Virological Investigation in Synanthropic Rodents in North Italy

Intro: Several rodents, including mice and the brown rat, are synanthropic animals usually found in rural and urban environments in contact with other animals and humans. Rodents are natural reservoirs of infectious agents and could harbour a plethora of zoonotic pathogens of public health importance. Taking advantage of a parallel study on presence and distribution of Hantaviruses, we aimed to investigate the occurrence in mice of other viruses with zoonotic or economic impact. Method(s): From May to July 2022, 41 mice (Mus domesticus) were captured and killed by using baited snap traps in 13 selected cattle, goat and poultry farms located in the Piedmont region. Gut and lung samples were homogenised and tested by PCR methods for pan-Coronavirus (CoV) and SARS-CoV-2, pan-Pestivirus, Mammalian orthoreoviruses, Canine Distemper virus (CDV), Flaviviruses, Influenza A (IAV) and D (IDV) viruses. Finding(s): All captured animals did not present at necropsy lesions related to infectious diseases. Virological investigations detected the presence of CoV in six mice. By sequencing Rodent CoVs was identified in two samples (four more pending). Mammalian orthoreovirus was detected in nine animals and typing and characterization are in progress. One mouse, captured in a bovine farm, tested slightly positive for IDV and confirmation of positivity is in progress by complete sequencing with NGS approach. All samples were negative for Flaviviruses, IAV, CDV, pan-Pestivirus and SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion(s): Rodents are well adapted to a wide range of habitats, including peri-urban and rural environments, where they benefit from human activities. These results, although preliminary, underline the importance of enhancing surveillance in rodents in anthropized areas to better assess the presence of zoonotic agents and the potential risk of transmission.Copyright © 2023

Diagnostic Analysis of mZN Microscopy and PCR for Detection of Cryptosporidiosis in Goat Kids - A Molecular Epidemiological Study

The occurrence of Cryptosporidium species infection and its risk factors in neonatal goats is less explored. Also it is due to the fact that diseases like colibacillosis and neonatal viral enteritis complex caused by Group A rotaviruses and Bovine corona viruses can co-exist with Cryptosporidium and can lead to mixed infections and the latter is often overlooked. Therefore, in the current research we explored the cryptosporidial occurrence in neonatal goats of Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. In this study, a total of 644 faecal samples were collected from neonatal goats at different villages and certain organized farms of Mathura district age-wise, season-wise and breed-wise, and were examined for Cryptosporidium based on modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique, conventional 18SSU rRNA nested PCR assay. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in goats based on microscopy was 36.80% (237/644;p value <0.0001) and 18SSU rRNA nested PCR 52.95% (341/644;p value <0.0001) respectively. Cryptosporidium species typing was also done using 18SSU rRNA nested PCR-RFLP product using enzymes Mbo-II, Ssp-I and Vsp-I, which revealed species including C. parvum C. bovis, C. ryanae, C. hominis and C. andersoni. Also the infection was clinically associated based on age, gender and seasons to identify the causal relationships that precipitate the cryptosporidial infection in goat kids. Since mZN microscopy based screening requires expertise and may sometimes be confuse with other weak acid fast bodies and also due to low sensitivity, combination of diagnostic tests are used in this study to identify the best test combination that yields best statistical fit in terms of kappa-agreement and McNemar's test. Cryptosporidiosis is caused by an enteric protozoan parasite and the first report in sheep and goat was observed in early 1980s, with other important etiological agents for neonatal diarrhoea, mortality and morbidity in neonatal kids and lambs, responsible for economic losses.Copyright © 2023 Indian Veterinary Assocaition. All rights reserved.

Case report: A new factor of rumen bloat in goats after the covid-19 pandemic

Goats may suffer from rumen bloat for many reasons, e.g. improperly concentrated ratio or obstruction. The disease can be caused by eating undigested items, e.g. plastic rope or bags. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has often become mandatory for people to wear medical masks. People are generally unaware that masks left on the ground pose a risk to goats who may eat them. This case report describes the rumen bloat caused by medical masks in a male goat reared in an elementary school. After physical examination, the goat showed a bloated rumen, anorexia, depression, and weakness. The heart rate was normal, but respiratory patterns were fast and deep. Fewer defecated feces were noted by the owner. Furthermore, the owner's complaints and ultrasound images revealed that undigested items in the rumen were the cause. After performing a standard rumenotomy, we scooped out four medical masks, one plastic bag, and one high-density nylon rope from the rumen. We believe this was the first report describing the risk of medical masks in goats. Promoting life and animal welfare education is essential to inform others of the harm medical masks pose to animals.Copyright © 2023 World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte Ltd. All rights reserved.

