Willingness of the UK public to volunteer for testing in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The World Health Organization declared the rapid spread of COVID-19 around the world to be a global public health emergency. The spread of the disease is influenced by people's willingness to adopt preventative public health behaviours, such as participation in testing programmes, and risk perception can be an important determinant of engagement in such behaviours.

Methods: In this study, we present the first assessment during the first wave of the pandemic and the early stages of the first UK lockdown in April & May 2020 of how the UK public (N = 778) perceived the usefulness of testing for coronavirus and the factors that influence a person's willingness to test for coronavirus.

Wild animal and zoonotic disease risk management and regulation in China: Examining gaps and One Health opportunities in scope, mandates, and monitoring systems.

Emerging diseases of zoonotic origin such as COVID-19 are a continuing public health threat in China that lead to a significant socioeconomic burden. This study reviewed the current laws and regulations, government reports and policy documents, and existing literature on zoonotic disease preparedness and prevention across the forestry, agriculture, and public health authorities in China, to articulate the current landscape of potential risks, existing mandates, and gaps. A total of 55 known zoonotic diseases (59 pathogens) are routinely monitored under a multi-sectoral system among humans and domestic and wild animals in China.

Visualisation and biovolume quantification in the characterisation of biofilm formation in Mycoplasma fermentans.

The ability of mycoplasmas to persist on surfaces has been widely acknowledged, despite their fastidious nature. However, the organism's capability to form a recognisable biofilm structure has been identified more recently. In the current study Mycoplasma fermentans was found to adhere to the glass surface forming highly differentiated biofilm structures.

Determination of metabolic activity in planktonic and biofilm cells of Mycoplasma fermentans and Mycoplasma pneumoniae by nuclear magnetic resonance.

Mycoplasmas are fastidious microorganisms, typically characterised by their restricted metabolism and minimalist genome. Although there is reported evidence that some mycoplasmas can develop biofilms little is known about any differences in metabolism in these organisms between the growth states. A systematic metabolomics approach may help clarify differences associated between planktonic and biofilm associated mycoplasmas.

Nipah virus dynamics in bats and implications for spillover to humans.

Nipah virus (NiV) is an emerging bat-borne zoonotic virus that causes near-annual outbreaks of fatal encephalitis in South Asia-one of the most populous regions on Earth. In Bangladesh, infection occurs when people drink date-palm sap contaminated with bat excreta. Outbreaks are sporadic, and the influence of viral dynamics in bats on their temporal and spatial distribution is poorly understood.

Carriage of Staphylococcus species in the veterinary visiting dog population in mainland UK: molecular characterisation of resistance and virulence.

This study investigated the prevalence of nasal carriage of staphylococci in dogs and determined the characteristics of the isolates. A total of 724 dogs from 87 veterinary practices across the mainland UK were screened for carriage of Staphylococcus spp. All isolates were examined for meticillin resistance (MR) and the presence of the mecA gene investigated in those isolates showing resistance.

Duration of Maternal Antibodies against Canine Distemper Virus and Hendra Virus in Pteropid Bats.

Old World frugivorous bats have been identified as natural hosts for emerging zoonotic viruses of significant public health concern, including henipaviruses (Nipah and Hendra virus), Ebola virus, and Marburg virus. Epidemiological studies of these viruses in bats often utilize serology to describe viral dynamics, with particular attention paid to juveniles, whose birth increases the overall susceptibility of the population to a viral outbreak once maternal immunity wanes. However, little is understood about bat immunology, including the duration of maternal antibodies in neonates.

Development of an in situ culture-free screening test for the rapid detection of Staphylococcus aureus within healthcare environments.

This article reports the development of a novel fluorometric indicator which shows a rapid response when exposed to coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus (SA) bacteria (including methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria). The test is robust and will detect a wide variety of SA strains and there is no significant fluorescence response observed for other species of bacteria commonly found in clinical specimens, including other Staphylococcus bacteria. This research forms the basis of a prototype SA testing kit for the rapid detection of SA within hospital and healthcare environments as an economical prescreen or alternative to the current PCR based testing methodology.

The effect of copper(II), iron(II) sulphate, and vitamin C combinations on the weak antimicrobial activity of (+)-catechin against Staphylococcus aureus and other microbes.

Few attempts have been made to improve the activity of plant compounds with low antimicrobial efficacy. (+)-Catechin, a weak antimicrobial tea flavanol, was combined with putative adjuncts and tested against different species of bacteria. Copper(II) sulphate enhanced (+)-catechin activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa but not Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis or Escherichia coli.

Sequence features contributing to chromosomal rearrangements in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Through whole genome sequence alignments, breakpoints in chromosomal synteny can be identified and the sequence features associated with these determined. Alignments of the genome sequences of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain FA1090, N.gonorrhoeae strain NCCP11945, and N.

The application of high resolution diffusion NMR to the analysis of manuka honey.

The application of DOSY (Diffusion Ordered SpectroscopY) NMR as a technique for the virtual separation of key components of manuka honey and the implications for future discriminatory analysis of honey types is reported for the first time. The scope and the limitations of DOSY NMR are considered using the recently conceived DOSY Tool Box processing software and preliminary anti-bacterial data for the different honey types is reported.

Comparative genotypic and phenotypic characterisation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST398 isolated from animals and humans.

