Broad-spectrum coronavirus neutralization induced by hetero RBD-Fc protein vaccine.

In the landscape of infectious diseases, human coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 pose significant threats, characterized by severe respiratory illnesses and notable resistance to conventional treatments due to their rapid evolution and the emergence of diverse variants, particularly within SARS-CoV-2. This study investigated the development of broad-spectrum coronavirus vaccines using heterodimeric RBD-Fc proteins engineered through the "Knob-into-Hole" technique. We constructed various recombinant proteins incorporating the receptor-binding domains (RBDs) of different coronaviruses.

Susceptibilities and viral shedding of peridomestic wildlife infected with clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1).

We tested the ability of six peridomestic wildlife species to replicate a highly pathogenic (HP) clade 2.3.4.

Internal migrants as drivers of long-distance cross-regional transmission of tuberculosis in China.

Objectives: Internal migrants in China frequently travel between their hometowns and the cities where they work, creating ample opportunities for cross-regional transmission of tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was to explore the role of internal migrants in transmitting TB across different regions and the contribution of cross-region transmission to China's TB burden.

Methods: The study included a total of 8664 patients with TB and their Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates, collected from two large cities and three rural regions.

Report from the World Health Organization's immunization and vaccines-related implementation research advisory committee (IVIR-AC) ad hoc meeting, 28 June - 1 July 2024.

The World Health Organization's Immunization and Vaccines-related Implementation Research Advisory Committee (IVIR-AC) serves to independently review and evaluate vaccine-related research to maximize the potential impact of vaccination programs. From 28 June - 1 July 2024, IVIR-AC was convened for an ad hoc meeting to discuss new evidence on criteria for rubella vaccine introduction and the risk of congenital rubella syndrome. This report summarizes background information on rubella virus transmission and the burden of congenital rubella syndrome, meeting structure and presentations, proceedings, and recommendations.

The first emergence of paramyxovirus type 12 in wild birds in mainland, China.

Avian paramyxoviruses (APMV) belong to the subfamily Avulavirinae of the family Paramyxoviridae and include 22 distinct subtypes or serotypes (1-22). Avian paramyxovirus serotype 12 (APMV-12) is found sporadically in wild birds worldwide, and reports from only Italy and Taiwan have been published to date; information on its genetic variation and biological characteristics is still limited. In this study, 3 APMV-12 strains, designated WB19, LY9, and LY11, were isolated from 8643 wild bird faecal samples during the annual influenza virus surveillance of wild birds in Guangdong, China between 2018 and 2024, which is first reported in mainland China.

Identification of SNPs and Candidate Genes Associated with Monocyte/Lymphocyte Ratio and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio in Duroc × Erhualian F Population.

Understanding the pig immune function is crucial for disease-resistant breeding and potentially for human health research due to shared immune system features. Immune cell ratios, like monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), offer a more comprehensive view of immune status compared to individual cell counts. However, research on pig immune cell ratios remains limited.

Harder, better, faster, stronger? Dispersal in the Anthropocene.

The dispersal of organisms in the Anthropocene has been profoundly altered by human activities, with far-reaching consequences for humans, biodiversity, and ecosystems. Managing such dispersal effectively is critical to achieve the 2030 targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Here, we bring together insights from invasion science, movement ecology, and conservation biology, and extend a widely used classification framework for the introduction pathways of alien species to encompass other forms of dispersal.

Molecular characterisation of Australasian Ixodiphagus (Hymenoptera; Encyrtidae; Encyrtinae) reveals unexpected diversity and a potential novel host switch.

Ticks are important medical and veterinary parasites that represent a substantial health threat to humans, companion animals, and livestock. Ixodiphagus wasps (Hymenoptera; Encyrtidae) are known endoparasitoids of ixodid (hard) and argasid (soft) ticks, with potential utility as natural biocontrol agents. Two species, Ixodiphagus brunneus and Ixodiphagus mysorensis, are previously recorded from Australia, however, the genus lacks formal revisionary work in Australia, and the validity and host ranges of these species remain uncertain.

Clearance and transport of amyloid β by peripheral monocytes correlate with Alzheimer's disease progression.

Impaired clearance of amyloid β (Aβ) in late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects disease progression. The role of peripheral monocytes in Aβ clearance from the central nervous system (CNS) is unclear. We use a flow cytometry assay to identify Aβ-binding monocytes in blood, validated by confocal microscopy, Western blotting, and mass spectrometry.

Attitudes and Behaviours Regarding COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies in Australians With an Underlying Health Condition: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Public health strategies have focused on preventing and slowing the transmission of COVID-19 by promoting the uptake of mitigation strategies. However, little is known about the uptake of these strategies in the presence of underlying health conditions.

Objectives: To describe the attitudes and behaviours of a sample of Australians towards COVID-19 mitigation strategies, and determine if uptake of these strategies differed across different health conditions.

An IGHG1 variant exhibits polarized prevalence and confers enhanced IgG1 antibody responses against life-threatening organisms.

Evolutionary pressures sculpt population genetics, whereas immune adaptation fortifies humans against life-threatening organisms. How the evolution of selective genetic variation in adaptive immune receptors orchestrates the adaptation of human populations to contextual perturbations remains elusive. Here, we show that the G396R coding variant within the human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) heavy chain presents a concentrated prevalence in Southeast Asian populations.

Global invasion and biosecurity risk from the online trade in ornamental crayfish.

Trade in undomesticated ornamental animals has rapidly expanded beyond brick-and-mortar retail stores to now include growing numbers of internet marketplaces. The growing volume, diversity, and origins of invasive non-native species in trade challenge already weak national biosecurity policies. Despite widespread focus on vertebrates, many knowledge gaps exist regarding the online global trade of ornamental invertebrates.

A Review of Regulatory Frameworks for Biobanking in Southeast Asia.

Southeast Asian countries are at the forefront of public health pressures due to a confluence of factors such as population growth, urbanization, environmental pollution, and infectious diseases (re)emergence. Therefore, the ability to be able to conduct research addressing local and regional needs is of paramount importance. As such, biobanking activities, the standardized collection of biological samples, and associated data, developed over the past few decades supporting ongoing biomedical and clinical research, as well as surveillance are of critical importance.

Leveraging deep learning and computer vision technologies to enhance management of coastal fisheries in the Pacific region.

This paper presents the design and development of a coastal fisheries monitoring system that harnesses artificial intelligence technologies. Application of the system across the Pacific region promises to revolutionize coastal fisheries management. The program is built on a centralized, cloud-based monitoring system to automate data extraction and analysis processes.

Anti-PD-L1 antibody ASC22 in combination with a histone deacetylase inhibitor chidamide as a "shock and kill" strategy for ART-free virological control: a phase II single-arm study.

The combination of ASC22, an anti-PD-L1 antibody potentially enhancing HIV-specific immunity and chidamide, a HIV latency reversal agent, may serve as a strategy for antiretroviral therapy-free virological control for HIV. People living with HIV, having achieved virological suppression, were enrolled to receive ASC22 and chidamide treatment in addition to their antiretroviral therapy. Participants were monitored over 24 weeks to measure changes in viral dynamics and the function of HIV-specific CD8 T cells (NCT05129189).

A quadri-fluorescence SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus system for efficient antigenic characterization of multiple circulating variants.

The ongoing co-circulation of multiple severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains necessitates advanced methods such as high-throughput multiplex pseudovirus systems for evaluating immune responses to different variants, crucial for developing updated vaccines and neutralizing antibodies (nAbs). We have developed a quadri-fluorescence (qFluo) pseudovirus platform by four fluorescent reporters with different spectra, allowing simultaneous measurement of the nAbs against four variants in a single test. qFluo shows high concordance with the classical single-reporter assay when testing monoclonal antibodies and human plasma.

Impact of accelerated biological aging and genetic variation on esophageal adenocarcinoma: Joint and interaction effect in a prospective cohort.

Accelerated biological aging may be associated with increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). However, its relationship with genetic variation, and its effect on improving risk population stratification, remains unknown. We performed an exposome association study to determine potential associated factors associated with EAC.

Non-invasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis via MRI using targeted gadolinium-based nanoparticles.

Introduction: Accurate diagnosis of liver fibrosis is crucial for preventing cirrhosis and liver tumors. Liver fibrosis is driven by activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) with elevated CD44 expression. We developed hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated gadolinium-based nanoprobes to specifically target CD44 for diagnosing liver fibrosis using T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Alzheimer's disease genetic risk and changes in brain atrophy and white matter hyperintensities in cognitively unimpaired adults.

Reduced brain volumes and more prominent white matter hyperintensities on MRI scans are commonly observed among older adults without cognitive impairment. However, it remains unclear whether rates of change in these measures among cognitively normal adults differ as a function of genetic risk for late-onset Alzheimer's disease, including -ɛ4, -ɛ2 and Alzheimer's disease polygenic risk scores (AD-PRS), and whether these relationships are influenced by other variables. This longitudinal study examined the trajectories of regional brain volumes and white matter hyperintensities in relationship to genotypes ( = 1541) and AD-PRS ( = 1093) in a harmonized dataset of middle-aged and older individuals with normal cognition at baseline (mean baseline age = 66 years, SD = 9.

Lessons learnt from assessing and improving accuracy and positive predictive value of the national HIV testing algorithm in Nigeria.

Background: HIV testing remains an entry point into HIV care and treatment services. In 2007, Nigeria adopted and implemented a two-test rapid HIV testing algorithm of three HIV rapid test kits, following the sequence: Alere Determine (first test), Unigold (second test), and STAT-PAK as the tie-breaker. Sub-analysis of the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey data showed significant discordance between the first and second tests, necessitating an evaluation of the algorithm.

Antibiotic Use Characteristics and Patterns in Humans and Poultry in Wakiso District, Uganda.

Antibiotic use in animals has been identified as a major contributing factor for antibiotic resistance. Given the limited access to veterinary services, the choice of antibiotic and the dosage are determined by the farmers. By analyzing prescription practices and their appropriateness, we can compare performance in antibiotic stewardship across regions to drive change toward national goals and to guide policy interventions.