A Public Health Laboratory Information System in Support of Health Emergencies: The Nebraska Public Health Laboratory COVID-19 Experience.

Objectives: Public health laboratories (PHLs) are essential components of US Public Health Service operations. The health information technology that supports PHLs is central to effective and efficient laboratory operations and overall public health response to infectious disease management. This analysis presents key information on how the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) information technology system evolved to meet the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Human butyrylcholinesterase in Cohn fraction IV-4 purified in a single chromatography step on Hupresin.

Protection from the toxicity of nerve agents is achieved by pretreatment with human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Current methods for purifying large quantities of BChE from frozen Cohn fraction IV-4 produce 99% pure enzyme, but the yield is low (21%). Our goal was to simplify the purification procedure and increase the yield.

Arginine Catabolism and Polyamine Biosynthesis Pathway Disparities Within Subpopulations.

is a highly infectious zoonotic pathogen with as few as 10 organisms causing tularemia, a disease that is fatal if untreated. Although subspecies (type A) and subspecies (type B) share over 99.5% average nucleotide identity, notable differences exist in genomic organization and pathogenicity.

Genome Analysis for Sequence Variants in SARS-CoV-2 Among Asymptomatic Individuals in a Long-term Care Facility.

This cohort study analyzes sequence variants in the genome of SARS-CoV-2 using viral RNA samples taken from 7 women at a long-term care facility.

Assessment of Specimen Pooling to Conserve SARS CoV-2 Testing Resources.

Objectives To establish the optimal parameters for group testing of pooled specimens for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Methods The most efficient pool size was determined to be 5 specimens using a web-based application. From this analysis, 25 experimental pools were created using 50 microliter from one SARS-CoV-2 positive nasopharyngeal specimen mixed with 4 negative patient specimens (50 microliter each) for a total volume of 250 microliter l.

Assessment of Specimen Pooling to Conserve SARS CoV-2 Testing Resources.

Objectives: To establish the optimal parameters for group testing of pooled specimens for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: The most efficient pool size was determined to be five specimens using a web-based application. From this analysis, 25 experimental pools were created using 50 µL from one SARS-CoV-2 positive nasopharyngeal specimen mixed with 4 negative patient specimens (50 µL each) for a total volume of 250 µL.

Engineered Human Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptides Inhibit Ebola Virus Infection.

The 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola virus (EBOV) outbreak coupled with the most recent outbreaks in Central Africa underscore the need to develop effective treatment strategies against EBOV. Although several therapeutic options have shown great potential, developing a wider breadth of countermeasures would increase our efforts to combat the highly lethal EBOV. Here we show that human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (AMP) LL-37 and engineered LL-37 AMPs inhibit the infection of recombinant virus pseudotyped with EBOV glycoprotein (GP) and the wild-type EBOV.

Genome Sequences of Uncommon Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Serotypes.

Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) is a foodborne disease with worldwide outbreaks. STEC serotypes O157, O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145 cause the most outbreaks. There is little published information regarding the other serotypes.

Genome Sequence of a Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serovar Corvallis Strain Isolated from Human Blood.

subsp. serovar Corvallis is commonly reported in avian populations and avian by-products. We report the draft genome sequence of a multidrug-resistant Corvallis strain (NPHL 15376).

Genome Sequences of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Dublin Isolates.

serovar Dublin, which can cause enteritis and systemic infections in humans, has been associated with antimicrobial resistance. Here, we report draft genome sequences of seven multidrug-resistant Dublin isolates from human samples. These sequences will contribute to an understanding of pathogenesis and resistance determinants in this serovar.

Whole genome sequencing to characterize shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26 in a public health setting.

Background: Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O26:H11 is the second most common cause of severe diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome worldwide. The implementation of whole genome sequencing (WGS) enhances the detection and in-depth characterization of these non-O157 STEC strains. The aim of this study was to compare WGS to phenotypic serotyping and pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for characterization of STECO26 strains following a zoonotic outbreak from cattle to humans.

Purification of human butyrylcholinesterase from frozen Cohn fraction IV-4 by ion exchange and Hupresin affinity chromatography.

Human butyrylcholinesterase (HuBChE) is being developed as a therapeutic for protection from the toxicity of nerve agents. An enriched source of HuBChE is Cohn fraction IV-4 from pooled human plasma. For the past 40 years, purification of HuBChE has included affinity chromatography on procainamide-Sepharose.

