A naturally occurring mitochondrial genome variant confers broad protection from infection in Drosophila.

The role of mitochondria in immunity is increasingly recognized, but it is unclear how variation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) contributes to variable infection outcomes. To quantify the effect of mtDNA variation on humoral and cell-mediated innate immune responses, we utilized a panel of fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster cytoplasmic hybrids (cybrids), where unique mtDNAs (mitotypes) were introgressed into a controlled isogenic nuclear background. We observed substantial heterogeneity in infection outcomes within the cybrid panel upon bacterial, viral and parasitoid infections, driven by the mitotype.

Live vaccines following intravenous immunoglobulin for Kawasaki disease: Are we vaccinating appropriately?

Aim: Australian and New Zealand guidelines recommend that live vaccines be postponed for 11 months after treatment of Kawasaki disease (KD) with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). We aimed to describe patterns of live-vaccine administration after KD treatment, focusing on the measles-mumps-rubella/measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMR/MMRV) vaccines, and to compare real-world practice with current recommendations.

Methods: We combined data from inpatient Electronic Health Records and the Australian Immunisation Register for all children who received IVIG for the treatment of KD under the age of 5 years at two Australian tertiary children's hospitals over a 12-year period.

Clinical use conditions of lead deployment and simulated lead fracture rate in left bundle branch area pacing.

Introduction: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) is achieved by advancing the lead tip deep in the septum. Most LBBAP implants are performed using the Medtronic SelectSecure™ MRI SecureScan™ Model 3830 featuring a unique 4 Fr fixed helix lumenless design. Details of lead use conditions and long-term reliability have not been reported.

Study of an RNA-Focused DNA-Encoded Library Informs Design of a Degrader of a r(CUG) Repeat Expansion.

A solid-phase DNA-encoded library (DEL) was studied for binding the RNA repeat expansion r(), the causative agent of the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). A variety of uncharged and novel RNA binders were identified to selectively bind r() by using a two-color flow cytometry screen. The cellular activity of one binder was augmented by attaching it with a module that directly cleaves r().

Dark Dynamic Therapy: Photosensitization without Light Excitation Using Chemiluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer in a Dioxetane-Erythrosin B Conjugate.

Reactive oxygen species (e.g., singlet oxygen) are the primary cytotoxic agents used in the clinically approved technique photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Prospective characterisation of SARS-CoV-2 infections among children presenting to tertiary paediatric hospitals across Australia in 2020: a national cohort study.

Objective: To present Australia-wide data on paediatric COVID-19 and multisystem inflammatory syndromes to inform health service provision and vaccination prioritisation.

Design: Prospective, multicentre cohort study.

Setting: Eight tertiary paediatric hospitals across six Australian states and territories in an established research surveillance network-Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease (PAEDS).

Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS) 2019: Prospective hospital-based surveillance for serious paediatric conditions.

Introduction: The Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS) network is an Australian hospital-based active surveillance system employing prospective case ascertainment for selected serious childhood conditions, particularly vaccine preventable diseases and potential adverse events following immunisation (AEFI). This report presents surveillance data for 2019.

Methods: Specialist nurses screened hospital admissions, emergency department records, laboratory and other data on a daily basis in seven paediatric tertiary referral hospitals across Australia, to identify children with the conditions under surveillance.

Affecting RNA biology genome-wide by binding small molecules and chemically induced proximity.

The ENCODE and genome-wide association projects have shown that much of the genome is transcribed into RNA and much less is translated into protein. These and other functional studies suggest that the druggable transcriptome is much larger than the druggable proteome. This review highlights approaches to define druggable RNA targets and structure-activity relationships across genomic RNA.

Variation in the management of Kawasaki disease in Australia and New Zealand: A survey of paediatricians.

Aim: This study aimed to describe the current management practices for Kawasaki disease (KD) in Australia and New Zealand.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis on the Australian and New Zealand responses to a large international survey of clinicians' perspectives on KD diagnosis and management.

Results: There was general consensus among Australian and New Zealand clinicians regarding the indications for intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin in the management of acute KD.

Ratiometric pH Imaging Using a 1,2-Dioxetane Chemiluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer Sensor in Live Animals.

Regulation of physiological pH is integral for proper whole body and cellular function, and disruptions in pH homeostasis can be both a cause and effect of disease. In light of this, many methods have been developed to monitor pH in cells and animals. In this study, we report a chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET) probe , composed of an acrylamide 1,2-dioxetane chemiluminescent scaffold with an appended pH-sensitive carbofluorescein fluorophore.

