The Role of the Skin Microbiome in Acne: Challenges and Future Therapeutic Opportunities.

Acne vulgaris is a widespread dermatological condition that significantly affects the quality of life of adolescents and adults. Traditionally, acne pathogenesis has been linked to factors such as excess sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinization, and the presence of (). However, recent studies have highlighted the role of the skin microbiome, shifting focus from individual pathogens to microbial community dynamics.

Phylogenomic diversity of species and other Gammaproteobacteria isolated from Pacific oysters () during a summer mortality outbreak.

The Pacific oyster (PO), , is an important commercial marine species but periodically experiences large stock losses due to disease events known as summer mortality. Summer mortality has been linked to environmental perturbations and numerous viral and bacterial agents, indicating this disease is multifactorial in nature. In 2013 and 2014, several summer mortality events occurred within the Port Stephens estuary (NSW, Australia).

Hyperammonaemia syndrome in disseminated infection.

Hyperammonaemia syndrome secondary to spp. infection is well documented in the post-lung transplant population. We report a case of a man in his fifties with hyperammonaemia syndrome secondary to disseminated infection.

Characterisation of the Piroplasm Proteome across Three Common Genotypes.

is an emerging apicomplexan pathogen of cattle occurring in areas populated by the principal vector tick, . Unlike transforming spp. that induce cancer-like proliferation of lymphocytes via their schizont stage, destroys host erythrocytes during its piroplasm phase resulting in anaemia.

Complete Genomes of Chitose and Buffeli Genotypes Reveal within Species Translocations and Differences in ABC Transporter Content.

causes losses to cattle producers in Eastern Asia, Oceania and, more recently, North America. One pathogenic genotype (Ikeda) has been sequenced to the chromosomal level, while only draft genomes exist for globally distributed Chitose and Buffeli genotypes. To provide an accurate comparative gene-level analysis and help further understand their pathogenicity, we sequenced isolates of the Chitose and Buffeli genotypes of using long-read sequencing technology.

Ruxolitinib-Associated Phaeohyphomycosis: A Case Report.

We present the findings of a rare fungal infection phaeohyphomycosis caused by in an immunocompromised 82-year-old male with myelodysplastic syndrome on treatment with the Janus kinase inhibitor ruxolitinib. Hematologists, infectious disease physicians, and surgeons should consider a fungal etiology in cases of cellulitis refractory to standard treatments in those patients with underlying immune dysfunction and/or in those receiving therapy with ruxolitinib or similar agents.

Telehealth outpatient coronavirus disease 2019 case management at a tertiary hospital in Sydney.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 is an acute respiratory illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic upended the traditional paradigm of face-to-face provision of healthcare in the Australian context; as such, a telehealth model of active case management was implemented in our public health system, even though there was little supporting data for the safety of delivering patient care remotely to home-isolation patients in the setting of a highly infectious and potentially fatal illness.

Methods: A retrospective, single-centre, observational cohort study was performed over 6 weeks commencing 12 March 2020, including patients with coronavirus disease 2019 undergoing home isolation and being actively monitored by a coronavirus disease 2019 telephone assessment clinic.

Draft genomes of Perkinsus olseni and Perkinsus chesapeaki reveal polyploidy and regional differences in heterozygosity.

Perkinsus spp. parasites have significant impact on aquaculture and wild mollusc populations. We sequenced the genomes of five monoclonal isolates of Perkinsus olseni and one Perkinsus chesapeaki from international sources.

Chronic methyl bromide toxicity is ameliorated by haemodialysis.

Methyl bromide is an odourless, colourless, highly volatile gas, primarily used in fumigation. It can cause significant neurotoxicity, especially with chronic exposure. Haemodialysis has been used in acute toxicity, but its utility in chronic exposure has never been reported.

An epizootic of Chlamydia psittaci equine reproductive loss associated with suspected spillover from native Australian parrots.

Chlamydia psittaci is an avian pathogen capable of spill-over infections to humans. A parrot C. psittaci strain was recently detected in an equine reproductive loss case associated with a subsequent cluster of human C.

Analysis of Theileria orientalis draft genome sequences reveals potential species-level divergence of the Ikeda, Chitose and Buffeli genotypes.

Background: Theileria orientalis (Apicomplexa: Piroplasmida) has caused clinical disease in cattle of Eastern Asia for many years and its recent rapid spread throughout Australian and New Zealand herds has caused substantial economic losses to production through cattle deaths, late term abortion and morbidity. Disease outbreaks have been linked to the detection of a pathogenic genotype of T. orientalis, genotype Ikeda, which is also responsible for disease outbreaks in Asia.

The autopsy and diagnosis of pulmonary thrombo-embolism.

Pulmonary thrombo-embolism (PTE) is a common cause of death but is frequently undetected by clinicians in spite of advanced diagnostic techniques. The autopsy has traditionally been used to identify the rate of PTE in hospital patients, but the decline in autopsy rates - especially in hospitals - has led to insufficient recent data from which to comment with confidence on the true rate of death from latent PTE. Widespread prophylactic anticoagulation regimens against venous thrombosis may induce complacency amongst clinicians.

Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among People With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection and a History of Injecting Drug Use in New South Wales, Australia.

Objective: The aims of this study were to assess symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress and associated sociodemographic factors among people living with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with a history of injecting drug use and to assess the association between symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress and HCV treatment intent, specialist assessment, or treatment uptake.