Protease Activity in the Excretory-Secretory Products of Nymphal Stage of Linguatula Serrata: First Detection of a Metalloprotease

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of proteases and determine the main protease present in the excretory-secretory products (ESPs) from nymphal stage of Linguatula serrata. Infected mesenteric lymph nodes of goats were collected from Tabriz slaughterhouse, northwestern Iran. Recovered Linguatula serrata nymphs were immersed in culture medium (MEM), then ESPs were collected and protease activity in presence of specific inhibitors was assayed. Protease enzyme was fur-ther characterised by SDS-PAGE. The results of this study showed that the main protease in the ESPs from the nymphal stage of L. serrata was a metalloprotease that was resistant to heat. In conclusion, these data show that a major protease secreted by the larval stage of L. serrata exhibited properties that may play a role in the pathogenesis of L. serrata nymphs.Copyright © 2023, Trakia University. All rights reserved.

Comparison of Extraction Methods for the Detection of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus RNA in Goat Raw Milk and Cream Cheese.

Infection with the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) can cause meningitis, meningoencephalitis and myelitis in humans. TBEV is an enveloped RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae, which is mostly transmitted via tick bites. However, transmission by consumption of virus-contaminated goat raw milk and goat raw milk products has also been described. Only a few methods have been reported for the detection of TBEV in food so far. Here, we compare different virus extraction methods for goat raw milk and goat raw milk cream cheese and subsequent detection of TBEV-RNA by RT-qPCR. Langat virus (LGTV), a naturally attenuated TBEV strain, was used for artificial contamination experiments. Mengovirus and the human coronavirus 229E were compared to assess their suitability to serve as internal process controls. Out of three tested extraction protocols for raw milk, sample centrifugation followed by direct RNA extraction from the aqueous interphase yielded the best results, with a recovery rate (RR) of 31.8 ± 4.9% for LGTV and a detection limit of 6.7 × 103 LGTV genome copies/ml. Out of two methods for cream cheese, treatment of the samples with TRI Reagent® and chloroform prior to RNA extraction showed the best RR of 4.7 ± 1.6% for LGTV and a detection limit of 9.4 × 104 LGTV genome copies/g. RRs of Mengovirus and LGTV were similar for both methods; therefore, Mengovirus is suggested as internal process control virus. The developed methods may be useful for screening or surveillance studies, as well as in outbreak investigations.

Safety and Immunogenicity of Recombinant Bacille Calmette-Guérin Strain VPM1002 and Its Derivatives in a Goat Model.

A more effective vaccine against tuberculosis than Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is urgently needed. BCG derived recombinant VPM1002 has been found to be more efficacious and safer than the parental strain in mice models. Newer candidates, such as VPM1002 Δpdx1 (PDX) and VPM1002 ΔnuoG (NUOG), were generated to further improve the safety profile or efficacy of the vaccine. Herein, we assessed the safety and immunogenicity of VPM1002 and its derivatives, PDX and NUOG, in juvenile goats. Vaccination did not affect the goats' health in regards to clinical/hematological features. However, all three tested vaccine candidates and BCG induced granulomas at the site of injection, with some of the nodules developing ulcerations approximately one month post-vaccination. Viable vaccine strains were cultured from the injection site wounds in a few NUOG- and PDX- vaccinated animals. At necropsy (127 days post-vaccination), BCG, VPM1002, and NUOG, but not PDX, still persisted at the injection granulomas. All strains, apart from NUOG, induced granuloma formation only in the lymph nodes draining the injection site. In one animal, the administered BCG strain was recovered from the mediastinal lymph nodes. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) release assay showed that VPM1002 and NUOG induced a strong antigen-specific response comparable to that elicited by BCG, while the response to PDX was delayed. Flow cytometry analysis of IFN-γ production by CD4+, CD8+, and γδ T cells showed that CD4+ T cells of VPM1002- and NUOG-vaccinated goats produced more IFN-γ compared to BCG-vaccinated and mock-treated animals. In summary, the subcutaneous application of VPM1002 and NUOG induced anti-tuberculous immunity, while exhibiting a comparable safety profile to BCG in goats.

Traditional treatment of COVID-19 symptoms with ancient goat butter: Medical follow-up of 27 cases in Batna, Algeria

The search of an effective treatment to cure COVID-19 patients and to dwindle the virus carriage duration gives the opportunity to traditional medicine to expand several tests. Goat butter is used in traditional medicine on the east of Algeria for different lung diseases such a chronic bronchitis and other lung infections. We follow up report on 27 SARS-CoV-2 positive tested patients with PCR-rt and putted at home containment, the patients were auto medicated with a very ancient goat butter with a dose of 3 g two times daily for fifteen days. A noted clinical improvement was confirmed in all 27 cases, clinical symptoms such as fever, cough and respiratory disorders have been missing after the first ten days of treatment, all patients are recovered and do not show any `Covid-19 symptoms after one month of the ancient goat butter cure. Ancient goat butter has antiviral potential in traditional medicine used on the Aures region of Algeria due to its richness of peptides and bioactive lipids. The findings support that this product have efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19. Generally, Auresian people use this product for all lung disease sins many years ago which is being tested now to control its effectiveness to fight this world global health crisis. Copyright © 2021, SILAE (Italo-Latin American Society of Ethnomedicine). All rights reserved.

Isolation and Genetic Characterization of a Bovine Coronavirus KBR-1 Strain from Calf Feces in South Korea.

Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) causes severe diarrhea in neonatal calves, winter dysentery in adult cattle, and respiratory disease in feedlot cattle, resulting in economic losses. A total of 16/140 calf diarrheic feces samples collected in South Korea between 2017 and 2018 were positive for BCoV. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete spike and hemagglutinin/esterase genes revealed that the 16 Korean BCoV strains belonged to group GIIa along with Korean strains isolated after 2000, whereas Korean BCoV strains isolated before 2000 belonged to group GI. Mice and goats inoculated with an inactivated KBR-1 strain (isolated from this study) generated higher antibody titers (96 ± 13.49 and 73 ± 13.49, respectively) when mixed with the Montanide01 adjuvant than when mixed with the Carbopol or IMS1313 adjuvants. Viral antigens were detected in the large intestine, jejunum, and ileum of calves inoculated with inactivated KBR-1 vaccine (104.0 TCID50/mL) at 14 days of post-challenge (DPC). However, no viral antigens were detected in calves vaccinated with a higher dose of inactivated KBR-1 strain (106.0 TCID50/mL) at 14 DPC, and they had high antibody titers and stable diarrhea scores. Currently, the group GIIa is prevalent in cows in South Korea, and although further research is needed in the future, the recently isolated KBR-1 strain has potential value as a new vaccine candidate.

Septic arthritis caused by Brucella melitensis - An orthopedic chal-lenge (11194)

Introduction The zoonotic infection with Brucella melitensis can be acquired by inges-tion of unpasteurized goat's or sheep's milk. The infection is common in Eastern Mediterranean countries (EMC), but rare in western Europe (6 cases in Switzerland, 2021). When evaluating patients with symptoms of septic arthritis, brucellosis is not the foremost differential diagnosis. How-ever, with the increasing population of people from EMC in western Eu-rope, the incidence may be rising. We present a patient who was initially suspected to suffer from Long-COVID-Syndrome (LCS), which underscores the relevance of this case in a pandemic situation. Methods/Results A 58-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency department with a painful right knee effusion after a minor trauma. Additionally, he suffered from fatigue, subfebrile temperatures, back pain and myalgias for more than two months. He was suspected to suffer from LCS after a mild COVID-19 three months earlier. The culture of the arthrocentesis (14.400 cells/mul with 61% polynuclear cells) unexpectedly turned positive for B. melitensis. The patient declared that he had been drinking three liters of unpasteurized goat's milk to cure the presumptive LCS. To ensure staff safety, arthroscopic lavage was postponed until brucella-active antibiotics had been administered for at least 24 hours. Surgery was performed under strict infection control measures to avoid generating aerosols. According to Duke, one major (continuous bacteremia over 14 days) and 2 minor criteria (fever, most probably septic embolic gonarthritis) were fulfilled. Therefore, possible endocarditis had to be assumed although transesophageal echocardiography was normal. Antibiotic treatment was escalated to a quadruple regimen (intravenous gentamicin for three weeks;as well as oral doxycycline, trimethoprim/sulfomethoxazole and rifampin for at least 3 months). The clinical recovery - still under treatment - is protracted with slowly improving knee pain and normalizing signs of inflammation. Conclusion Although B. melitensis is a rare pathogen in Switzerland, orthopedic sur-geons, rheumatologists and infectious disease specialists need to be aware of diseases with low incidence and non-specific symptoms espe-cially in times of a global pandemia. A high index of suspicion is needed in patients related to EMC. When brucellosis is confirmed, strict infection control measures to protect staff involved in aerosol generating proce-dures must be adopted.

Susceptibility of Domestic Goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) to Experimental Infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.351/Beta Variant.

A wide range of animal species are susceptible to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Natural and/or experimental infections have been reported in pet, zoo, farmed and wild animals. Interestingly, some SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as B.1.1.7/Alpha, B.1.351/Beta, and B.1.1.529/Omicron, were demonstrated to infect some animal species not susceptible to classical viral variants. The present study aimed to elucidate if goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) are susceptible to the B.1.351/Beta variant. First, an in silico approach was used to predict the affinity between the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351/Beta variant and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 from goats. Moreover, we performed an experimental inoculation with this variant in domestic goat and showed evidence of infection. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in nasal swabs and tissues by RT-qPCR and/or immunohistochemistry, and seroneutralisation was confirmed via ELISA and live virus neutralisation assays. However, the viral amount and tissue distribution suggest a low susceptibility of goats to the B.1.351/Beta variant. Therefore, although monitoring livestock is advisable, it is unlikely that goats play a role as SARS-CoV-2 reservoir species, and they are not useful surrogates to study SARS-CoV-2 infection in farmed animals.

Supporting ultra-poor children with cerebral palsy and their families with integrated microfinance/livelihood and community-based rehabilitation: A cluster randomized controlled trial

Objective: This study aimed to test the effectiveness of an 'integrated microfinance/livelihood and community-based rehabilitation (CBR)' (IMCBR) program in improving quality of life and physical ability of children with cerebral palsy (CP), mental health of primary caregivers and social/economic capital of ultra-poor families of children with CP in rural Bangladesh. Design: Open-label pragmatic randomized controlled trial (registration: ACTRN12619001750178). Method: Children with CP aged ≤5 years were recruited in three arms: Arm-A: IMCBR, Arm-B: CBR, and Arm-C: control (i.e. care as usual). Each arm had eight clusters of 10-14 child-caregiver dyads. Caregivers recruited in the Arm-A received livelihood support (e.g., goat/lamb/poultry) and their children with CP received CBR once a week. The child-caregiver dyads in Arm-B received CBR only. The control Arm did not receive any intervention. However, CBR was stopped at 2.5 months of intervention due to COVID-19 pandemic and weekly phone follow-up was completed for home-based CBR. TNO-AZL Preschool children Quality of Life (TAPQoL), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and Communication Function Classification System (CFCS) were used to assess quality of life, motor function and communication of children, respectively. Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-Short Form-21 (DASS-21) was used to assess depression, anxiety and stress of primary caregivers. Results: Out of 251 children with CP and their caregivers recruited at baseline, 233 children and primary caregivers (Arm-A: n = 74, Arm-B: n = 77, and Arm-C: n = 82 dyads) completed the 12 month trial. The mean values of livelihood items given per family in Arm A increased from ∼USD66 to ∼USD79 between 0month(m) and 12m (p = 0.066), respectively. The mean TAPQoL score for physical functioning significantly increased between 0m and 12m in all three Arms (p < 0.001, p = 0.017 and p < 0.001 in Arm A, Arm B and Arm C, respectively), however, the improvement in the score was highest in Arm A. Similarly, significant improvement in the GMFCS level was observed between 0m and 12m in all three Arms with the highest improvement in Arm A (p < 0.001). Children's CFCS levels deteriorated slightly at 12m follow up in all three Arms. The depression, anxiety and stress levels among primary caregivers of children reduced significantly between the 0m and 12m in all three Arms (p ≤ 0.001 for all). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the IMCBR is effective in enhancing quality of life and motor functions of children with CP, mental health of primary caregivers and economic status of ultra-poor families.

