Non-Covalent Interactions Enforce Conformation in Switchable and Water-Soluble Diketopiperazine-Pyridine Foldamers.

To reach their potential as mimics of the dynamic molecules present in biological systems, foldamers must be designed to display stimulus-responsive behavior. Here we report such a foldamer architecture based on alternating pyridine-diketopiperazine linkers. Epimerization is conveniently prevented through a copper-catalyzed coupling protocol.

A spirocyclic backbone accesses new conformational space in an extended, dipole-stabilized foldamer.

Most aromatic foldamers adopt uniform secondary structures, offering limited potential for the exploration of conformational space and the formation of tertiary structures. Here we report the incorporation of spiro bis-lactams to allow controlled rotation of the backbone of an iteratively synthesised foldamer. This enables precise control of foldamer shape along two orthogonal directions, likened to the aeronautical yaw and roll axes.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR INVESTIGATION OF EXUDATIVE CLOACITIS IN KĀKĀPŌ (STRIGOPS HABROPTILUS) ON WHENUA HOU (CODFISH ISLAND), NEW ZEALAND.

Kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus) are critically endangered nocturnal parrots endemic to New Zealand. Exudative cloacitis is a disease only affecting the breeding population of Kākāpō on Whenua Hou (Codfish Island), for which a consistent primary pathogenic organism involved has not been identified. This epidemiological study was conducted to identify the environmental factors contributing to the initiation of this disease in Kākāpō by 1) producing and describing a case series; 2) mapping the geographic distribution of exudative cloacitis cases; 3) investigating the chemical characteristics of Kākāpō roosting sites; and 4) assessing the effects of climatic factors on the incidence of exudative cloacitis each year.

PREVALENCE AND PATHOGEN LOAD OF EIMERIA IN WILD YELLOW-EYED PENGUINS (MEGADYPTES ANTIPODES) AND THE MORPHOLOGIC CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL EIMERIA SPECIES.

Coccidia infections in wild birds rarely cause clinical signs; however, disease and mortality can occur with predisposing environmental and host conditions. The Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) is an endangered species endemic to New Zealand that has seen significant ongoing population decline. The aim of this study was to examine the host-pathogen dynamics of coccidian parasites in two wild populations of Yellow-eyed Penguin: the mainland (South Island) population and the sub-Antarctic (Enderby Island) population.

Genetic characterization of hypervirulent responsible for acute death in captive marmosets.

is a Gram-negative bacterium implicated as the causative pathogen in several medical health issues with different strains causing different pathologies including pneumonia, bloodstream infections, meningitis and infections from wounds or surgery. In this study, four captive African marmosets housed in Thailand were found dead. Necropsy and histology revealed congestion of hearts, kidneys and adrenal glands.

Blood lead concentration in an urban parrot: Nestling Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) demonstrate evidence of exposure to lead via eggs and parental feeding.

Lead is a persistent, highly toxic heavy metal known to affect physiological function and survival in birds. Nestlings are particularly at risk as exposure during critical stages of development can result in life-long deficits. Urban environments are increasingly associated with high levels of contamination and lead exposure at the urban-wildlife interface can have significant population health effects on wildlife.

Clinical parameters of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae disease and ivermectin treatment in New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) pups.

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae infection causes significant mortality of endangered New Zealand sea lion pups at Enderby Island, Auckland Islands. Gross necropsy and histopathology findings are well reported, but little is known about the clinical course of disease in affected pups. To determine factors feasible as clinical screening tools for hypervirulent K.

Detection of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in the Absence of Clinical Disease in Cattle and Buffalo in South East Asia.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is widespread throughout much of the world, including parts of South East Asia. Surveillance is often limited in endemic areas, relying predominantly on passive outbreak reporting. As part of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)'s South East Asia and China Foot-and-Mouth Disease Project (SEACFMD), field sampling was performed to help understand evidence of widespread virus exposure observed in previous studies.

SEABIRDS AS POSSIBLE RESERVOIRS OF ERYSIPELOTHRIX RHUSIOPATHIAE ON ISLANDS USED FOR CONSERVATION TRANSLOCATIONS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, the causative agent of the disease erysipelas, is a gram-positive bacillus, and an opportunistic pathogen in diverse species of animals. In New Zealand, E. rhusiopathiae has killed endangered birds on offshore islands, including Kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus), Takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri), and Kiwi (Apteryx spp.

Ventral dermatitis in rowi () caused by cutaneous capillariasis.

In 2013 there was an outbreak of crusting ventral dermatitis among a group of juvenile rowi (), a species of the endangered New Zealand kiwi, that were being raised on an off-shore island sanctuary. Biopsies taken at the time found nematodes migrating within the epidermis of affected skin but the specific identity and origin of the organisms was not established, and sporadic cases of similar skin disease continue to occur on the island. On examination of additional sections from the original skin biopsies, adult nematodes and eggs were identified, the histomorphology of which was consistent with .