Methods: The Enhancing Treatment for Hepatitis C in Opioid Substitution Settings was an observational cohort study evaluating the provision of HCV assessment and treatment among people with chronic HCV and a history of injecting drug use, recruited from 9 community health centers and opioid substitution therapy (OST) clinics (New South Wales, Australia). Symptoms were assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21).

Increased mtPDH Activity Through Antisense Inhibition of Mitochondrial Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase Enhances Inflorescence Initiation, and Inflorescence Growth and Harvest Index at Elevated CO2 in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase (mtPDH) is a key respiratory enzyme that links glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and it is negatively regulated by mtPDH kinase (mtPDHK). Arabidopsis lines carrying either a constitutive or seed-specific antisense construct for mtPDHK were used to test the hypothesis that alteration of mtPDH activity in a tissue- and dosage-dependent manner will enhance reproductive growth particularly at elevated CO2 (EC) through a combined enhancement of source and sink activities. Constitutive transgenic lines showed increased mtPDH activity in rosette leaves at ambient CO2 (AC) and EC, and in immature seeds at EC.

Infective endocarditis in a patient with atopic dermatitis.

We present the case of a 39-year-old plumber who was diagnosed with infective endocarditis due to . The route of entry was attributed to the patient scratching pruritic lesions of his poorly controlled atopic dermatitis (eczema). We recommend that medical practitioners of patients with poorly controlled atopic dermatitis should pay particular attention to, and take measures to mitigate against, this risk.

Advances in genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics of toxin-producing cyanobacteria.

A common misconception persists that the genomes of toxic and non-toxic cyanobacterial strains are largely conserved with the exception of the presence or absence of the genes responsible for toxin production. Implementation of -omics era technologies has challenged this paradigm, with comparative analyses providing increased insight into the differences between strains of the same species. The implementation of genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic approaches has revealed distinct profiles between toxin-producing and non-toxic strains.

Treatment for hepatitis C virus infection among people who inject drugs attending opioid substitution treatment and community health clinics: the ETHOS Study.

Aims: To estimate adherence and response to therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among people with a history of injecting drug use. A secondary aim was to identify predictors of HCV treatment response.

Design: Prospective cohort recruited between 2009 and 2012.

Genome mining for natural product biosynthetic gene clusters in the Subsection V cyanobacteria.

Background: Cyanobacteria are well known for the production of a range of secondary metabolites. Whilst recent genome sequencing projects has led to an increase in the number of publically available cyanobacterial genomes, the secondary metabolite potential of many of these organisms remains elusive. Our study focused on the 11 publically available Subsection V cyanobacterial genomes, together with the draft genomes of Westiella intricata UH strain HT-29-1 and Hapalosiphon welwitschii UH strain IC-52-3, for their genetic potential to produce secondary metabolites.

Assessment and delivery of treatment for hepatitis C virus infection in an opioid substitution treatment clinic with integrated peer-based support in Newcastle, Australia.

Background: Among people who inject drugs (PWID), the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is high; however HCV treatment uptake remains low. New models of care are needed to address the growing burden of HCV-related disease in PWID and to understand the barriers to assessment and treatment of HCV. This study evaluated assessment and treatment for HCV infection among PWID attending an opioid substitution treatment (OST) clinic with an integrated peer support worker model.

Liver disease knowledge and acceptability of non-invasive liver fibrosis assessment among people who inject drugs in the drug and alcohol setting: The LiveRLife Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess factors associated with baseline knowledge of HCV and liver disease, acceptability of transient elastography (TE) assessment (FibroScan(®)), and willingness and intent to receive HCV treatment among persons with a history of injection drug use participating in a liver health promotion campaign.

Methods: The LiveRLife campaign involved three phases: (1) campaign resource development; (2) campaign resource testing; and (3) campaign implementation. Participants were enrolled in an observational cohort study with recruitment at four clinics - one primary health care facility, two OST clinics, and one medically supervised injecting centre - in Australia between May and October 2014.

The effect of social functioning and living arrangement on treatment intent, specialist assessment and treatment uptake for hepatitis C virus infection among people with a history of injecting drug use: The ETHOS study.

Background: The objective was to assess social functioning and its association with treatment intent, specialist assessment and treatment uptake for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among people with a history of injecting drug use.

Methods: ETHOS is a prospective observational cohort evaluating the provision of HCV assessment and treatment among people with chronic HCV and a history of injecting drug use, recruited from nine community health centres and opioid substitution treatment clinics (NSW, Australia). Social functioning was assessed using a short form of the Opioid Treatment Index social functioning scale.

Effect of treatment willingness on specialist assessment and treatment uptake for hepatitis C virus infection among people who use drugs: the ETHOS study.

Among people who inject drugs (PWID) with chronic HCV, the association between HCV treatment willingness and intent, and HCV specialist assessment and treatment were evaluated. The Enhancing Treatment for Hepatitis C in Opioid Substitution Settings (ETHOS) is a prospective observational cohort. Recruitment was through six opioid substitution treatment clinics, two community health centres and one Aboriginal community controlled health organisation in Australia.

Temporal dynamics and subpopulation analysis of Theileria orientalis genotypes in cattle.

In Australia, outbreaks of clinical theileriosis caused by Theileria orientalis have been largely associated with the Ikeda genotype which can occur as a sole infection, or more commonly, as a mixture of genotypes. The most prevalent genotype, Chitose, frequently co-occurs with type Ikeda, however the role of this genotype in clinical disease has not been clearly established. Furthermore, the dynamics of individual genotypes in field infection of cattle have not been examined.