UFMylation promotes orthoflavivirus infectious particle production.

Post-translational modifications play crucial roles in viral infections, yet many potential modifications remain unexplored in orthoflavivirus biology. Here we demonstrate that the UFMylation system, a post-translational modification system that catalyzes the transfer of UFM1 onto proteins, promotes infection by multiple orthoflaviviruses including dengue virus, Zika virus, West Nile virus, and yellow fever virus. We found that depletion of the UFMylation E3 ligase complex proteins UFL1 and UFBP1, as well as other UFMylation machinery components (UBA5, UFC1, and UFM1), significantly reduces infectious virion production for orthoflaviviruses but not the hepacivirus, hepatitis C.

The Perception of Preparedness in Undergraduate Nursing Students During COVID-19.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the perception of preparedness in nursing students who transitioned to online and virtual learning platforms brought about by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Design: Descriptive, correlational, nonexperimental research design.

Method: Data collection was attained through Facebook groups using the Casey-Fink Readiness for Practice Survey and questions about comfort in nursing skills and multiple patient assignments.

Quantitative evaluation of latent fingermarks with novel enhancement and illumination.

A variety of suspended silica and metal nanoparticles have been used over the last 20 years to enhance latent fingermarks. This study quantitatively evaluates enhancement of natural and sebum-enriched fingermarks from three adult subjects acquired with a consistent applied force on glass with a fingermark press using suspended commercially available polystyrene (PS) particles. Images of the enhanced fingermarks acquired with total internal reflection (TIR), or standard overhead white light (WL), illumination are compared with fingermarks enhanced with conventional methods including cyanoacrylate fuming.

Tradeoffs for a viral mutant with enhanced replication speed.

RNA viruses exist as genetically heterogeneous populations due to high mutation rates, and many of these mutations reduce fitness and/or replication speed. However, it is unknown whether mutations can increase replication speed of a virus already well adapted to replication in cultured cells. By sequentially passaging coxsackievirus B3 in cultured cells and collecting the very earliest progeny, we selected for increased replication speed.

A Novel Corn-Expressed Phytase Improves Daily Weight Gain, Protein Efficiency Ratio and Nutrients Digestibility and Alters Fecal Microbiota in Pigs Fed with Very Low Protein Diets.

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of a novel corn-expressed phytase (CEP) on growth, nutrients digestibility, bone characteristics and fecal microbiota of pigs fed with very low-protein, -calcium (Ca) and -phosphorous (P) diets. Forty-eight barrows were subjected to 6 groups for 4 weeks: positive control-adequate protein (PC), negative control-reduced protein (NC), NC + low-dose CEP, i.e.