limitations associated with ecological study designs, in particular the ability to make causal inferences at the individual level. Multilevel modelling approaches are an important analytic development in the field, which allow the possibility of using group-level information alongside individual-level attributes in analyses. In the first part of this chapter, some examples of ecological studies and their advantages and disadvantages will be introduced. In the second part of this chapter, multilevel modelling techniques will be briefly introduced and discussed with respect to their use in overcoming some of the limitations of geographical ecological studies.


2019 ◽  
pp. 147737081985946
Author(s):  
David Vázquez ◽  
Eva Aizpurua ◽  
Jennifer Copp ◽  
Jorge J. Ricarte

This study analyses individual- and country-level factors influencing women’s perceptions of the prevalence of violence against women in their countries. Multilevel modelling was used to study 39,377 women residing in 28 member states of the European Union (EU). Individual-level predictor variables included direct victimisation, vicarious victimisation, avoidant and defensive behaviours, awareness, and sociodemographic characteristics. At the country level, we accounted for an index of gender equality and the prevalence of intimate partner violence against women. The results showed that approximately 80 percent of women indicated that violence against women was common in their country. Most of the individual-level covariates were statistically significant, whereas the country-level indicators were not significantly associated with perceptions of violence against women.


Author(s):  
Chris Kenyon

AbstractBackgroundThe reasons for the large differences between countries in the sizes of their SARS CoV-2 epidemics is unknown. Individual level studies have found that the use of face masks was protective for the acquisition and transmission of a range of respiratory viruses including SARS CoV-1. We hypothesized that population level usage of face masks may be negatively associated SARS CoV-2 spread.MethodsAt a country level, linear regression was used to assess the association between COVID-19 diagnoses per inhabitant and the national promotion of face masks in public (coded as a binary variable), controlling for the age of the COVID-19 epidemic and testing intensity.ResultsEight of the 49 countries with available data advocated wearing face masks in public – China, Czechia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia. In multivariate analysis face mask use was negatively associated with number of COVID-19 cases/inhabitant (coef. −326, 95% CI −601- −51, P=0.021). Testing intensity was positively associated with COVID-19 cases (coef. 0.07, 95% CI 0.05-0.08, P<0.001).ConclusionWhilst these results are susceptible to residual confounding, they do provide ecological level support to the individual level studies that found face mask usage to reduce the transmission and acquisition of respiratory viral infections.


2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (12) ◽  
pp. 1471-1518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna K. Forsman ◽  
Johanna Nordmyr

Research on the role of information and communication technology (ICT) use for active aging is limited. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the link between Internet use and mental health among older adults. The review was conducted based on searches in 9 electronic databases (2002-2014). A meta-synthesis approach was applied, examining quantitative (18) and qualitative (14) studies. The findings from the synthesis of quantitative statistical data indicate an overall positive association between Internet use and mental health and its psychosocial covariates in later life. The psychosocial links between Internet use and mental health identified from the qualitative data were (a) enhanced interpersonal interaction at individual level, (b) increased access to resources within the community, and (c) empowered social inclusion at society level. The results highlight the multi-level psychosocial links between Internet use and mental health, which may be applied in initiatives targeting healthy aging in various settings.


2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 2036-2060 ◽  
Author(s):  
JULIA MENICHETTI ◽  
PIETRO CIPRESSO ◽  
DARIO BUSSOLIN ◽  
GUENDALINA GRAFFIGNA

ABSTRACTIn 2002, the World Health Organization emphasised the concept of active ageing to manage and increase the last third of life. Although many efforts have been made to optimise treatment management, less attention has been paid to health promotion initiatives. To date, few shared guidelines exist that promote an active life in healthy older targets. To fill this gap, we conducted a systematic review to map health promotion interventions that targeted an active and healthy ageing among older citizens. Articles containing the key term active ageing and seven synonyms were searched for in the electronic databases. Because we were interested in actions aimed to promote healthier lifestyles, we connected the string with the term health. A total of 3,918 titles were retrieved and 20 articles were extracted. Twelve of the 20 studies used group interventions, five interventions targeted the individual level and three interventions targeted the community level. Interventions differed for the health focus of the programmes, which ranged from physical activity interventions to social participation or cognitive functioning. Most of the studies aimed to act on psychological components. The review suggests that different interventions promoted for active ageing are effective in improving specific healthy and active lifestyles; however, no studies were concerned directly with a holistic process of citizen health engagement to improve long-term outcomes.


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