A Revised Phylogenetic Classification for (Violaceae).

The genus (Violaceae) is among the 40-50 largest genera among angiosperms, yet its taxonomy has not been revised for nearly a century. In the most recent revision, by Wilhelm Becker in 1925, the then-known 400 species were distributed among 14 sections and numerous unranked groups. Here, we provide an updated, comprehensive classification of the genus, based on data from phylogeny, morphology, chromosome counts, and ploidy, and based on modern principles of monophyly.

Smartphone-enabled video-observed versus directly observed treatment for tuberculosis: a multicentre, analyst-blinded, randomised, controlled superiority trial.

Background: Directly observed treatment (DOT) has been the standard of care for tuberculosis since the early 1990s, but it is inconvenient for patients and service providers. Video-observed therapy (VOT) has been conditionally recommended by WHO as an alternative to DOT. We tested whether levels of treatment observation were improved with VOT.

Prognostic value of interferon-γ release assays and tuberculin skin test in predicting the development of active tuberculosis (UK PREDICT TB): a prospective cohort study.

Background: Tackling tuberculosis requires testing and treatment of latent tuberculosis in high-risk groups. The aim of this study was to estimate the predictive values of the tuberculin skin test (TST) and two interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) for the development of active tuberculosis in high-risk groups-ie, people in recent contact with active tuberculosis cases and from high-burden countries.

Method: In this prospective cohort study, we recruited participants from 54 centres (eg, clinics, community settings) in London, Birmingham, and Leicester in the UK.

High prevalence of latent tuberculosis and bloodborne virus infection in a homeless population.

Introduction: Urban homeless populations in the UK have been shown to have high rates of active tuberculosis, but less is known about the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of LTBI among individuals using homeless hostels in London.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey with outcome follow-up in homeless hostels in London.

The duration of protection of school-aged BCG vaccination in England: a population-based case-control study.

Background: Evidence of protection from childhood Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) against tuberculosis (TB) in adulthood, when most transmission occurs, is important for TB control and resource allocation.

Methods: We conducted a population-based case-control study of protection by BCG given to children aged 12-13 years against tuberculosis occurring 10-29 years later. We recruited UK-born White subjects with tuberculosis and randomly sampled White community controls.

Leprosy in England and Wales 1953-2012: surveillance and challenges in low incidence countries.

Objective: To review all notified cases of leprosy in England and Wales between 1953 and 2012.

Design: National surveillance study of all reported cases.

Setting: England and Wales.

Enter B and W: two new meningococcal vaccine programmes launched.

In 2015, the UK became the first country in the world to have a comprehensive routine meningococcal vaccine programme targeting all of the main capsular groups of N. meningitidis. 1 An infant vaccine programme against meningococcal capsular group B Neisseria meningitidis (MenB) was launched from 1st September with an aim to reduce endemic MenB disease in early childhood.

Natural T Cell-mediated Protection against Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza. Results of the Flu Watch Cohort Study.

Rationale: A high proportion of influenza infections are asymptomatic. Animal and human challenge studies and observational studies suggest T cells protect against disease among those infected, but the impact of T-cell immunity at the population level is unknown.

Objectives: To investigate whether naturally preexisting T-cell responses targeting highly conserved internal influenza proteins could provide cross-protective immunity against pandemic and seasonal influenza.

Comparative community burden and severity of seasonal and pandemic influenza: results of the Flu Watch cohort study.

Background: Assessment of the effect of influenza on populations, including risk of infection, illness if infected, illness severity, and consultation rates, is essential to inform future control and prevention. We aimed to compare the community burden and severity of seasonal and pandemic influenza across different age groups and study years and gain insight into the extent to which traditional surveillance underestimates this burden.

Methods: Using preseason and postseason serology, weekly illness reporting, and RT-PCR identification of influenza from nasal swabs, we tracked the course of seasonal and pandemic influenza over five successive cohorts (England 2006-11; 5448 person-seasons' follow-up).

BCG vaccination in England since 2005: a survey of policy and practice.

Objective: Assess the current BCG vaccination policies and delivery pathways for immunisation in Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England since the 2005 change in recommendations.

Design: A survey of key informants across PCTs using a standardised, structured questionnaire.

Setting: 152 PCTs in England.

Isolation and analysis of small RNAs from virus-infected plants.

