Compositional and functional responses of bacterial community to titanium dioxide nanoparticles varied with soil heterogeneity and exposure duration.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO NPs) are widely used as nano-agrochemicals. In this study we investigated the influence of soil heterogeneity on bacterial communities exposed to TiO NPs over time. Clay and sandy soils with low- and high-organic matter contents were exposed to environmentally relevant concentration of TiO NPs (1 mg/kg) and soil bacterial communities were sampled after short-term (15 days) and long-term exposure (60 days).

Primary cutaneous melioidosis acquired in Nepal - Case report and literature review.

A 27 years-old Dutch male returning from Nepal presented with a painful abscess on the left forearm without fever or other systemic complications. Signs and symptoms consisted of culture of the abscess material revealed Burkholderia pseudomallei. Laboratory results, chest X-ray and CT scan of the abdomen were without abnormalities.

Taxon-toxicity study of fish to typical transition metals: Most sensitive species are edible fish.

Transition metals are widespread in aquatic environments and can be harmful when concentrations exceed thresholds. Especially for fish, an important component of the human diet, low concentrations of transition metals will directly affect their well-being. Different taxa are protected by unified water quality criteria (WQC) thresholds, which rarely consider the ecological status and economic value of different species.

Effects of humic substances on the aqueous stability of cerium dioxide nanoparticles and their toxicity to aquatic organisms.

The impacts of humic substances (HS) on the aquatic stability and toxicity of nano‑cerium dioxide (nCeO) to three organisms with different exposure characteristics were investigated. Addition of HS to suspensions of nCeO lowered the surface zeta potential of the particles, reduced their hydrodynamic size, and increased the energy barrier as indicated by the total potential energy profile. This resulted in a more stable suspension compared to suspensions without HS added.

Graphene nanoplatelets and reduced graphene oxide elevate the microalgal cytotoxicity of nano-zirconium oxide.

Novel products often have a multitude of nanomaterials embedded; likewise within many products graphite-based products are decorated with nano-zirconium oxide (nZrO) because graphene is an ultrahigh conductive material whereas nZrO is for instance fire-retardant. As a consequence, the pristine/isolated nanoparticle has unique beneficial properties but it is no longer the only compound that needs to be considered in risk assessment. Data on joint toxicological implications are particularly important for the hazard assessment of multicomponent nanomaterials.

Respiratory syncytial virus in young children: community cohort study integrating serological surveys, questionnaire and electronic health records, Born in Bradford cohort, England, 2008 to 2013.

BackgroundBronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in infants.AimTo describe RSV epidemiology in children in the community in a high-income setting.MethodsWe used stored blood samples from the United Kingdom Born in Bradford cohort study that had been collected at birth, age 1 and 2 years old, tested for IgG RSV postfusion F antibody and linked to questionnaires and primary and hospital care records.

Particle number-based trophic transfer of gold nanomaterials in an aquatic food chain.

Analytical limitations considerably hinder our understanding of the impacts of the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials (NMs) on their biological fate in organisms. Here, using a fit-for-purpose analytical workflow, including dosing and emerging analytical techniques, NMs present in organisms are characterized and quantified across an aquatic food chain. The size and shape of gold (Au)-NMs are shown to control the number of Au-NMs attached to algae that were exposed to an equal initial concentration of 2.

Adsorption of titanium dioxide nanoparticles onto zebrafish eggs affects colonizing microbiota.

Teleost fish embryos are protected by two acellular membranes against particulate pollutants that are present in the water column. These membranes provide an effective barrier preventing particle uptake. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the adsorption of antimicrobial titanium dioxide nanoparticles onto zebrafish eggs nevertheless harms the developing embryo by disturbing early microbial colonization.

The importance of supplementary immunisation activities to prevent measles outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted routine measles immunisation and supplementary immunisation activities (SIAs) in most countries including Kenya. We assessed the risk of measles outbreaks during the pandemic in Kenya as a case study for the African Region.

Methods: Combining measles serological data, local contact patterns, and vaccination coverage into a cohort model, we predicted the age-adjusted population immunity in Kenya and estimated the probability of outbreaks when contact-reducing COVID-19 interventions are lifted.