CHEMICALLY DECORATED DECELLULARIZED CORNEA AS FULL-THICKNESS STROMAL SUBSTITUTE

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, collection and donation of human cadaveric corneas are cumbersome. Decellularized corneas (DC) have gained intense popularity as a possible scaffold for corneal remodeling and as an alternative tissue source for corneal replacement. However, DC elicits immune response inspite of elimination of the cellular contents/antigens due to distortion of the collagen fibrils that exposes certain antigenic sites, which often lead to graft rejection. Therefore, here, we tested the hypothesis that cross-linking DC with chondroitin sulfate (CS) may help in restoring distorted conformational changes of the fibrous matrix and would reduce graft rejection. An in vitro immune response study confirmed that the cross-linked DC elicited the least immune response than DC. We implanted three sets of corneal scaffolds obtained from goat, i.e., native, decellularized, and DC conjugated with CS into rabbit stroma. Histology analysis, three months post-implantation confirmed seamless graft integration, cell migration, and no sign of inflammation in the crosslinked cornea. However, so far we have checked the immunogenic potential of decellularized and crosslinked cornea among cross-species(goat to rabbit). Now, before moving to a human clinical trial (patients with infectious keratitis), we are validating the decellularization of the human stromal layer using discarded human corneas not suitable for implantation, for the regeneration of the corneal endothelial layer. The decellularized, chemically decorated cornea will be tectonically strong, offer less immunogenicity, can be sterilized, and will have a longer shelf life. Through this novel study, we can meet the demand for alternative bioengineered human cornea for keratitis patients.

AN ADAPTATION OF THE GOAT BUSINESS THROUGHOUT THE SUPPLY CHAIN IN THE SPREAD OF VIRAL DISEASES CORONA 2019 IN PHRA NAKHON SI AYUTTHAYA PROVINCE, THAILAND

The spread situation of Viral Disease Corona 2019 in 4th wave (COVID 19), Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province is the highest controlled area. Entrepreneurs throughout the goat supply chain were affected from upstream where production costs were higher. Midstream, gatherers, wholesaler's restaurant operators who could not normally open the shop. And downstream that refrain from performing religious ceremonies and reduce income affects purchasing power and demand for goats declined. This research article aims 1) to analyze the current goat supply chain situation 2) synthesize an adaptation of the goat business in the spread situation of Viral Disease Corona 2019 case study in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. In order for entrepreneurs to survive under uncertain situation (VUCA World) by using in - depth interviews with structured questionnaires that were passed the accuracy and Content Confidence Test (IOC) with entrepreneurs throughout the goat supply chain by choosing a chain sample (Snowball Sampling) of 414 sampling samples. Analyze issues (pain points) by using with Whole supply - demand chain Descriptive research based on VUCA framework for proposing an adaptation guideline. The results of the study were as follows: 1) Network value chain of meat goats, the main stakeholders of the goat business, divided into 3 main players: (1) live goat collectors or butchered goats outside the area (11.9% income ratio) (2) processors (halal food producers) will bring live goats to the area (5%) and import them outside the area. And (3) entrepreneurs with integrated business (74.3% income ratio) and 2) VUCA World analysis found that Volatility's demand for meat goat reduce 95% while production costs were increasing 20%, leading to vision processing the meat goat products in line with uncertainty of consumer behavior. The Quantities of consumer demand for products lead to understanding and focusing on strategic business planning, risk management and complexity of the product market to clarify by analyzing the entrepreneurs, products model and ambiguity of the trend consumption of goat products. Entrepreneurs must agility and choose to use tools that suit the personality of entrepreneurs such as Game Theory.

Validating the preeminence of biochemical properties of camel over cow and goat milk during the Covid-19.

