A nematode-specific ribonucleoprotein complex mediates interactions between the major nematode spliced leader snRNP and its target pre-mRNAs.

Spliced leader trans-splicing of pre-mRNAs is a critical step in the gene expression of many eukaryotes. How the spliced leader RNA and its target transcripts are brought together to form the trans-spliceosome remains an important unanswered question. Using immunoprecipitation followed by protein analysis via mass spectrometry and RIP-Seq, we show that the nematode-specific proteins, SNA-3 and SUT-1, form a complex with a set of enigmatic non-coding RNAs, the SmY RNAs.

Nature of β-1,3-Glucan-Exposing Features on Candida albicans Cell Wall and Their Modulation.

Candida albicans exists as a commensal of mucosal surfaces and the gastrointestinal tract without causing pathology. However, this fungus is also a common cause of mucosal and systemic infections when antifungal immune defenses become compromised. The activation of antifungal host defenses depends on the recognition of fungal pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), such as β-1,3-glucan.

Rechallenge after anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury in a high HIV prevalence cohort.

Background: There are limited data on the outcomes of rechallenge with anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT) following anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (AT-DILI) in a high HIV prevalence setting.

Objectives: To describe the outcomes of rechallenge with first-line ATT.

Method: Hospitalised participants with AT-DILI who were enrolled into a randomised controlled trial of N-acetylcysteine in Cape Town, South Africa, were followed up until completion of ATT rechallenge.

Exploration of the Nurse Shark () Plasma Immunoproteome Using High-Resolution LC-MS/MS.

Many animals of scientific importance lack species-specific reagents (e.g., monoclonal antibodies) for in-depth studies of immune proteins.

Biomarkers of caspofungin resistance in isolates: A proteomic approach.

is a clinically important polymorphic fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening invasive infections in immunocompromised patients. Antifungal therapy failure is a substantial clinical problem, due to the emergence of an increasing number of drug-resistant isolates. Caspofungin is a common antifungal drug, often used as first-line therapy that inhibits cell wall β-(1,3)-glucan synthesis.

The sting in the tail of severe falciparum malaria: Post-artesunate delayed haemolysis.

Post-artesunate delayed haemolysis (PADH) is thought to occur because of delayed clearance of previously malarial infected erythrocytes spared by 'pitting' during treatment. We report a case of PADH following the treatment of malaria (32% parasitaemia), with a positive direct antiglobulin (DAT) test, suggesting an immune mechanism.

Changing HCW attitudes: a case study of normalizing HIV service delivery in emergency departments.

Background: Delays in the implementation of evidence-based practices are significant and ubiquitous, compromising health outcomes. Resistance to change is a key factor in hindering adoption and integration of new evidence-based interventions. This study seeks to understand the impact of exposure to HIV testing within a research context on provider attitudes towards HIV counselling and testing (HCT) in emergency departments (ED).

Cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 and associated risk factors among healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Objectives: This study assesses the cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) during South Africa's first wave and examines the associated demographic, health-related and occupational risk factors for infection.

Methods: Multistage cluster sampling was used in a cross-sectional study to recruit 1309 HCWs from two academic hospitals in the Eastern Cape, South Africa over 6 weeks in November and December 2020. Prior test results for SARS-CoV-2 PCR and participants' characteristics were recorded while a blood sample was drawn for detection of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein.

The geography of emergency department-based HIV testing in South Africa: Can patients link to care?

Background: Emergency Departments (EDs) can serve as clinical sites for identification of new HIV infections and their entry into care. We examined if HIV-positive patients who present to EDs in South Africa are able to successfully link to care.

Methods: We conducted a one-year longitudinal prospective cohort study in four hospitals across the Eastern Cape, South Africa, with participants followed between July 2016 and July 2018.

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine among the Healthcare Workers in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: A Cross Sectional Study.

Background: This study assesses the perceptions and acceptance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination. It also examines its influencing factors among the healthcare workers (HCWs) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study performed in November and December 2020, a total of 1308 HCWs from two large academic hospitals participated in the Eastern Cape Healthcare Workers Acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 (ECHAS) study.

Anthemosoma garnhami in an HIV-Infected Man from Zimbabwe Living in South Africa.

An HIV-positive man from Zimbabwe living in South Africa sought treatment for multiple clinical signs, including fever, weight loss, anemia, and splenomegaly. We identified in his blood an African rodent piroplasm, Anthemosoma garnhami, related to Babesia species. This finding extends the known geographic and host range of A.

Eastern Cape Healthcare Workers Acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 (ECHAS): Cross-Sectional (Nested Cohort) Study Protocol.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of infection by the virulent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Though data exist on the positivity rate of the SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test as well as COVID-19-related deaths amongst HCWs in South Africa, the overall infection rate remains underestimated by these indicators. It is also unclear whether the humoral immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection offers durable protection against reinfection.

Plasma Proteome Responses in Salmonid Fish Following Immunization.

