Planetary health learning objectives: foundational knowledge for global health education in an era of climate change.

Planetary health is an emerging field that emphasises that humans depend on a healthy Earth for survival and, conversely, that the sustainability of Earth systems is dependent on human behaviours. In response to member demands for resources to support teaching and learning related to planetary health, the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) convened a working group to develop a set of planetary health learning objectives (PHLOs) that would complement the existing ten CUGH global health learning objectives. The eight PHLOs feature Earth system changes, planetary boundaries, and climate change science; ecological systems and One Health; human health outcomes; risk assessment, vulnerability, and resilience; policy, governance, and laws (including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement); roles and responsibilities of governments, businesses, civil society organisations, other institutions, communities, and individuals for mitigation, adaptation, conservation, restoration, and sustainability; environmental ethics, human rights, and climate justice; and environmental literacy and communication.

Long-term trends and spatial patterns of West Nile Virus emergence in California, 2004-2021.

Aims: West Nile Virus (WNV) has remained a persistent source of vector-borne disease risk in California since first being identified in the state in 2003. The geographic distribution of WNV activity is relatively widespread, but varies considerably across different regions within the state. Spatial variation in human WNV infection depends upon social-ecological factors that influence mosquito populations and virus transmission dynamics.

Susceptibilities of Ugandan Plasmodium falciparum Isolates to Proteasome Inhibitors.

The proteasome is a promising target for antimalarial chemotherapy. We assessed susceptibilities of fresh Plasmodium falciparum isolates from eastern Uganda to seven proteasome inhibitors: two asparagine ethylenediamines, two macrocyclic peptides, and three peptide boronates; five had median IC values <100 nM. TDI8304, a macrocylic peptide lead compound with drug-like properties, had a median IC of 16 nM.

Impact of Short-Term Storage on Antimalarial Susceptibilities of Fresh Ugandan Plasmodium falciparum Isolates.

We measured susceptibilities of Ugandan Plasmodium falciparum isolates assayed on the day of collection or after storage at 4°C. Samples were incubated with serial dilutions of 8 antimalarials, and susceptibilities were determined from 72-h growth inhibition assays. Storage was associated with decreased growth and lower 50% inhibitory concentration values, but differences between assays beginning on day 0 or after 1 or 2 days of storage were modest, indicating that short-term storage before drug susceptibility determination is feasible.

Quantifying Spillover of an Urban Invasive Vector of Plant Disease: Asian Citrus Psyllid () in California Citrus.

Urban environments frequently play an important role in the initial stages of biological invasions, often serving as gateways for non-native species, which may propagate to nearby natural and agricultural ecosystems in the event of spillover. In California, citrus trees are a dominant ornamental and food plant in urban and peri-urban environments. We studied the invasion dynamics of the Asian citrus psyllid (), which became widespread in urban areas of southern California starting in 2008, to understand the factors driving its more recent invasion in commercial citrus groves.

Drug susceptibility of in eastern Uganda: a longitudinal phenotypic and genotypic study.

Background: Treatment and control of malaria depends on artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) and is challenged by drug resistance, but thus far resistance to artemisinins and partner drugs has primarily occurred in southeast Asia. The aim of this study was to characterise antimalarial drug susceptibility of isolates from Tororo and Busia districts in Uganda.

Methods: In this prospective longitudinal study, isolates were collected from patients aged 6 months or older presenting at the Tororo District Hospital (Tororo district, a site with relatively low malaria incidence) or Masafu General Hospital (Busia district, a high-incidence site) in eastern Uganda with clinical symptoms of malaria, a positive Giemsa-stained blood film for , and no signs of severe disease.

Associations between Varied Susceptibilities to PfATP4 Inhibitors and Genotypes in Ugandan Plasmodium falciparum Isolates.

Among novel compounds under recent investigation as potential new antimalarial drugs are three independently developed inhibitors of the Plasmodium falciparum P-type ATPase (PfATP4): KAE609 (cipargamin), PA92, and SJ733. We assessed susceptibilities to these compounds of 374 fresh P. falciparum isolates collected in Tororo and Busia districts, Uganda, from 2016 to 2019.

Spatiotemporal trends of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Costa Rica.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) remains an important neglected tropical disease in Costa Rica, which has one of the largest burdens of this disease in Latin America.

Methods: We identified district-level hotspots of CL from 2006 to 2017 and conducted temporal analysis to identify where hotspots were increasing across the country.

Results: Clear patterns of CL risk were detected, with persistent hotspots located in the Caribbean region, where risk was also found to be increasing over time in some areas.

Lead Optimization of Second-Generation Acridones as Broad-Spectrum Antimalarials.

The global impact of malaria remains staggering despite extensive efforts to eradicate the disease. With increasing drug resistance and the absence of a clinically available vaccine, there is an urgent need for novel, affordable, and safe drugs for prevention and treatment of malaria. Previously, we described a novel antimalarial acridone chemotype that is potent against both blood-stage and liver-stage malaria parasites.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of the Southern California Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) invasion.

Biological invasions are governed by spatial processes that tend to be distributed in non-random ways across landscapes. Characterizing the spatial and temporal heterogeneities of the introduction, establishment, and spread of non-native insect species is a key aspect of effectively managing their geographic expansion. The Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri), a vector of the bacterium associated with huanglongbing (HLB), poses a serious threat to commercial and residential citrus trees.

Knowledge and prevention of tick-borne diseases vary across an urban-to-rural human land-use gradient.

We sought to determine the behavioral risk of exposure to tick-borne diseases across a human land-use gradient in a region endemic for diseases transmitted by the lone star tick. We measured the knowledge, attitudes, and preventive behaviors of visitors to 14 suburban, exurban, and rural recreational parks. A structured interview was conducted to determine respondents' (n=238) knowledge of tick-borne disease risk, perceived susceptibility to tick-borne disease, and tick bite prevention behaviors.

US university response to H1N1: a study of access to online preparedness and response information.

Background: The recent outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome, H5N1 (avian influenza), and, most recently, the novel H1N1 influenza pandemic of 2009 have raised awareness of the danger of new and emerging infections. Preparedness and response plans for such outbreaks are crucial, and given the centrality of the Internet as a source of information on university and college campuses, such plans should be made available at pandemic-dedicated university Web sites. The information on these sites must be comprehensive, accessible, and tailored to the specific circumstances of individual schools.