External quality assessment of laboratory performance in bacteriology in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2011-2019.

Background: Since 2007, national public health laboratories in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) have participated in a regional external quality assessment scheme in bacteriology to improve testing proficiency.

Aims: To assess laboratory performance in bacteriology in the EMR between 2011 and 2019 using the regional external quality assessment scheme.

Methods: We analysed the accuracy of participant-reported data in bacterial identification, Gram stain microscopy, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Performance of Eastern Mediterranean Region laboratories in the World Health Organization external quality assessment programme for arbovirus diagnostics.

Background: Arboviruses such as dengue virus, yellow fever virus, Zika virus and chikungunya virus are major threats to human health globally, including countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR).

Aims: This study aimed to assess laboratory proficiency in EMR countries for detection of dengue virus, yellow fever virus, Zika virus and chikungunya virus.

Methods: A global external quality assessment programme for arbovirus diagnostics was developed and run in 2016 and 2018.

External quality assessment for arbovirus diagnostics in the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region, 2013-2016: improving laboratory quality over the years.

Arboviruses continue to pose serious public health threats in the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region. As such, laboratories need to be equipped for their accurate detection. In 2011, to ensure test proficiency, the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific piloted an external quality assessment (EQA) programme for arbovirus diagnostics.

Preparedness for Zika virus testing in the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region.

On 1 February 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that clusters of microcephaly cases and other neurological disorders occurring in Zika virus (ZIKV)-affected areas constituted a public health emergency of international concern. Increased surveillance of the virus, including the requirement for laboratory confirmation of infection, was recommended. The WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific therefore initiated a rapid survey among national-level public health laboratories in 19 countries and areas to determine regional capacity for ZIKV detection.

External quality assessment of dengue and chikungunya diagnostics in the Asia Pacific region, 2015.

Objective: To conduct an external quality assessment (EQA) of dengue and chikungunya diagnostics among national-level public health laboratories in the Asia Pacific region following the first round of EQA for dengue diagnostics in 2013.

Methods: Twenty-four national-level public health laboratories performed routine diagnostic assays on a proficiency testing panel consisting of two modules. Module A contained serum samples spiked with cultured dengue virus (DENV) or chikungunya virus (CHIKV) for the detection of nucleic acid and DENV non-structural protein 1 (NS1) antigen.

Ebola preparedness in the Western Pacific Region, 2014.

West Africa is currently experiencing the largest outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in history with intense transmission in several affected countries. For non-affected countries, the best protective measures are adequate levels of preparedness including vigilant surveillance to detect cases early and well prepared health systems to ensure rapid containment of the virus and to avoid further spread. The World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific recently conducted two activities: a web-based EVD preparedness survey and an EVD simulation exercise to determine the overall level of EVD preparedness in the Region.

Proteasomes control caspase-1 activation in anthrax lethal toxin-mediated cell killing.

Activation of caspase-1 through the inflammasome protein Nalp1b controls anthrax lethal toxin (LT)-induced necrosis in murine macrophages. In this study we analyzed physiological changes controlled by caspase-1 in LT-treated murine macrophages. The caspase-1 inhibitor Boc-D-cmk blocked caspase-1 activity and membrane impairment in LT-treated cells.

Anthrax lethal toxin kills macrophages in a strain-specific manner by apoptosis or caspase-1-mediated necrosis.

Murine macrophages have been classified as either susceptible or nonsusceptible to killing by anthrax lethal toxin (LT) depending upon genetic background. While considered resistant to LT killing, we found that bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) from DBA/2, AKR, and C57BL/6 mice were slowly killed by apoptosis following LT exposure. LT killing was not restricted to in vitro assays, as splenic macrophages were also depleted in LT-injected C57BL/6 mice.

Identification of an in vivo inhibitor of Bacillus anthracis spore germination.

Germination of Bacillus anthracis spores into the vegetative form is an essential step in anthrax pathogenicity. This process can be triggered in vitro by the common germinants inosine and alanine. Kinetic analysis of B.

Mitochondrial impairment is a critical event in anthrax lethal toxin-induced cytolysis of murine macrophages.

Numerous early events in anthrax lethal toxin (LT)-mediated cell killing have been described, including uptake of LT and MAPKK cleavage. However, critical downstream events in LT killing remain to be identified. In this study we present evidence that LT causes mitochondrial dysfunction in murine J774A.