Effect of UV/chlorine treatment on photophysical and photochemical properties of dissolved organic matter.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a ubiquitous component in effluents, DOM discharged with an effluent can affect the composition and properties of natural DOM in the receiving waters. As the photophysical and photochemical properties of effluent DOM can be changed by wastewater treatment processes, the effect of UV/chlorine treatment on the photophysical and photochemical properties of DOM was investigated using Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA) and Suwannee River natural organic matter (SRNOM) as representatives. Results showed that the absorbance of the two DOM was significantly decreased.

NAM-supported read-across: From case studies to regulatory guidance in safety assessment.

The use of new approach methodologies (NAMs) in support of read-across (RAx) approaches for regulatory purposes is a main goal of the EU-ToxRisk project. To bring this forward, EU-ToxRisk partners convened a workshop in close collaboration with regulatory representatives from key organizations including European regulatory agencies, such as the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), as well as the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), national agencies from several European countries, Japan, Canada and the USA, as well as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). More than a hundred people actively participated in the discussions, bringing together diverse viewpoints across academia, regulators and industry.

Determinants associated with viable genital or rectal bacterial load (FemCure).

Background: (CT) is routinely diagnosed by nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), which are unable to distinguish between nucleic acids from viable and non-viable CT organisms.

Objectives: We applied our recently developed sensitive PCR (viability PCR) technique to measure viable bacterial CT load and explore associated determinants in 524 women attending Dutch sexual health centres (STI clinics), and who had genital or rectal CT.

Methods: We included women participating in the FemCure study (Netherlands, 2016-2017).

Performance evaluation of handheld Raman spectroscopy for cocaine detection in forensic case samples.

Handheld Raman spectroscopy is an emerging technique for rapid on-site detection of drugs of abuse. Most devices are developed for on-scene operation with a user interface that only shows whether cocaine has been detected. Extensive validation studies are unavailable, and so are typically the insight in raw spectral data and the identification criteria.

Parental and trophic transfer of nanoscale plastic debris in an assembled aquatic food chain as a function of particle size.

The existing limitations in analytical techniques for characterization and quantification of nanoscale plastic debris (NPD) in organisms hinder understanding of the parental and trophic transfer of NPD in organisms. Herein, we used iron oxide-doped polystyrene (PS) NPD (Fe-PS-NPD) of 270 nm and Europium (Eu)-doped PS-NPD (Eu-PS-NPD) of 640 nm to circumvent these limitations and to evaluate the influence of particle size on the trophic transfer of NPD along an algae-daphnids food chain and on the reproduction of daphnids fed with NPD-exposed algae. We used Fe and Eu as proxies for the Fe-PS-NPD and Eu-Ps-NPD, respectively.

Application of low dosage of copper oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles boosts bacterial and fungal communities in soil.

With the expanding nanotechnology, nanoparticles (NPs) embedded products are used in the agricultural sector to improve soil fertility. Thus, two typical metal oxides NPs and their mixtures were applied in different doses to evaluate the impacts on soil microbes. CuO and ZnO NPs boosted soil microbial communities as reflected by the increased number of extractable bacterial or fungal groups and the enlarged values of Chao 1, ACE, and Shannon indices.

Cyanobacterial blooms contribute to the diversity of antibiotic-resistance genes in aquatic ecosystems.

Cyanobacterial blooms are a global ecological problem that directly threatens human health and crop safety. Cyanobacteria have toxic effects on aquatic microorganisms, which could drive the selection for resistance genes. The effect of cyanobacterial blooms on the dispersal and abundance of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) of concern to human health remains poorly known.

Monitoring results of wild boar () in The Netherlands: analyses of serological results and the first identification of biovar 2.

In Europe, wild boar populations pose an increasing risk for livestock and humans due to the transmission of animal and zoonotic infectious diseases, such as African swine fever and brucellosis. is widespread among wild boar in many European countries. In The Netherlands the prevalence of among wild boar has not been investigated so far, despite the high number of pig farms and the growing wild boar population.