Update on the COVID-19-associated inflammatory syndrome in children and adolescents; paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome-temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2.

We provide an update on the state of play with regards a newly described inflammatory condition which has arisen during the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The condition has been named paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. This condition has shown significant similarities to Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome.

Structure, dynamics and function of the evolutionarily changing biliverdin reductase B family.

Biliverdin reductase B (BLVRB) family members are general flavin reductases critical in maintaining cellular redox with recent findings revealing that BLVRB alone can dictate cellular fate. However, as opposed to most enzymes, the BLVRB family remains enigmatic with an evolutionarily changing active site and unknown structural and functional consequences. Here, we applied a multi-faceted approach that combines X-ray crystallography, NMR and kinetics methods to elucidate the structural and functional basis of the evolutionarily changing BLVRB active site.

Density Functional Theory Study of the Gas Phase and Surface Reaction Kinetics for the MOVPE Growth of GaAsBi.

The kinetics of chemical reactions occurring during the metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) of GaAsBi have been studied using density functional theory (DFT). GaAsBi is a metastable semiconductor alloy that has potential applications in high-performance long-wavelength emitters. Its growth is complicated by the low solubility of Bi within the GaAs lattice, which leads to phase segregation under conventional III-V semiconductor growth conditions.

Kinetics-Based Measurement of Hypoxia in Living Cells and Animals Using an Acetoxymethyl Ester Chemiluminescent Probe.

Oxygenation and tissue hypoxia play critical roles in mammalian biology and contribute to aggressive phenotypes in cancerous tumors, driving research to develop accurate and easy-to-implement methods for monitoring hypoxia in living cells and animal models. This study reports the chemiluminescent probe HyCL-4-AM, which contains a nitroaromatic sensing moiety and, importantly, an acetoxymethyl (AM) ester that dramatically improves operation in cells and animals. HyCL-4-AM provides a selective 60 000-fold increase in luminescence emission in the presence of rat liver microsomes (RLM).

A Chemiluminescent Probe for HNO Quantification and Real-Time Monitoring in Living Cells.

Azanone (HNO) is a reactive nitrogen species with pronounced biological activity and high therapeutic potential for cardiovascular dysfunction. A critical barrier to understanding the biology of HNO and furthering clinical development is the quantification and real-time monitoring of its delivery in living systems. Herein, we describe the design and synthesis of the first chemiluminescent probe for HNO, HNOCL-1, which can detect HNO generated from concentrations of Angeli's salt as low as 138 nm with high selectivity based on the reaction with a phosphine group to form a self-cleavable azaylide intermediate.

Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Education: A Comparison of On-Screen With Compression Feedback, Classroom, and Video Education.

Study Objective: We compare 3 methods of hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) education, using performance scores. A paucity of research exists on the comparative effectiveness of different types of hands-only CPR education. This study also includes a novel kiosk approach that has not previously been studied, to our knowledge.

Bio-production of gaseous alkenes: ethylene, isoprene, isobutene.

To reduce emissions from petrochemical refinement, bio-production has been heralded as a way to create economically valuable compounds with fewer harmful effects. For example, gaseous alkenes are precursor molecules that can be polymerized into a variety of industrially significant compounds and have biological production pathways. Production levels, however, remain low, thus enhancing bio-production of gaseous petrochemicals for chemical precursors is critical.

Ultrasensitive Chemiluminescent Detection of Cathepsin B: Insights into the New Frontier of Chemiluminescent Imaging.

Let there be light: Chemiluminescence provides a bright detection signal against a dark background and offers an excellent signal-to-noise ratio for analysis. Now, a chemiluminescent probe for cathepsin B has been developed that provides a 16,000-fold improvement in sensitivity for detecting protease activity.

Ethanol exposure disrupts extraembryonic microtubule cytoskeleton and embryonic blastomere cell adhesion, producing epiboly and gastrulation defects.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) occurs when pregnant mothers consume alcohol, causing embryonic ethanol exposure and characteristic birth defects that include craniofacial, neural and cardiac defects. Gastrulation is a particularly sensitive developmental stage for teratogen exposure, and zebrafish is an outstanding model to study gastrulation and FASD. Epiboly (spreading blastomere cells over the yolk cell), prechordal plate migration and convergence/extension cell movements are sensitive to early ethanol exposure.