Comparison of the Pathogenic Potential of , and and Limitations of Using Larvae of as an Infection Model.

enteritis in humans is primarily associated with infection. Other species cause campylobacteriosis relatively infrequently; while this could be attributed to bias in diagnostic methods, the pathogenicity of non- spp. such as and (isolated from dogs and cats) is uncertain.

MYCOBACTERIAL DISEASE AND SUBSEQUENT DIAGNOSTIC INVESTIGATIONS IN A GROUP OF CAPTIVE PINNIPEDS IN NEW ZEALAND.

This case series includes a single case of disseminated tuberculous disease due to in a New Zealand fur seal (), which was being cared for by a zoo in New Zealand. The remaining five pinnipeds in the colony underwent extensive mycobacterial disease surveillance over the following 4 yr, involving a total of 26 anesthetic procedures and numerous diagnostic tests that included comparative intradermal tuberculin skin tests, mycobacterial antibody serology, respiratory and gastric lavages, and computed tomography (CT) scans. An additional case of chronic sinusitis due to and was identified in a California sea lion ().

Nematode caused by in the North Island brown kiwi ().

Sporadic cases of visceral and neural nematode have been diagnosed at necropsy in the endangered New Zealand kiwi ( spp.), but the causative organisms have not yet been definitively identified. From an initial group of five affected kiwi, PCR was performed on DNA extracted from archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections in which larval nematodes had been histologically identified.

Brucellosis associated with stillbirth in a bottlenose dolphin in Australia.

A captive adult female bottlenose dolphin presented with stillbirth. The placenta appeared oedematous. No other gross lesions were evident in the placenta or the stillborn calf.

Pup mortality in New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) at Enderby Island, Auckland Islands, 2013-18.

New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) are an endemic and endangered species. Pup mortality at Enderby Island (50.5°S, 166.

Comparison of PCR assays to detect Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in green-lipped mussels (Perna canaliculus).

Toxoplasma gondii is recognised as an important pathogen in the marine environment, with oocysts carried to coastal waters in overland runoff. Currently, there are no standardised methods to detect T. gondii directly in seawater to assess the extent of marine ecosystem contamination, but filter-feeding shellfish may serve as biosentinels.

Untargeted metabolic profiling of dogs with a suspected toxic mitochondrial myopathy using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

'Go Slow myopathy' (GSM) is a suspected toxic myopathy in dogs that primarily occurs in the North Island of New Zealand, and affected dogs usually have a history of consuming meat, offal or bones from wild pigs (including previously frozen and/or cooked meat). Previous epidemiological and pathological studies on GSM have demonstrated that changes in mitochondrial structure and function are most likely caused by an environmental toxin that dogs are exposed to through the ingestion of wild pig. The disease has clinical, histological and biochemical similarities to poisoning in people and animals from the plant Ageratina altissima (white snakeroot).

Causes of adult mortality in two populations of New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri).

The New Zealand sea lion is an endangered species endemic to New Zealand. While causes of death are well described for pups of this species, mortality in adults is poorly characterised. This study investigated causes of death in 136 New Zealand sea lions in two different populations: a major breeding site on remote, uninhabited Enderby Island in the sub-Antarctic, and a slowly increasing recolonising population on the inhabited mainland.

Advances in research on the impacts of anti-submarine sonar on beaked whales.

Mass stranding events (MSEs) of beaked whales (BWs) were extremely rare prior to the 1960s but increased markedly after the development of naval mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS). The temporal and spatial associations between atypical BW MSEs and naval exercises were first observed in the Canary Islands, Spain, in the mid-1980s. Further research on BWs stranded in association with naval exercises demonstrated pathological findings consistent with decompression sickness (DCS).

Pathology and molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium pinnipedii tuberculosis in native New Zealand marine mammals.

Mycobacterium pinnipedii causes tuberculosis in a number of pinniped species, and transmission to cattle and humans has been reported. The aims of this study were to: characterize the pathology and prevalence of tuberculosis in New Zealand marine mammals; use molecular diagnostic methods to confirm and type the causal agent; and to explore relationships between type and host characteristics. Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 30 pinnipeds and one cetacean.

Draft Whole-Genome Sequences of Seven Isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae from New Zealand Sea Lions.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative bacterium that may cause infection in a broad range of hosts. We report here the genome sequences of seven K. pneumoniae isolates from New Zealand sea lions.

Draft Whole-Genome Sequences of Five Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates from the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative bacterium that can be found in the environment, as well as on mucosal surfaces of humans and animals. Here, we report the genome sequence of five K. pneumoniae isolates from substrate samples and bird feces collected in the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand.