Publications by authors named "R C GIBB"
Towards a 'people and nature' paradigm for biodiversity and infectious disease.
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci
January 2025
Zoonotic and vector-borne infectious diseases are among the most direct human health consequences of biodiversity change. The COVID-19 pandemic increased health policymakers' attention on the links between ecological degradation and disease, and sparked discussions around nature-based interventions to mitigate zoonotic emergence and epidemics. Yet, although disease ecology provides an increasingly granular knowledge of wildlife disease in changing ecosystems, we still have a poor understanding of the net consequences for human disease.
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- Ross River virus (RRV) and Barmah Forest virus (BFV) are related viruses found in Australia and Papua New Guinea, showing evidence of convergent evolution in their genetic development.
- Analysis of multiple genomes revealed that specific mutations in key proteins are important for their replication and interaction with host cells, indicating similarities in how both viruses adapt to their environments.
- Although some mutations appear to have benefited their evolution, the overall selection pressures suggest that RRV and BFV have undergone purifying selection, maintaining stable functions during their replication in different hosts like mosquitoes and vertebrates.
Article Synopsis
- The paper identifies the need for understanding the underlying mechanisms of public health interventions in order to effectively predict their long-term outcomes and improve public health policy.
- It introduces a new toolbox (PHEM-B) that incorporates methods from various disciplines like psychology, sociology, and health economics to better account for the factors influencing individual and population behaviors.
- The toolbox consists of 12 methods designed for use in public health economic models, and offers guidance on when to apply each method and the resources needed, marking an important step in interdisciplinary research collaboration.
Article Synopsis
- Lassa fever, recognized by the WHO as a potential pandemic threat, is a disease with significant health-economic impacts, particularly in West Africa, where it causes millions of infections and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) each year.
- A study models vaccination strategies and estimates that a preventive campaign targeting endemic regions could save over $20 million in lost DALY value and around $128 million in societal costs over 10 years.
- In the scenario of a new variant, 'Lassa-X', emerging, effective 100 Days Mission vaccination could significantly reduce the potential health burden, illustrating the importance of vaccination in managing Lassa fever and preparing for future pandemics.
Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) infections result in 17 million cases annually, with foodborne illness costing the National Health Service (NHS) £60m per year. The burden of GI infection is unequally distributed, with greater impact in more socioeconomically disadvantaged groups and areas. Local authorities (LA) provide vital services that protect public health and wellbeing.
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