A scoping review on how field epidemiology training programs are addressing regional and global health priorities.

Introduction: Recent global health events underscore the critical need to strengthen public health capacity worldwide, with epidemiologists playing a key role in disease management at the population level. The international community has recognized the importance of enhancing the public health workforce, including epidemiology capacity. This scoping review explores how Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) trainees and graduates have been engaged by their respective health ministries to address public health threats.

Enhancing Oral Delivery of Biologics: A Non-Competitive and Cross-Reactive Anti-Leptin Receptor Nanofitin Demonstrates a Gut-Crossing Capacity in an Ex Vivo Porcine Intestinal Model.

Biotherapeutics exhibit high efficacy in targeted therapy, but their oral delivery is impeded by the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and limited intestinal absorption. This article presents a strategy to overcome the challenges of poor intestinal permeability by using a protein shuttle that specifically binds to an intestinal target, the leptin receptor (LepR), and exploiting its capacity to perform a receptor-mediated transport. Our proof-of-concept study focuses on the characterization and transport of robust affinity proteins, known as Nanofitins, across an ex vivo porcine intestinal model.

Investigating outbreaks of initially unknown aetiology in complex settings: findings and recommendations from 10 case studies.

Background: Outbreaks of unknown aetiology in complex settings pose challenges and there is little information about investigation methods. We reviewed investigations into such outbreaks to identify methods favouring or impeding identification of the cause.

Methods: We used two approaches: reviewing scientific literature and soliciting key informants.

The World Health Organization COVID-19 surveillance database.

In January 2020, SARS-CoV-2 virus was identified as a cause of an outbreak in China. The disease quickly spread worldwide, and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the pandemic in March 2020.From the first notifications of spread of the disease, the WHO's Emergency Programme implemented a global COVID-19 surveillance system in coordination with all WHO regional offices.

Discovery of APL-1030, a Novel, High-Affinity Nanofitin Inhibitor of C3-Mediated Complement Activation.

Uncontrolled complement activation contributes to multiple immune pathologies. Although synthetic compstatin derivatives targeting C3 and C3b are robust inhibitors of complement activation, their physicochemical and molecular properties may limit access to specific organs, development of bifunctional moieties, and therapeutic applications requiring transgenic expression. Complement-targeting therapeutics containing only natural amino acids could enable multifunctional pharmacology, gene therapies, and targeted delivery for underserved diseases.

Data collection for outbreak investigations: process for defining a minimal data set using a Delphi approach.

Background: Timely but accurate data collection is needed during health emergencies to inform public health responses. Often, an abundance of data is collected but not used. When outbreaks and other health events occur in remote and complex settings, operatives on the ground are often required to cover multiple tasks whilst working with limited resources.

A large epidemic of a necrotic skin infection in the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Principe: an epidemiological study.

Introduction: In 2016-18, the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe suffered a necrotic skin infection epidemic.

Methods: A surveillance system was established after increased hospitalisations for this infection. Microbiology results were available for samples analysed in December 2016 and March 2017 using whole genome sequencing and metagenomics.

Outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C outside the meningitis belt-Liberia, 2017: an epidemiological and laboratory investigation.

Background: On April 25, 2017, a cluster of unexplained illnesses and deaths associated with a funeral was reported in Sinoe County, Liberia. Molecular testing identified Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C (NmC) in specimens from patients. We describe the epidemiological investigation of this cluster and metagenomic characterisation of the outbreak strain.

Use of the Nanofitin Alternative Scaffold as a GFP-Ready Fusion Tag.

With the continuous diversification of recombinant DNA technologies, the possibilities for new tailor-made protein engineering have extended on an on-going basis. Among these strategies, the use of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a fusion domain has been widely adopted for cellular imaging and protein localization. Following the lead of the direct head-to-tail fusion of GFP, we proposed to provide additional features to recombinant proteins by genetic fusion of artificially derived binders.

Epidemiology of invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infections in France in 2007.

Invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) infections cause significant morbidity and mortality. A national survey was initiated to assess the burden of invasive GAS infections in France, describe their clinical characteristics, and assess the molecular characteristics of GAS strains responsible for these infections. The survey was conducted in 194 hospitals, accounting for 51% of acute care hospital admissions in France.

[Application of "disease management" to the organization and compensation of professionals in the U.S.A., Germany and England: prospects for France].

Disease management, developed in the U.S.A.

Surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease in 30 EU countries: Towards a European system?

In this era of new pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV), we described and compared surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and PCV policies in 30 European countries to provide guidance for Europe-wide surveillance. We confirmed the heterogeneity of surveillance systems and case definitions across countries but identified elements common to all countries, such as the availability of serotyping and the surveillance of pneumococcal meningitis. PCV impact was monitored in 11/15 countries using it.

An outbreak of Pneumococcal pneumonia among residents of a retirement home in France during October 2003.

We describe an outbreak of pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae in a French retirement home. Eleven residents developed pneumonia. Eight patients had positive results of urinary antigen tests.

Prolonged outbreak of B meningococcal disease in the Seine-Maritime department, France, January 2003 to June 2005.

Between January 2003 and June 2005, an outbreak of meningococcal disease occurred in the department of Seine-Maritime in northern France. Eighty six cases were notified, giving an average annual incidence of 2.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared with 1.

Prolonged outbreak of B meningococcal disease in the Seine-Maritime department, France, January 2003 to June 2005.

Between January 2003 and June 2005, an outbreak of meningococcal disease occured in the department of Seine-Maritime in northern France. Eighty six cases were notified, giving an average annual incidence of 2.7 cases per 100 000 inhabitants, compared with 1.

Effectiveness of different policies in preventing meningococcal disease clusters following a single case in day-care and pre-school settings in Europe.

National policies for chemoprophylaxis after single cases of meningococcal disease in day-care or nursery settings vary across Europe. We carried out a multi-national retrospective study to compare the effectiveness of different policies. Countries were divided into those recommending chemoprophylaxis only to close contacts (policy A, close) and those recommending chemoprophylaxis for all children in the same nursery (policy B, mass).

Ascertainment of meningococcal disease in Europe.

Meningococcal disease surveillance in most countries is based upon a combination of statutory notification systems and laboratory reporting, both of which are recognised to underestimate the true burden of disease. The incidence of meningococcal disease varies throughout Europe, and although there are many reasons for this, it is important to quantify the degree of under-ascertainment in order to validate international comparisons. Here, we review the literature on the ascertainment of meningococcal disease in Europe and the available methods for estimating the degree of under-reporting.

Epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease in France in 2003.

National surveillance of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is based on mandatory reporting. The case definition for surveillance notification was changed in mid-2002 to include cases without microbiological confirmation. The IMD alert detection system was enhanced in 2003 with daily reporting and weekly analysis by district, serogroup, and age.

Ascertainment of meningococcal disease in Europe.

Meningococcal disease surveillance in most countries is based upon a combination of statutory notification systems and laboratory reporting, both of which are recognised to underestimate the true burden of disease. The incidence of meningococcal disease varies throughout Europe, and although there are many reasons for this, it is important to quantify the degree of under-ascertainment in order to validate international comparisons. Here, we review the literature on the ascertainment of meningococcal disease in Europe and the available methods for estimating the degree of under-reporting.

Epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease in France in 2003.

National surveillance of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is based on mandatory reporting. The case definition for surveillance notification was changed in mid-2002 to include cases without microbiological confirmation. The IMD alert detection system was enhanced in 2003 with daily reporting and weekly analysis by district, serogroup, and age.