In this chapter, we detail some of the methods available to the researcher for isolating and analyzing virus-derived small RNAs (vsRNAs). These methods have been successfully used for four plant viruses: Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), including the CMV Y-Satellite, Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), Potato leaf roll virus (PLRV), and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) from inoculated Arabidopsis thaliana plants (Fusaro et al. EMBO Rep 7:1168-1175, 2006; Curtin et al.

RNA silencing and antiviral defense in plants.

Given the widespread impact of RNA silencing on the Arabidopsis thaliana genome, it is indeed remarkable that this means of gene regulation went undiscovered for so long. Since the publication of landmark papers in 1998 (Fire et al., Nature 391:806-811, 1998; Waterhouse et al.

Controversies and unresolved issues in tuberculosis prevention and control: a low-burden-country perspective.

Despite declining incidence in most high-income countries, tuberculosis shows no signs of disappearing in the near future. Although surveillance data from most Western European countries show relatively stable declines in the rate of tuberculosis over the past several decades, some have reported either an increasing rate or a decelerating pace of reduction in recent years. The burden of disease now disproportionately affects high-risk groups such as migrants, homeless persons, and prisoners.

A new sentinel surveillance system for severe influenza in England shows a shift in age distribution of hospitalised cases in the post-pandemic period.

Background: The World Health Organization and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control have highlighted the importance of establishing systems to monitor severe influenza. Following the H1N1 (2009) influenza pandemic, a sentinel network of 23 Trusts, the UK Severe Influenza Surveillance System (USISS), was established to monitor hospitalisations due to confirmed seasonal influenza in England. This article presents the results of the first season of operation of USISS in 2010/11.

Use of antiviral drugs to reduce household transmission of pandemic (H1N1) 2009, United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom implemented a containment strategy for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 through administering antiviral agents (AVs) to patients and their close contacts. This observational household cohort study describes the effect of AVs on household transmission. We followed 285 confirmed primary cases in 259 households with 761 contacts.

Has estimation of numbers of cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 in England in 2009 provided a useful measure of the occurrence of disease?

Background: Surveillance indicators of influenza activity have generally provided robust comparative trend data for England. These indicators became less reliable, however, for monitoring trends in activity, or comparisons with previous years, during the influenza pandemic in 2009 because of changes in the perception of risk and changes in the systems of healthcare delivery. An approach was developed to estimate the number of cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) occurring because of infection with pandemic influenza virus.

The roles of plant dsRNA-binding proteins in RNAi-like pathways.

Dicers are associated with double-stranded RNA-binding proteins (dsRBPs) in animals. In the plant, Arabidopsis, there are four dicer-like (DCL) proteins and five potential dsRBPs. These DCLs act redundantly and hierarchically.

Increasing antituberculosis drug resistance in the United Kingdom: analysis of National Surveillance Data.

Objective: To identify recent trends in, and factors associated with, resistance to antituberculosis drugs in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Design: Cohort of tuberculosis cases reported to the enhanced tuberculosis surveillance system matched to data on drug susceptibility and national strain typing data.

Setting: England, Wales, and Northern Ireland 1998-2005.

Influenza vaccination in pregnancy: current evidence and selected national policies.

In several countries, pregnant women are recommended seasonal influenza vaccination and identified as a priority group for vaccination in the event of a pandemic. We review the evidence for the risks of influenza and the risks and benefits of seasonal influenza vaccination in pregnancy. Data on influenza vaccine safety in pregnancy are inadequate, but the few published studies report no serious side-effects in women or their infants, including no indication of harm from vaccination in the first trimester.

Tuberculosis treatment outcome monitoring in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for cases reported in 2001.

Background: Tuberculosis treatment outcome monitoring was introduced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2002 based on cases reported in 2001.

Objective: To estimate the proportion of treatment success and to identify predictors of non-completion for cases reported in 2001.

Method: At 12 months after the start of treatment, outcome was assessed according to a protocol based on standardised European recommendations.

The growing impact of HIV infection on the epidemiology of tuberculosis in England and Wales: 1999 2003.

Background: Previous studies have estimated the prevalence of tuberculosis and HIV infection in population subgroups in the UK. This study was undertaken to describe recent trends in the proportion of individuals with HIV infection among reported cases of tuberculosis in England and Wales, and to review the implications for clinical and public health care.

Methods: A population-based matching study using national surveillance databases was used to investigate all persons aged 15 years and over reported with a diagnosis of tuberculosis to the Health Protection Agency in England and Wales in 1999-2003.