The high prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ST398 among pigs in certain European countries and North America and its occurrence in other animal species raises a question concerning the molecular mechanisms mediating the success of this lineage. In this study a panel of S. aureus strains belonging to sequence type (ST) 5 (n = 4), ST8 (n = 5), ST15 (n = 5), ST22 (n = 8), clonal complex (CC) 30 (n = 8), CC97 (n = 8), CC130 (n = 4), CC151 (n = 4) and ST398 (n = 18) were screened by DNA microarray and PCR for the carriage of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes.

Identification and quantification of the antimicrobial components of a citrus essential oil vapor.

The anti-bacterial components of a citrus essential oil vapor were identified as linalool, citral and beta-pinene using a bioautography method and quantified by GC-MS. Essential oil vapor release, monitored in real-time with Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization - MS (APCI-MS), showed differences in the vapor release profile oflimonene, beta-pinene and linalool over 24 hours, while Solid Phase Micro-extraction (SPME) GC-MS demonstrated changes in composition of the vapor at 35 degrees C. Fourteen isolates were tested in vitro for their susceptibility to the EO vapor and to linalool, citral and beta-pinene vapors, both separately and in a mixture containing the three components in the amounts at which they occur in the EO vapor.

Enhancement of antimicrobial activities of whole and sub-fractionated white tea by addition of copper (II) sulphate and vitamin C against Staphylococcus aureus; a mechanistic approach.

Background: Enhancement of antimicrobial plant products e.g. pomegranate extract by copper (II) sulphate is known.

The need for continued monitoring of antibiotic resistance patterns in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from London and Malta.

Background: Antibiotic resistance is an increasing problem in isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) worldwide. In 2001 The National Health Service in the UK introduced a mandatory bacteraemia surveillance scheme for the reporting of S.

Anti-microbial activities of pomegranate rind extracts: enhancement by cupric sulphate against clinical isolates of S. aureus, MRSA and PVL positive CA-MSSA.

Background: Recently, natural products have been evaluated as sources of antimicrobial agents with efficacies against a variety of micro-organisms.

Methods: This report describes the antimicrobial activities of pomegranate rind extract (PRE) singularly and in combination with cupric sulphate against methicillin-sensitive and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, MRSA respectively), and Panton-Valentine Leukocidin positive community acquired MSSA (PVL positive CA-MSSA).

Results: PRE alone showed limited efficacy against MRSA and MSSA strains.

The evaluation of novel chromogenic substrates for the detection of lipolytic activity in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA from two European study groups.

Eight novel chromogenic substrates were evaluated for their efficacy in detecting lipase activity in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from the United Kingdom and Malta. All isolates metabolized the chromogenic lipase substrates 5-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenylmethylene)-2-thioxothia-zolidin-4-one-3-ethanoic acid (SRA)-propionate, SRA-butyrate, SRA-octanoate and 2-[2-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-vinyl]-3-methy-benzothiazolium salt (SB(Z)TM)-acetate. Over 90% of the isolates metabolized the lipase substrates SRA-decanoate and SRA-laurate.

An alternative methodology for the prediction of adherence to anti HIV treatment.

Background: Successful treatment of HIV-positive patients is fundamental to controlling the progression to AIDS. Causes of treatment failure are either related to drug resistance and/or insufficient drug levels in the blood. Severe side effects, coupled with the intense nature of many regimens, can lead to treatment fatigue and consequently to periodic or permanent non-adherence.

Antimicrobial activities of pomegranate rind extracts: enhancement by addition of metal salts and vitamin C.

Background: Punica granatum L. or pomegranates, have been reported to have antimicrobial activity against a range of Gram positive and negative bacteria. Pomegranate formulations containing ferrous salts have enhanced although short-term, antibacteriophage activities which are rapidly diminished owing to instability of the ferrous combination.

UK epidemic strains of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in clinical samples from Malta.

Since 1999, the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (EARSS) has monitored the rise in infection due to a number of organisms, including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The EARSS reported that MRSA infections within intensive care units account for 25-50 % of infections in many central and southern European countries, these included France, Spain, Great Britain, Malta, Greece and Italy. Each country has defined epidemic MRSA (EMRSA) strains; however, the method of spread of these strains from one country to another is unknown.

The withdrawal of antimicrobial treatment as a mechanism for defeating resistant microorganisms.

Antimicrobial resistance is a major concern in health care and farming settings throughout the world. The level of antimicrobial resistance continues to increase and the requirement for a novel and possibly dramatic change in therapy choices is required. One possible mechanism for overcoming resistance is the actual removal of antimicrobial treatment from the therapeutic armoury.

A novel medium devoid of ruminant peptone for high yield growth of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae.

Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is considered an emerging veterinary pathogen causing pneumonia in sheep and goats worldwide. Currently it has not been possible to define a growth medium that yields the maximum growth of M. ovipneumoniae within a short incubation period.

Biochemical characterisation of some non fermenting, non arginine hydrolysing mycoplasmas of ruminants.

The pattern and kinetics of substrate oxidation by type and recent field strains of Mycoplasma agalactiae, Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma bovigenitalium and Mycoplasma ovine/caprine serogroup 11 were investigated by measurement of oxygen uptake. Metabolism of a range of organic acids, sugars and alcohols was detected. All the test strains were unable to oxidise sugars, glycerol and the organic acids, fumarate, malate and alpha-ketoglutarate (1 mM).