Group Movement in Entomopathogenic Nematodes: Aggregation Levels Vary Based on Context.

Maintenance of an aggregated population structure implies within-species communication. In mixed-species environments, species-specific aggregations may reduce interspecific competition and promote coexistence. We studied whether movement and aggregation behavior of three entomopathogenic nematode species changed when isolated, as compared to mixed-species arenas.

Enhancing entomopathogenic nematode efficacy with Pheromones: A field study targeting the pecan weevil.

Consistent efficacy is required for entomopathogenic nematodes to gain wider adoption as biocontrol agents. Recently, we demonstrated that when exposed to nematode pheromone blends, entomopathogenic nematodes showed increased dispersal, infectivity, and efficacy under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Prior to this study, the impact of entomopathogenic nematode-pheromone combinations on field efficacy had yet to be studied.

Movers and shakers: Do nematodes that move more invade more?

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are roundworms that parasitize insects with the aid of symbiotic bacteria. These nematodes have been used both as model organisms and for biological control of pests. The specialized third stage of an EPN, known as an infective juvenile (IJ) must forage to find a host with strategies varying from species to species (cruising, ambushing, and intermediate).

Ingested histamine and serotonin interact to alter feeding and flight behavior and infection with parasites.

Blood levels of histamine and serotonin (5-HT) are altered in human malaria, and, at these levels, we have shown they have broad, independent effects on following ingestion by this invasive mosquito. Given that histamine and 5-HT are ingested together under natural conditions and that histaminergic and serotonergic signaling are networked in other organisms, we examined effects of combinations of these biogenic amines provisioned to at healthy human levels (high 5-HT, low histamine) or levels associated with severe malaria (low 5-HT, high histamine). Treatments were delivered in water (priming) before feeding on -infected mice or via artificial blood meal.

Extended surveillance to assess safety of 9-valent human papillomavirus vaccine.

The safety of 9-valent HPV vaccine (9vHPV) has been established with regard to common and uncommon adverse events. However, investigation of rare and severe adverse events requires extended study periods to capture rare outcomes. This observational cohort study investigated the occurrence of three rare and serious adverse events following 9-valent human papillomavirus (9vHPV) vaccination compared to other vaccinations, in US individuals 9-26 years old, using electronic health record data from the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD).

Maternal SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination and Infant Protection Against SARS-CoV-2 During the First 6 Months of Life.

We examined the effectiveness of maternal vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infection in 30,288 infants born at Kaiser Permanente Northern California from December 15, 2020, to May 31, 2022. Using Cox regression, the effectiveness of maternal vaccination was 85% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 67, 93), 64% (CI: 43, 78) and 57% (CI: 36,71) during the first 2, 4 and 6 months of life, respectively, in the Delta variant period. In the Omicron variant period, the effectiveness of maternal vaccination in these three age intervals was 22% (CI: -18,48), 14% (CI: -10,32) and 12% (CI: -4,26), respectively.

Feeding, Flight Behavior, and Infection With Malaria Parasites are Altered by Ingestion of Serotonin.

Approximately 3.4 billion people are at risk of malaria, a disease caused by infection with spp. parasites, which are transmitted by mosquitoes.

Safety of measles and pertussis-containing vaccines in children with autism spectrum disorders.

Objectives: To determine whether children aged 4-7 years with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were at increased risk of fever, febrile seizures, or emergency department (ED) visits following measles- or pertussis-containing vaccines compared with children without ASD.

Methods: The study included children born between 1995-2012, aged 4-7 years at vaccination, and members of six healthcare delivery systems within Vaccine Safety Datalink. We conducted self-controlled risk interval analyses comparing rates of outcomes in risk and control intervals within each group defined by ASD status, and then compared outcome rates between children with and without ASD, in risk and control intervals, by estimating difference-in-differences using logistic regressions.

Infected host responses across entomopathogenic nematode phylogeny.

We used a phylogenetic framework to examine the relationship between entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) vertical dispersal and infectivity when EPNs are exposed to a mixture of compounds found in late-stage EPN-infected insect cadavers. EPNs from five phylogenetically close and distant species (, , , and ) were exposed to cadaver macerate produced by their own species' infection and by infected hosts. We found that only three of the five species (, and ) responded to exposure to their own macerate by increasing rates of dispersal.

