Candidate serum protein biomarkers for active pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis in tuberculosis endemic settings.

Background: Identification of non-sputum diagnostic markers for tuberculosis (TB) is urgently needed. This exploratory study aimed to discover potential serum protein biomarkers for the diagnosis of active pulmonary TB (PTB).

Method: We employed Proximity Extension Assay (PEA) to measure levels of 92 protein biomarkers related to inflammation in serum samples from three patient groups: 30 patients with active PTB, 29 patients with other respiratory diseases with latent TB (ORD with LTBI+), and 29 patients with other respiratory diseases without latent TB (ORD with LTBI-).

Durlobactam to boost the clinical utility of standard of care β-lactams against lung disease.

β-Lactams present several desirable pharmacodynamic features leading to the rapid eradication of many bacterial pathogens. Imipenem (IPM) and cefoxitin (FOX) are injectable β-lactams recommended during the intensive treatment phase of pulmonary infections caused by (Mab). However, their potency against Mab is many-fold lower than against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens for which they were optimized, putting into question their clinical utility.

Multidrug tolerance conferred by loss-of-function mutations in anti-sigma factor RshA of .

Low-level drug resistance in noncanonical pathways can constitute steppingstones toward acquisition of high-level on-target resistance mutations in the clinic. To capture these intermediate steps in (Mab), we performed classic mutant selection experiments with moxifloxacin at twofold its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) on solid medium. We found that low-level resistance emerged reproducibly as loss-of-function mutations in RshA (MAB_3542c), an anti-sigma factor that negatively regulates activity of SigH, which orchestrates a response to oxidative stress in mycobacteria.

Public perceptions of genomic studies and hereditary diseases in Aari community, South Omo Zone, Ethiopia.

Background: Genetic and genomic research is revolutionizing precision medicine; however, addressing ethical and cultural aspects is crucial to ensure ethical conduct and respect for community values and beliefs. This study explored the beliefs, perceptions and concerns of the Aari community in South Ethiopia regarding genetic concepts, hereditary diseases and ethical research practices related to sample collection, storage and sharing.

Methods: In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with community elders, health officials, tuberculosis patients and apparently healthy individuals.

Rapid ethical appraisal of stakeholder views on research prior to undertaking immunopathogenesis studies on podoconiosis in northeast Ethiopia during a period of social instability.

Background: Undertaking research and attaining informed consent can be challenging when there is political unrest and community mistrust. Rapid ethical appraisal (REA) is a tool that uses qualitative methods to explore sociocultural issues that may affect the ethical conduct of research.

Methods: We used REA in northeast Ethiopia shortly following a period of unrest, during which violence against researchers occurred, to assess stakeholder perceptions of research, researchers and the informed consent process.