In the light of the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak, and the need-of-the-hour to boost immunity to residents, especially those residing in an arid environment, a comparative study was made on the physical and biochemical properties of dairy milk. This novel study in Kuwait revealed the lesser consumed pseudoruminant camel milk as a better potential source of dietary inclusion and an immune booster over true ruminants-cow's and goat's milk. Analysis using a wide array of instruments determining the physical characteristics in camel's milk (pH, conductivity, specific gravity, moisture, and total solids), biochemical constituents (crude protein (CP), nonprotein (NP), and fat), and inorganic constituents (K-919; Ca-907; Zn-4.2 mg/100 mg) revealed conducive properties that validate immunity to consumers when compared to the regularly used cow's milk (K-841; Ca-776; Zn-2.43 mg/100 mg) and goat's milk (K-914; Ca-849; Zn-2.45 mg/100 mg). Log-transformed results revealed high vitamin C in camel's milk (0.42 mg/100 g), indicating high antioxidant properties compared to those of goat's milk (0.12 mg/100 g) and cow's milk (0.04 mg/100 g). Statistical tests by analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences and the correlation coefficient between the three milk samples validating the multiple reasons to use camel's milk over the cow's and goat's milk. Furthermore, this study recommends the consumption of camel's milk due to its low concentrations of contaminants as well, their status below permissible limits in Kuwait, set by global standards over the other sampled milks.

Epoxy Resin as Mounting Medium- A Novel Method for Teaching and Learning

Introduction: Anatomy Museum is an indispensable part of a medical college since it gives complete knowledge of the human body in its four walls. It not just displays meticulously and painstakingly prepared prosections of different body parts and organs but also includes many other teaching aids. Aim: The aim of the study is to use epoxy resin to mount specimens for anatomy museum and also to overcome the difficulty in traditional mounting methods. Materials and Methods: Epoxy resin mixture with hardener, fresh goat kidney, and liver plastic mould and Perspex/glass jar was used. Introduction: In 2019, COVID-19 originated from China and rapid spread throughout globe. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is high as a result;WHO and countries worldwide have imposed rigorous public health concern, such as lockdown and social distancing. This results the closure of educational institutes globally. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, paramedical institutes have sought ways to shift from traditional teaching to virtual teaching. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the perception of 1st year paramedical students and to analyze the merits and demerits of virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai for Paramedical courses Microbiology, BSc sports science and BSc Speech therapy courses. Phase -I students participated in this study with a sample size of 400. A self-designed The fresh specimens were mounted using epoxy resin and allowed for curing. Result: The result obtained was a crystal-clear epoxy resin mounted specimen. The demonstrator as well as the students may feel comfortable and easy to handle as well as to teach and learn. Conclusion: The greatest advantage of this technique was it can be stored and maintained for a long time in the museum without forming any discolouration and dusting of the mounted specimens.

(World) Literature as Ars Vivendi through Collaborative Authorship The Case of Escape Goat

During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, 46 Portuguese authors collaborated on a serialized hypertext novel: Bode Inspiratorio, translated into English as Escape Goat. It draws attention to escapism in literature and calls to the mind a z1st-century retelling of the Decameron, which belongs to the rich sets of texts emanating from The Thou-sand and One Nights we define in literature as ars moriendi. By transferring the act of collective storytelling to a digital platform, Escape Goat transgresses the monologism of authorial isolation by bringing together the heteroglossic structure of the novel with the polyphony of collaborative authorship. This study holds up Escape Goat as a proto example of collaborative Covid-novels and aims to demonstrate how this "novel" form of collaborative authorship extends the boundaries of world literature through a trans-formation of the escapist, mortuary and agonistic aspect of literature as ars moriendi, into the collaborative, ludic and solidarist aspect of literature as ars vivendi.

The Bridge at the End of the World: Linking Expat’s Pandemic Fatigue, Travel FOMO, Destination Crisis Marketing, and Vaxication for “Greatest of All Trips”

The rebirth of global tourism with a massive rebound is anticipated due to an emerging touristic behavior coined as vaxication (i.e., post-vaccination travel). Despite the ongoing fatigue triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, travelers’ fear of missing out (FOMO), and destination crisis marketing (DCM) can further accelerate travelers’ momentum towards vaxication. To address this critical knowledge gap in COVID-19 tourism, the present study aimed to examine the effect of pandemic fatigue on vaxication intention for the greatest of all trips (GOAT) under the moderating influence of travel FOMO and destination crisis marketing. Drawing on data of international expatriates in the United Arab Emirates (N = 356) and using covariance-based structural equation modeling with Mplus, the findings provide new evidence supporting a positive impact of international expat’s pandemic fatigue on vaxication intention for GOAT. Interestingly, this relationship is significantly reinforced by the international expat’s travel FOMO as well as tourism destinations switching gears from ‘managing crisis’ to ‘marketing crisis’. Based on prominent theories (i.e., theory of planned behavior, cognitive load theory, and protection motivation theory) and newly developed scales (i.e., travel FOMO and destination crisis marketing), the study implications are directed towards an outpacing trajectory of global tourism return prompted by pandemic fatigue, travel FOMO, destination crisis marketing, and vaxication intention for the greatest of all trips.

