A Coupled Experimental and Statistical Approach for an Assessment of the Airborne Infection Risk in Event Locations

Operators of event locations are particularly affected by a pandemic. Resulting restrictions may cause uneconomical business. With previous models, only an incomplete quantitative risk assessments is possible, whereby no suitable restrictions can be derived. Hence, a mathematical and statistical model has been developed in order to link measurement data of substance dispersion in rooms with epidemiological data like incidences, reproduction numbers, vaccination rates and test qualities. This allows a first time overall assessment of airborne infection risks in large event locations. In these venues displacement ventilation concepts are often implemented. In this case simplified theoretical assumptions fail for the prediction of relevant airflows for infection processes. Thus, with locally resolving trace gas measurements and specific data of infection processes, individual risks can be computed more detailed. Via inclusion of many measurement positions, an assessment of entire event locations is possible. Embedding the overall model in a flexible application, daily updated epidemiological data allow latest calculations of expected new infections and individual risks of single visitors for a certain event. With this model, an instrument has been created that can help policymakers and operators to take appropriate measures and to check restrictions for their effect.

Comparison of the Distinct, Host-Specific Response of Three Solanaceae Hosts Induced by Phytophthora infestans

Three Solanaceae hosts (TSHs), S. tuberosum, N. benthamiana and S. lycopersicum, represent the three major phylogenetic clades of Solanaceae plants infected by Phytophthora infestans, which causes late blight, one of the most devastating diseases seriously affecting crop production. However, details regarding how different Solanaceae hosts respond to P. infestans are lacking. Here, we conducted RNA-seq to analyze the transcriptomic data from the TSHs at 12 and 24 h post P. infestans inoculation to capture early expression effects. Macroscopic and microscopic observations showed faster infection processes in S. tuberosum than in N. benthamiana and S. lycopersicum under the same conditions. Analysis of the number of genes and their level of expression indicated that distinct response models were adopted by the TSHs in response to P. infestans. The host-specific infection process led to overlapping but distinct in GO terms and KEGG pathways enriched for differentially expressed genes; many were tightly linked to the immune response in the TSHs. S. tuberosum showed the fastest response and strongest accumulation of reactive oxygen species compared with N. benthamiana and S. lycopersicum, which also had similarities and differences in hormone regulation. Collectively, our study provides an important reference for a better understanding of late blight response mechanisms of different Solanaceae host interactions.

Evaluation of the relationship between the 14-3-3ε protein and LvRab11 in the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei during WSSV infection

The 14-3-3 proteins interact with a wide variety of cellular proteins for many diverse functions in biological processes. In this study, a yeast two-hybrid assay revealed that two 14-3-3ε isoforms (14-3-3ES and 14-3-3EL) interacted with Rab11 in the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (LvRab11). The interaction of 14-3-3ε and LvRab11 was confirmed by a GST pull-down assay. The LvRab11 open reading frame was 645 bp long, encoding a protein of 214 amino acids. Possible complexes of 14-3-3ε isoforms and LvRab11 were elucidated by in silico analysis, in which LvRab11 showed a better binding energy score with 14-3-3EL than with 14-3-3ES. In shrimp challenged with the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), the mRNA expression levels of LvRab11 and 14-3-3ε were significantly upregulated at 48 h after challenge. To determine whether LvRab11 and binding between 14-3-3ε and LvRab11 are active against WSSV infection, an in vivo neutralization assay and RNA interference were performed. The results of in vivo neutralization showed that LvRab11 and complexes of 14-3-3ε/LvRab11 delayed mortality in shrimp challenged with WSSV. Interestingly, in the RNAi experiments, the silencing effect of LvRab11 in WSSV-infected shrimp resulted in decreased ie-1 mRNA expression and WSSV copy number. Whereas suppression of complex 14-3-3ε/LvRab11 increased WSSV replication. This study has suggested two functions of LvRab11 in shrimp innate immunity; (1) at the early stage of WSSV infection, LvRab11 might play an important role in WSSV infection processes and (2) at the late stage of infection, the 14-3-3ε/LvRab11 interaction acquires functions that are involved in immune response against WSSV invasion.