Hypotonic-hyporesponsive Episodes After Diphtheria, Tetanus and Acellular Pertussis Vaccination.

Background: Hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode (HHE) after whole cell pertussis vaccination is a known adverse event. Less is known about the risk of HHE after administration of acellular pertussis vaccines.

Methods: Using parental interviews, this study actively surveyed for HHE among infants after doses 1 and 2 of acellular pertussis vaccine.

Efficacy of Naturally Occurring and Commercial Entomopathogenic Nematodes Against Sugar Beet Wireworm (Coleoptera: Elateridae).

Wireworms are the larval stage of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae), and some of their species are serious pests of many crops. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of naturally occurring and commercial entomopathogenic nematode species against the sugar beet wireworm, Limonius californicus (Mannerheim), in the laboratory. First, efficacies of Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) collected from an irrigated (S.

Histamine Ingestion by Alters Important Vector Transmission Behaviors and Infection Success with Diverse Species.

An estimated 229 million people worldwide were impacted by malaria in 2019. The vectors of malaria parasites ( spp.) are mosquitoes, making their behavior, infection success, and ultimately transmission of great importance.

A Risk Score to Predict Infection.

Background: infection (CDI) is a major cause of severe diarrhea. In this retrospective study, we identified CDI risk factors by comparing demographic and clinical characteristics for Kaiser Permanente Northern California members ≥18 years old with and without laboratory-confirmed incident CDI.

Methods: We included these risk factors in logistic regression models to develop 2 risk scores that predict future CDI after an Index Date for Risk Score Assessment (IDRSA), marking the beginning of a period for which we estimated CDI risk.

Conspecific and heterospecific pheromones stimulate dispersal of entomopathogenic nematodes during quiescence.

Ascaroside pheromones stimulate dispersal, a key nematode behavior to find a new food source. Ascarosides produced by entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) drive infective juvenile (IJ) emergence from consumed cadavers and dispersal in soil. Without ascarosides from host cadavers, Steinernema feltiae (EPN) reduce dispersal substantially.

Retrospective study of the use of an influenza disease two-tiered classification system to characterize clinical severity in US children.

In children <5 years, influenza is associated with higher risk of serious disease and hospitalization when compared with other age groups. Influenza vaccination reduces the risk of influenza and vaccination may attenuate the severity of disease. Recent studies in Europe suggest that classifying influenza disease as mild versus moderate-to-severe (M-S) using a novel definition may be clinically significant.

Disruption of microtubule function in cultured human cells by a cytotoxic ruthenium(ii) polypyridyl complex.

Treatment of malignant and non-malignant cultured human cell lines with a cytotoxic IC dose of ∼2 μM tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium(ii) chloride () retards or arrests microtubule motion as tracked by visualizing fluorescently-tagged microtubule plus end-tracking proteins. Immunofluorescent microscopic images of the microtubules in fixed cells show substantial changes to cellular microtubule network and to overall cell morphology upon treatment with . Flow cytometry with MCF7 and H358 cells reveals only minor elevations of the number of cells in G/M phase, suggesting that the observed cytotoxicity is not tied to mitotic arrest.

Parental risk factors for fever in their children 7-10 days after the first dose of measles-containing vaccines.

We evaluated whether parental clinical conditions were associated with fever after a first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV) in the child in a cohort study including 244,125 children born in Kaiser Permanente Northern California between 2009 and 2016 who received MCV between ages 1 and 2 years. Each child was linked with his/her mother and father when possible. Parental clinical conditions present before and after their child's birth were identified.

Long-term effectiveness of zoster vaccine live for postherpetic neuralgia prevention.

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) occurs in 5-30% of individuals with herpes zoster (HZ) and is characterized by long-lasting pain. Zoster vaccine live (ZVL) is licensed for people 50 years and older to prevent HZ and PHN. This study evaluated vaccine effectiveness (VE) of ZVL against PHN.

Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Effectiveness Over Time.

Objectives: To determine pertussis risk by diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccination status and time since last DTaP dose.

Methods: Children born at Kaiser Permanente Northern California between 1999 and 2016 were followed from 3 months of age until they tested positive for pertussis; disenrolled from Kaiser Permanente Northern California; received the tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis, adsorbed vaccine; turned 11 years of age, or the end of the study period. DTaP vaccination status was categorized on the basis of the number of doses received in relation to the number of doses expected according to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice-recommended ages.