Evaluating the structural and immune mechanism of Interleukin-6 for the investigation of goat milk peptides as potential treatments for COVID-19.

The function of Immune control, haematopoiesis, and inflammation all depend on the cytokine Interleukin 6 (IL-6), and higher expression of IL-6 is seen in COVID-19 and other diseases. The immune protein IL-6 activation is dependent on binding interactions with IL-6Rα, mIL-6R, and sIL-6R for its cellular function. Termination of these reaction could benefit for controlling the over-expression in COVID-19 patients and that may arise as inhibitors for controlling COVID-19. Traditionally, the goat milk has been prescribed as medicine in ayurvedic practice and through this work, we have explored the benefits of peptides from goat milk as IL-6 inhibitors, and it have the potential of inhibiting the over expression of IL-6 and control the COVID-19 disease. Computational experiments have shown that goat peptides had strong interactions with IL-6, with higher scoring profiles and energy efficiency ranging from -6.00 kcal/mol to -9.00 kcal/mol in docking score and -39.00 kcal/mol in binding energy. Especially the YLGYLEQLLR, VLVLDTDYK and AMKPWIQPK peptides from goat milk holds better scoring and shows strong interactions were identified as the most potential IL-6 inhibitor candidates in this study. Peptides from Goat proteins, which are capable of binding to the IL-6 receptor with strong binding conformations, have no negative effects on other immune system proteins.

PURIFICATION of SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES AGAINST SARS-COV-2 PROTEIN NP USING the FasTAG® SYSTEM

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes respiratory syndrome COVID-19, has a protein nucleocapsid that envelops the viral ssRNA. The main protein of the nucleocapsid is the Np protein, which presents limited homology with nucleoproteins of other coronaviruses and therefore turns out to be an attractive antigen for the development of specific anti-Np antibodies. These antibodies can be used for the development of diagnostic systems that allow the detection of the viral antigen in infected individuals from saliva samples. In this context, our group has developed a labelling system called FasTAG®, which allows the immobilization of recombinant proteins on the surface of Gram+ formaldehyde inactivated bacteria. In this system, the recombinant proteins expressed in heterologous systems are fused to the C-terminal domain of S-Layer proteins of Lactobacillus sp. Then, the intrinsic affinity this domain possesses for the membranes of Gram+ bacteria is used for the immobilization of the recombinant proteins of interest. In this way, it is possible to purify specific antibodies against an antigen of interest. Based on the above, the objective of this work was to evaluate the functionality of the FasTAG® system to purify specific anti-Np antibodies. For this, the recombinant protein Np-FasTAG® was incubated for 12 hours at 4 °C with a matrix made up of B. subtilis inactivated with 3% formaldehyde. Next, for the optimization of the protein fixation process to the matrix, a compound factorial design was carried out, the variables of which were: formaldehyde concentration (0.5-1.5-2.5% v/v) and time of incubation (15-30-45 minutes). The optimal condition was determined as the one that minimizes the detachment of the Np protein and maximizes the detachment of the specific antibodies. Turning out to be the optimal condition for the elaboration of the affinity matrix 2.5% v/v of formaldehyde and 15 minutes. Then, in order to evaluate the application of the affinity matrix in the purification of specific antibodies, it was incubated for 1 hour with polyclonal antibodies obtained from chicken egg yolks and the serum of goats immunized with the Np antigen. Next, to study the elution conditions of the antibodies, a compound factorial design was performed using variables: pH, time, and SDS concentration. The best elution condition was obtained for pH 10.5 and 15 minutes. Subsequently, the purified antibodies were evaluated by SDS-PAGE and ELISA. As a result, it was possible to purify 3.5 μg of anti-Np IgG and 3.1 μg of anti-Np IgY per mg of resin. Finally, the set of experiments carried out here demonstrate the potential and functionality of this system for the purification of specific anti-Np antibodies and their use for diagnostic purposes.