Evaluation of compressed sodium chloride on the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 and surrogates.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes the global COVID-19 pandemic. Limited studies have been performed on various types of disinfectants utilized to control the spread of this highly contagious virus. This study aimed to investigate the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 using compressed sodium chloride (CSC) surface.

Does normalization of SARS-CoV-2 concentrations by Pepper Mild Mottle Virus improve correlations and lead time between wastewater surveillance and clinical data in Alberta (Canada): comparing twelve SARS-CoV-2 normalization approaches.

Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) data normalization is an analyte measurement correction that addresses variations resulting from dilution of fecal discharge by non-sanitary sewage, stormwater or groundwater infiltration. No consensus exists on what WBS normalization parameters result in the strongest correlations and lead time between SARS-CoV-2 WBS data and COVID-19 cases. This study compared flow, population size and biomarker normalization impacts on the correlations and lead times for ten communities in twelve sewersheds in Alberta (Canada) between September 2020 and October 2021 (n = 1024) to determine if normalization by Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMoV) provides any advantages compared to other normalization parameters (e.

Evaluation of the effect of T regulatory cell depletion and donor BCG vaccination on Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra infection using an in vitro model of human PBMC infection.

This study evaluated the effect of T regulatory cells (Treg cells) and the impact of BCG vaccination history of donors using an in vitro model of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PBMCs from donors with or without prior BCG vaccination were depleted of Treg cells (PBMCs-Tregs) or not depleted with Treg cells (PBMCs + Tregs) were infected up to 8 days with Mtb H37Ra. Cell aggregates were smaller in PBMCs-Tregs compared to PBMCs + Tregs at day 8 post-infection.

Differences in Illness Severity among Circulating Norovirus Genotypes in a Large Pediatric Cohort with Acute Gastroenteritis.

Norovirus is a major pathogen identified in children with acute gastroenteritis (AGE), little is known about the strain's diversity and their clinical severity. Stool and/or rectal swabs were collected from children ≤18 years of age recruited at emergency departments (ED), and a provincial nursing advice phone line due to AGE symptoms in the province of Alberta, Canada between December 2014 and August 2018. Specimens were tested using a reverse transcription real time PCR and genotyped by Sanger sequencing.

Characterization of immune responses of human PBMCs infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra: Impact of donor declared BCG vaccination history on immune responses and M. tuberculosis growth.

This study characterized the immune responses in early Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) H37Ra infection of human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-collagen matrix culture and the impact of Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination history of donor PBMCs on the immune responses to Mtb infection. Aggregates of PBMCs were initially observed on day 3 and the size of aggregates continued to increase on day 8 post-infection, where macrophages and T cell subsets were identified to be present. Similarly, mycobacterial load progressively increased in infected PBMCs during the 8 days of culture but were significantly lower in infected PBMCs from BCG vaccinated (BCG+) donors compared to unvaccinated (BCG-) donors.

An Intimate Role for Adult Dorsal Root Ganglia Resident Cycling Cells in the Generation of Local Macrophages and Satellite Glial Cells.

The intricate interactions between neurons, glial, and inflammatory cells within peripheral ganglia are physiologically important, but not well explored. Here, we show that adult dorsal root ganglia (DRG) contain populations of self-renewing cells, collectively referred as DRG resident cycling cells (DRCCs), that are active not only in "quiescent" ganglia but also accelerate their turnover in response to distal axotomy. An unexpected proportion of DRCCs were resident macrophages.

Understanding the pathophysiology of the human TB lung granuloma using in vitro granuloma models.

Tuberculosis remains a major human health threat that infects one in three individuals worldwide. Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a standoff between host and bacteria in the formation of a granuloma. This review will introduce a variety of bacterial and host factors that impact individual granuloma fates.

Discovery of novel 5-(ethyl or hydroxymethyl) analogs of 2'-'up' fluoro (or hydroxyl) pyrimidine nucleosides as a new class of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium inhibitors.

Discovery of novel antimycobacterial compounds that work on distinctive targets and by diverse mechanisms of action is urgently required for the treatment of mycobacterial infections due to the emerging global health threat of tuberculosis. We have identified a new class of 5-ethyl or hydroxy (or methoxy) methyl-substituted pyrimidine nucleosides as potent inhibitors of Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37Ra, H37Rv) and Mycobacterium avium. A series of 2'-'up' fluoro (or hydroxy) nucleosides (1, 2, 4-6, 9, 10, 13, 16, 18, 21, 24) was synthesized and evaluated for antimycobacterial activity.

Antimycobacterial activities of 5-alkyl (or halo)-3'-substituted pyrimidine nucleoside analogs.

Several 5-alkyl (or halo)-3'-azido (amino or halo) analogs of pyrimidine nucleosides have been synthesized and evaluated against Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium. Among these compounds, 3'-azido-5-ethyl-2',3'-dideoxyuridine (3) was found to have significant antimycobacterial activities against M. bovis (MIC(50)=1μg/mL), M.

Estradiol limits viral replication following intravaginal immunization leading to diminished mucosal IgG response and non-sterile protection against genital herpes challenge.

Problem: Previously we reported that ovariectomized (OVX) mice receiving estradiol (E) prior to immunization with an attenuated strain of HSV-2 (TK-HSV-2) were not protected. Lack of protection in the E group was because of the inability of TK-HSV-2 to penetrate the thick keratinized epithelium. In this study, we determined the outcome of immunization after the thickening of vaginal epithelium following E-treatment waned.

Intranasal and subcutaneous immunization under the effect of estradiol leads to better protection against genital HSV-2 challenge compared to progesterone.

This study examined the effect of hormonal environment on intranasal and subcutaneous routes of immunization in a genital herpes infection model. Ovariectomized mice were treated with estradiol (E(2)), progesterone (P(4)) or placebo hormone pellets and immunized intranasally (i.n.