Vaccination plays a critical role in the protection of humans and other animals from infectious diseases. However, the same vaccine often confers different protection levels among individuals due to variation in genetics and/or immunological histories. While this represents a well-recognized issue in humans, it has received little attention in fish.

Addition of Broad Bean Hull to Wheat Flour for the Development of High-Fiber Bread: Effects on Physical and Nutritional Properties.

The seed coat (hull) of broad bean () (BBH) is a significant secondary product of processing with a promising nutritional profile. Bean hull has a high fiber content (49%), yet it remains underexploited as an ingredient by the food industry. This study investigated the potential of this secondary product to partially replace wheat flour for the development of high-fiber breads.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Intravenous N-Acetylcysteine in the Management of Anti-tuberculosis Drug-Induced Liver Injury.

Background: Liver injury is a common complication of anti-tuberculosis therapy. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) used in patients with paracetamol toxicity with limited evidence of benefit in liver injury due to other causes.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of intravenous NAC in hospitalized adult patients with anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (AT-DILI).

Patient acceptance of HIV testing services in rural emergency departments in South Africa.

Background: South Africa faces the highest burden of HIV infection globally. The National Strategic Plan on HIV recommends provider-initiated HIV counselling and testing (HCT) in all healthcare facilities. However, HIV continues to overwhelm the healthcare system.

Calretinin is a novel candidate marker for adverse ovarian effects of early life exposure to mixtures of endocrine disruptors in the rat.

Disruption of sensitive stages of ovary development during fetal and perinatal life can have severe and life-long consequences for a woman's reproductive life. Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals may affect ovarian development, leading to subsequent reproductive disorders. Here, we investigated the effect of early life exposure to defined mixtures of human-relevant endocrine disrupting chemicals on the rat ovary.

β-Glucan is a major growth substrate for human gut bacteria related to Coprococcus eutactus.

A clone encoding carboxymethyl cellulase activity was isolated during functional screening of a human gut metagenomic library using Lactococcus lactis MG1363 as heterologous host. The insert carried a glycoside hydrolase family 9 (GH9) catalytic domain with sequence similarity to a gene from Coprococcus eutactus ART55/1. Genome surveys indicated a limited distribution of GH9 domains among dominant human colonic anaerobes.

Targeting the HIV Epidemic in South Africa: The Need for Testing and Linkage to Care in Emergency Departments.

Background: The Eastern Cape province of South Africa has one of the highest burdens of HIV in the world. Emergency Departments (EDs) can serve as optimal clinical sites for the identification of new HIV infections and entry into care. We sought to determine the current burden of HIV disease among ED patients in the Eastern Cape.

Effects of Conformational Changes in Peptide-CRM Conjugate Vaccines.

Conjugate vaccines prepared with the cross-reactive material 197 (CRM) carrier protein have been successful in the clinic and are of great interest in the field of immunotherapy. One route to preparing peptide-CRM conjugate vaccines involves an activation-conjugation strategy, effectively coupling lysine residues on the protein to cysteine thiolate groups on the peptide of interest using a heterobifunctional linker as an activation agent. This method has been found to result in two distinct populations of conjugates, believed to be the result of a conformational change of CRM during preparation.

Incorporating salal berry () and blackcurrant () pomace in yogurt for the development of a beverage with antidiabetic properties.

In this study aqueous extracts from salal berry (SB) and blackcurrant pomace (BCP) were used to reformulate yogurt and the anti-diabetic properties of the beverage were investigated during 4 weeks of cold storage at 4 °C. Results indicated that α-amylase, α-glucosidase and DPP-IV inhibitory activities increased with storage time for all samples. At the end of storage period α-amylase, α-glucosidase and DPP-IV inhibition were >61%, 62% and 56% respectively for all yogurt types.

High-throughput proteomic profiling of the fish liver following bacterial infection.

Background: High-throughput proteomics was used to determine the role of the fish liver in defense responses to bacterial infection. This was done using a rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) model following infection with Aeromonas salmonicida, the causative agent of furunculosis. The vertebrate liver has multifaceted functions in innate immunity, metabolism, and growth; we hypothesize this tissue serves a dual role in supporting host defense in parallel to metabolic adjustments that promote effective immune function.

A Window Into the HIV Epidemic from a South African Emergency Department.

The aim of the study was to describe the HIV care continuum in emergency department (ED) patients in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. This is a cross-sectional, identity-unlinked serosurvey, whereby discarded/excess samples from all patients who had blood drawn during the study period for routine care and sufficient serum remaining were tested for HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus infection; HIV viral load (VL); and presence of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. We also estimated cross-sectional incidence using the Limiting-Antigen Avidity assay and HIV VL.

Implementing emergency department-based HIV testing in a low-resource setting: The value of a structured feasibility assessment tool.

Introduction: HIV is a worldwide health problem with continuing high rates of new infections in many parts of the world. This lack of progress in decreasing overall incidence rates has sparked innovative HIV testing strategies, including expansion of testing into the emergency department (ED) setting. Emergency departments have been shown to be high-yield testing venues in the United States and other developed world settings.