Coevolution of a generalist pathogen with many hosts: the case of the amphibian chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

Generalist pathogens maintain infectivity in numerous hosts; how this broad ecological niche impacts host-pathogen coevolution remains to be widely explored. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a highly generalist pathogenic fungus that has caused devastating declines in hundreds of amphibian species worldwide. This review examines amphibian chytridiomycosis host-pathogen interactions and available evidence for coevolution between Bd and its numerous hosts.

Chytrid infections exhibit historical spread and contemporary seasonality in a declining stream-breeding frog.

Species with extensive geographical ranges pose special challenges to assessing drivers of wildlife disease, necessitating collaborative and large-scale analyses. The imperilled foothill yellow-legged frog () inhabits a wide geographical range and variable conditions in rivers of California and Oregon (USA), and is considered threatened by the pathogen (Bd). To assess drivers of Bd infections over time and space, we compiled over 2000 datapoints from museum specimens (collected 1897-2005) and field samples (2005-2021) spanning 9° of latitude.

Tracking the Uneven Outcomes of COVID-19 on Racial and Ethnic Groups: Implications for Health Policy.

The socioeconomic shocks of the first COVID-19 pandemic wave disproportionately affected vulnerable groups. But did that trend continue to hold during the Delta and Omicron waves? Leveraging data from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, this paper examines whether demographic inequalities persisted across the waves of COVID-19 infections. The current study utilizes fixed effects regressions to isolate the marginal relationships between socioeconomic factors with case counts and death counts.

The physician CEO advantage and hospital performance during the COVID-19 pandemic: capacity utilization and patient satisfaction.

Purpose: Prior studies have shown that physician-led hospitals have several advantages over non-physician-led hospitals. This study seeks to test whether these advantages also extend to periods of extreme disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which affect bed availability and hospital utilization.

Design/methodology/approach: The authors utilize a bounded Tobit estimation to identify differences in patient satisfaction rates and in-hospital utilization rates of top-rated hospitals in the United States.

Recommendations for empowering early career researchers to improve research culture and practice.

Early career researchers (ECRs) are important stakeholders leading efforts to catalyze systemic change in research culture and practice. Here, we summarize the outputs from a virtual unconventional conference (unconference), which brought together 54 invited experts from 20 countries with extensive experience in ECR initiatives designed to improve the culture and practice of science. Together, we drafted 2 sets of recommendations for (1) ECRs directly involved in initiatives or activities to change research culture and practice; and (2) stakeholders who wish to support ECRs in these efforts.