TB diagnostic insights, progress made on point of care diagnostics and bioinformatics as an additional tool for improvement.

Despite major efforts made to control tuberculosis disease (TB), this disease continues to present a major global health challenge and drug resistance is continuously growing. TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and spreads exclusively via human-to-human contact transmission. Therefore, early detection and diagnosis for proper treatment with active TB have a great impact on public health.

Rift Valley Fever vaccine strategies: Enhanced stability of RVF Clone 13.

Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV) causes the zoonotic RVF disease, which results in substantial economic losses in livestock industries. Regular vaccination of livestock against RVF is necessary to generate long-term immunity and avoid the loss of livestock. The live attenuated vaccine based on Clone 13 virus strain has been used to reduce the negative impact of RVF disease.

Transcriptome analysis of Ehrlichia ruminantium in the ruminant host at the tick bite site and in the tick vector salivary glands.

Heartwater is a non-contagious tick-borne disease of domestic and wild ruminants. Data regarding the complex processes involved during pathogen-vector-host interaction during Ehrlichia ruminantium infection is lacking and could be improved with knowledge associated with gene expression changes in both the pathogen and the host. Thus, in the current study, we aimed to identify E.

Diversity of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp. in Bats and Their Blood-Feeding Ectoparasites from South Africa and Swaziland.

In addition to several emerging viruses, bats have been reported to host multiple bacteria but their zoonotic threats remain poorly understood, especially in Africa where the diversity of bats is important. Here, we investigated the presence and diversity of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp. in bats and their ectoparasites (Diptera and Siphonaptera) collected across South Africa and Swaziland.