Alteration of dominant cyanobacteria in different bloom periods caused by abiotic factors and species interactions.

Freshwater cyanobacterial blooms have drawn public attention because they threaten the safety of water resources and human health worldwide. Heavy cyanobacterial blooms outbreak in Lake Taihu in summer annually and vanish in other months. To find out the factors impacting the cyanobacterial blooms, the present study measured the physicochemical parameters of water and investigated the composition of microbial community using the 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer amplicon sequencing in the months with or without bloom.

Safety and immunogenicity of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine in patients with juvenile dermatomyositis: a real-world multicentre study.

Background: Concerns about the safety and efficacy of vaccines in patients with autoimmune diseases (AID) have led to contradictions and low vaccination coverage in this population, who are at a higher risk of infections, including by human papillomavirus (HPV). Although HPV vaccines have been recommended for immunocompromised patients, there is still a lack of data to support its use for AID patients, such as juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) patients. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the quadrivalent HPV (qHPV) vaccine in a cohort of JDM patients.

Different Long-Term Duration of Seroprotection against in Adolescents and Middle-Aged Adults after a Single Meningococcal ACWY Conjugate Vaccination in The Netherlands.

is often asymptomatically carried in the nasopharynx but may cause invasive meningococcal disease, leading to morbidity and mortality. Meningococcal conjugate vaccinations induce functional protective antibodies against capsular antigens, but seroprotection wanes over time. We measured functional antibody titers five years after administration of a single dose of the meningococcal ACWY-polysaccharide-specific tetanus toxoid-conjugated (MenACWY-TT) vaccine in adolescents and middle-aged adults in the Netherlands, using the serum bactericidal antibody with baby rabbit complement (rSBA) assay.

Human papillomavirus vaccination uptake: a longitudinal study showing ethnic differences in the influence of the intention-to-vaccinate among parent-daughter dyads.

Introduction: It is unclear what role daughters play in the decision-making process regarding HPV vaccination. Therefore, we explored the impact of HPV vaccination intention among parents and their 12-13 year-old daughters on HPV vaccination uptake.

Methods: In February 2014 parents/guardians and their 12-13 year-old daughters were invited to complete a questionnaire about socio-psychological determinants of the decision-making process regarding HPV vaccination.

Metal sorption onto nanoscale plastic debris and trojan horse effects in Daphnia magna: Role of dissolved organic matter.

There is a debate on whether the Trojan horse principle is occurring for nanoscale plastic debris (NPD < 1 µm). It is realized that NPD have a high capacity to sorb environmental contaminants such as metals from the surrounding environment compared to their microplastic counterparts, which influences the sorbed contaminants' uptake. Herein, we studied the influence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the time-resolved sorption of ionic silver (Ag) onto polymeric nanomaterials, as models of NPD, as a function of particle size (300 and 600 nm) and chemical composition [polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE)].

Prediction of the Joint Toxicity of Multiple Engineered Nanoparticles: The Integration of Classic Mixture Models and Methods.

An approach to solve the emerging need of prediction of the toxicity of mixtures of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) is presented. The integration of classic approaches to mixture toxicity assessment and computational toxicology approaches is proposed to be a smart strategy for forecasting the toxicity of a mixture of ENPs.

Effect of FHA and Prn on Bordetella pertussis colonization of mice is dependent on vaccine type and anatomical site.

Bordetella pertussis vaccine escape mutants that lack expression of the pertussis antigen pertactin (Prn) have emerged in vaccinated populations in the last 10-20 years. Additionally, clinical isolates lacking another acellular pertussis (aP) vaccine component, filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), have been found sporadically. Here, we show that both whole-cell pertussis (wP) and aP vaccines induced protection in the lungs of mice, but that the wP vaccine was more effective in nasal clearance.

Simulated sunlight-induced inactivation of tetracycline resistant bacteria and effects of dissolved organic matter.

The transmission of antibiotic resistance in surface water has attracted much attention due to its increasing threat to human health. The role of sunlight irradiation and the effect of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the transmission of antibiotic resistance are still unclear. In this study, photo-inactivation of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) was investigated using antibiotic resistant E.