Etiological and Epizootic Peculiarities Gastrointestinal Infection Processes in Sheep

For in-depth study of the peculiarities of the etiological and epizootic processes of gastro-intestinal infections in sheep, we conducted a study to determine the role of conditional-pathogenic microorganisms in this pathology. A study of the prevalence and frequency of intestinal infections in lambs on farms in the Kakheti region has shown that this pathology is very common and harms the region's livestock. During the study of pathological material of fallen lambs and aborted fetuses, 365 cultures were isolated, of which 182 cultures belonged to the genus Escherichia, 143 - Salmonella, 28 - Klebsiella, 4 - Streptococcus, 1 - Proteus and 7 cultures Diplococcus. Bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family has been found to play an important role in the development of gastro-intestinal diseases in lambs, accounting for approximately 97% of isolated cultures, of which Escherichia and Salmonella predominate, 51.0% and 39.1%. DOWNLOADS

Biomarkers and Bioactivity in Drug Discovery using a Joint Modelling Approach

Biomarkers that are validated and robust are required for the enhancement of diagnosis, the observation of drug-related activity, therapeutic reactions, and as the blueprint for developing safer and more direct therapeutic efforts for a variety of chronic ailments. Various kinds of biomarkers have proven impactful when it comes to the discovery and development of drugs, but the procedure that involves identifying and verifying ailment-specific biomarkers has proven to be hassling. In recent times, there have been some advancements in multiple omics (also known as multi-omics) methods like transcriptomic, cytometry, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and imaging. These advancements have made it possible for the discovery and development of distinct biomarkers for complicated chronic ailments to be accelerated expeditiously. In spite of the fact that numerous drawbacks still need to be looked into, ongoing efforts for the discovery and improvement of illness-associated biomarkers will go a long way in optimizing decision-making across the entire process of drug development and expand our comprehension of the infection processes. In addition, when the preclinical biomarkers are effectively translated into the clinic, the way will pave well to an equally effective implementation of personalized therapies throughout complicated illness environments to become beneficial to patients, healthcare service providers and the industry of bio-pharma.

Potential Antiviral Properties of Industrially Important Marine Algal Polysaccharides and Their Significance in Fighting a Future Viral Pandemic

Over the decades, the world has witnessed diverse virus associated pandemics. The significant inhibitory effects of marine sulfated polysaccharides against SARS-CoV-2 shows its therapeutic potential in future biomedical applications and drug development. Algal polysaccharides exhibited significant role in antimicrobial, antitumor, antioxidative, antiviral, anticoagulant, antihepatotoxic and immunomodulating activities. Owing to their health benefits, the sulfated polysaccharides from marine algae are a great deal of interest globally. Algal polysaccharides such as agar, alginate, carrageenans, porphyran, fucoidan, laminaran and ulvans are investigated for their nutraceutical potential at different stages of infection processes, structural diversity, complexity and mechanism of action. In this review, we focus on the recent antiviral studies of the marine algae-based polysaccharides and their potential towards antiviral medicines.

Assembling the Current Pieces: The Puzzle of RNA-Mediated Regulation in Staphylococcus aureus

The success of the major opportunistic human Staphylococcus aureus relies on the production of numerous virulence factors, which allow rapid colonization and dissemination in any tissues. Indeed, regulation of its virulence is multifactorial, and based on the production of transcriptional factors, two-component systems (TCS) and small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs). Advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies have unveiled the existence of hundreds of potential RNAs with regulatory functions, but only a fraction of which have been validated in vivo. These discoveries have modified our thinking and understanding of bacterial physiology and virulence fitness by placing sRNAs, alongside transcriptional regulators, at the center of complex and intertwined regulatory networks that allow S. aureus to rapidly adapt to the environmental cues present at infection sites. In this review, we describe the recently acquired knowledge of characterized regulatory RNAs in S. aureus that are associated with metal starvation, nutrient availability, stress responses and virulence. These findings highlight the importance of sRNAs for the comprehension of S. aureus infection processes while raising questions about the interplay between these key regulators and the pathways they control.

