The role of leadership in HRH development in challenging public health settings.

As part of the special feature on leadership and human resources (HR), Management Sciences for Health profiles three leaders who have made a significance difference in the HR situation in their countries. By taking a comprehensive approach and working in partnership with stakeholders, these leaders demonstrate that strengthening health workforce planning, management, and training can have a positive effect on the performance of the health sector. Three profiles are presented, from Afghanistan, South Africa, and Southern Sudan, revealing common approaches and leadership traits while demonstrating the specificity of local contexts.

Active immunization of hamsters against Clostridium difficile infection using surface-layer protein.

Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of infectious antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, particularly among the elderly. Its surface-layer protein (SLP) was tested as a vaccine component in a series of immunization and challenge experiments with Golden Syrian hamsters, combined with different systemic and mucosal adjuvants. Some regimens were also tested in a nonchallenge BALB/c mouse model, enabling closer monitoring of the immune response.

Passive immunisation of hamsters against Clostridium difficile infection using antibodies to surface layer proteins.

Clostridium difficile is a major cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and the primary cause of pseudomembraneous colitis in hospitalised patients. We assessed the protective effect of anti-surface layer protein (SLP) antibodies on C. difficile infection in a lethal hamster challenge model.