Oligomerization of bacterially expressed H1N1 recombinant hemagglutinin contributes to protection against viral challenge.

Vaccination is the most effective intervention to prevent influenza and control the spread of the virus. Alternatives are needed to the traditional egg-based vaccine strategy for a more rapid response to new outbreaks. Two different hemagglutinin (HA) fragments (rHA1 and rHA1) derived from influenza A virus subtype H1N1 were expressed in Escherichia coli and characterized by immunoblot, gel filtration, hemagglutination, and competitive binding assays.

Development of potential broad spectrum antimicrobials using C2-symmetric 9-fluorenone alkyl amine.

DNA-dependent RNA primase is essential for de novo primer synthesis during DNA replication in all living organisms. Bacterial DnaG primase is an attractive target for inhibition because it is essential, low in copy number and structurally distinct from eukaryotic and archaeal primases. DnaG primase is sensitive to known inhibitors including suramin and doxorubicin.

Heat pretreatment eliminates spurious butyrylcholinesterase enhancement of endotoxin levels in the kinetic chromogenic assay.

The kinetic chromogenic endotoxin assay measures the release of p-nitroaniline from the chromogenic peptide substrate Ac-IEAR-pNA. As part of our project to purify large quantities of human butyrylcholinesterase (HuBChE), we evaluated pure HuBChE for endotoxin levels. We found that HuBChE contributed up to 90% of the yellow p-nitroaniline product in a standard endotoxin assay through the catalytic hydrolysis of Ac-IEAR-pNA with a rate constant of 0.

Reclassification of Wolbachia persica as Francisella persica comb. nov. and emended description of the family Francisellaceae.

The taxonomic status of the bacterium Wolbachia persica is described, and based on the evidence presented, transfer of this species to the genus Francisella as Francisella persica comb. nov. is proposed.

Discovery of bicyclic inhibitors against menaquinone biosynthesis.

Introduction: Menaquinone is used for transporting electrons and is essential for the aerobic and anaerobic respiratory systems of all pathogens and prokaryotes. Many Gram-positive bacteria use only menaquinone in the electron transport system. Thus, menaquinone biosynthesis is a potential target for the development of inhibitors against bacteria including drug-resistant pathogens.

Comparison of FilmArray and Quantitative Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase PCR for Detection of Zaire Ebolavirus from Contrived and Clinical Specimens.

Rapid, reliable, and easy-to-use diagnostic assays for detection of Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) are urgently needed. The goal of this study was to examine the agreement among emergency use authorization (EUA) tests for the detection of ZEBOV nucleic acids, including the BioFire FilmArray BioThreat (BT) panel, the FilmArray BT-E panel, and the NP2 and VP40 quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase (qRT) PCR assays from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Specimens used in this study included whole blood spiked with inactivated ZEBOV at known titers and whole-blood, plasma, and urine clinical specimens collected from persons diagnosed with Ebola virus disease (EVD).

Francisella tularensis Subtype A.II Genomic Plasticity in Comparison with Subtype A.I.

Although Francisella tularensis is considered a monomorphic intracellular pathogen, molecular genotyping and virulence studies have demonstrated important differences within the tularensis subspecies (type A). To evaluate genetic variation within type A strains, sequencing and assembly of a new subtype A.II genome was achieved for comparison to other completed F.

Visual memory effects on intraoperator study design: determining a minimum time gap between case reviews to reduce recall bias.

Objectives: The objective of this research was to determine test intervals between intraoperator case reviews to minimize the impact of recall.

Methods: Three pathologists were presented with a group of 120 slides and subsequently challenged with a study set of 120 slides after 2-week and 4-week intervals. The challenge set consisted of 60 slides seen during the initial review and 60 slides previously unseen within the study.

Francisella tularensis bacteria associated with feline tularemia in the United States.

Tularemia in the United States was examined by reviewing 106 Francisella tularensis isolates, mostly from Nebraska, collected during 1998-2012: 48% of Nebraska cases were cat-associated; 7/8 human cases were caused by subtype A.I. A vaccine is needed to reduce feline-associated tularemia, and cat owners should protect against bites/scratches and limit their pet's outdoor access.