Evolutionary Parasitology

Parasites are ubiquitous and shape almost every aspect of their hosts, including physiology, behaviour, life histories, the structure of the microbiota, and entire communities. Hence, parasitism is one of the most potent forces in nature and, without parasites, the world would look very different. The book gives an overview over the parasite groups and the diversity of defences that hosts have evolved, such as immune systems. Principles of evolutionary biology and ecology analyse major elements of host–parasite interactions, including virulence, infection processes, tolerance, resistance, specificity, memory, polymorphisms, within-host dynamics, diseases spaces, and many other aspects. Genetics is always one of the key elements in these topics. Modelling, furthermore, can predict best strategies for host and parasites. Similarly, the spread of an infectious disease in epidemiology combines with molecular data and genomics. Furthermore, parasites have evolved ways to overcome defences and to manipulate their hosts. Hosts and parasites, therefore, continuously co-evolve, with changes sometimes occurring very rapidly, and sometimes requiring geological times. Many infectious diseases of humans have emerged from a zoonotic origin, in processes governed by the basic principles discussed in the different sections. Hence, this book integrates different fields to study the diversity of host–parasite processes and phenomena. It summarizes the essential topics for the study of evolutionary parasitology and will be useful for a broad audience.

Arabidopsis RAB8A, RAB8B, and RAB8D Proteins Interact with Several RTNLB Proteins and Are Involved in the Agrobacterium tumefaciens Infection Process

Arabidopsis thaliana small GTP-binding proteins, AtRAB8s, associate with the endomembrane system and modulate tubulovesicular trafficking between compartments of the biosynthetic and endocytic pathways. There are 5 members in Arabidopsis, namely AtRAB8A-8E. Yeast two-hybrid assays, bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays, and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pull-down assays showed that RAB8A, 8B, and 8D interacted with several membrane-associated reticulon-like (AtRTNLB) proteins in yeast, plant cells, and in vitro. Furthermore, RAB8A, 8B, and 8D proteins showed interactions with the Agrobacterium tumefaciens virulence protein, VirB2, a component of a Type IV secretion system (T4SS). A. tumefaciens uses a T4SS to transfer T-DNA and Virulence proteins to plants, which causes crown gall disease in plants. The Arabidopsis rab8A, rab8B, and rab8D single mutants showed decrease levels of Agrobacterium-mediated root and seedling transformation, while the RAB8A, 8B, and 8D overexpression (O/E) transgenic Arabidopsis plants were hypersusceptible to A. tumefaciens and Pseudomonas syringae infections. RAB8A-8E transcripts accumulated differently in roots, rosette leaves, cauline leaves, inflorescence, and flowers of wild-type plants. In summary, RAB8A, 8B, and 8D interacted with several RTNLB proteins and participated in A. tumefaciens and P. syringae infection processes.

The Plant Cuticle: An Ancient Guardian Barrier Set Against Long-Standing Rivals

The aerial surfaces of plants are covered by a protective barrier formed by the cutin polyester and waxes, collectively referred to as the cuticle. Plant cuticles prevent the loss of water, regulate transpiration, and facilitate the transport of gases and solutes. As the cuticle covers the outermost epidermal cell layer, it also acts as the first line of defense against environmental cues and biotic stresses triggered by a large array of pathogens and pests, such as fungi, bacteria, and insects. Numerous studies highlight the cuticle interface as the site of complex molecular interactions between plants and pathogens. Here, we outline the multidimensional roles of cuticle-derived components, namely, epicuticular waxes and cutin monomers, during plant interactions with pathogenic fungi. We describe how certain wax components affect various pre-penetration and infection processes of fungi with different lifestyles, and then shift our focus to the roles played by the cutin monomers that are released from the cuticle owing to the activity of fungal cutinases during the early stages of infection. We discuss how cutin monomers can activate fungal cutinases and initiate the formation of infection organs, the significant impacts of cuticle defects on the nature of plant–fungal interactions, along with the possible mechanisms raised thus far in the debate on how host plants perceive cutin monomers and/or cuticle defects to elicit defense responses.