Isolation of a CTX-M-55 (ESBL)-Producing Escherichia coli Strain of the Global ST6448 Clone from a Captive Orangutan in the USA.

The purpose of this study was to determine if orangutans (Pongo spp.) living in captivity at a zoo in Wisconsin were colonized with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and, if found, to identify underlying genetic mechanisms contributing to their resistant phenotypes. We hypothesize that since antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are so prevalent within humans, the animals could also be carriers of such strains given the daily contact between the animals and the zoo staff that care for them. To test this theory, fecal samples from two orangutans were examined for resistant bacteria by inoculation on HardyCHROM™ ESBL and HardyCHROM™ CRE agars. Isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using a Microscan autoSCAN-4 System. An isolate was selected for additional characterization, including whole genome sequencing (WGS). Using the Type (Strain) Genome Server (TYGS) the bacterium was identified as Escherichia coli. The sequence type identified was (ST/phylogenetic group/ß-lactamase): ST6448/B1/CTX-M-55.

Estimating the prevalence and predictors of musculoskeletal disorders in Tanzania: a cross-sectional pilot study.

Introduction: musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders account for approximately 20% of all years lived with disability worldwide however studies of MSK disorders in Africa are scarce. This pilot study aimed to estimate the community-based prevalence of MSK disorders, identify predictors, and assess the associated disability in a Tanzanian population. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted in one village in the Kilimanjaro region from March to June 2019. The Gait, Arms, Legs, Spine (GALS) or paediatric GALS (pGALS) examinations were used during household and school visits. Individuals positive in GALS/pGALS screening were assessed by the regional examination of the musculoskeletal system (REMS) and Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (MHAQ). Results: among the 1,172 individuals enrolled in households, 95 (8.1%, 95% CI: 6.6 - 9.8) showed signs of MSK disorders using the GALS/pGALS examination and 37 (3.2%, 95% CI: 2.2 - 4.3) using the REMS. Among 682 schools enrolled children, seven showed signs of MSK disorders using the GALS/pGALS examination (1.0%, 95% CI: 0.4 - 2.1) and three using the REMS (0.4%, 95% CI: 0.0 - 1.3). In the household-enrolled adult population, female gender and increasing age were associated with GALS and REMS-positive findings. Among GALS-positive adults, increasing age was associated with REMS-positive status and increasing MHAQ score. Conclusion: this Tanzanian study demonstrates a prevalence of MSK disorders and identifies predictors of MSK disorders comparable to those seen globally. These findings can inform the development of rheumatology services and interventions in Tanzania and the design of future investigations of the determinants of MSK disorders, and their impacts on health, livelihoods, and well-being.

A paintbrush for delivery of nanoparticles and molecules to live cells with precise spatiotemporal control.

Delivery of very small amounts of reagents to the near-field of cells with micrometer spatial precision and millisecond time resolution is currently out of reach. Here we present µkiss as a micropipette-based scheme for brushing a layer of small molecules and nanoparticles onto the live cell membrane from a subfemtoliter confined volume of a perfusion flow. We characterize our system through both experiments and modeling, and find excellent agreement. We demonstrate several applications that benefit from a controlled brush delivery, such as a direct means to quantify local and long-range membrane mobility and organization as well as dynamical probing of intercellular force signaling.

The intestinal microbiota of a Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus): possible relationships with starvation raised by macro-plastic ingestion / La microbiota intestinal del delfín gris (Grampus griseus): posibles relaciones con la inanición provocada por la ingestión de macroplásticos

Ingesting marine plastics is increasingly common in cetaceans, but little is known about their potential effects. Here, by utilizing 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we profiled the intestinal bacterial communities of a stranded Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) which died because of the ingestion of rubber gloves. In this study, we explored the potential relationships between starvation raised by plastic ingestion with the dolphin gut microbiota. Our results showed significant differences in bacterial diversity and composition among the different anatomical areas along the intestinal tract, which may be related to the intestinal emptying process under starvation. In addition, the intestinal bacterial composition of the Risso’s dolphin showed both similarity and divergence to that of other toothed whales, suggesting potential roles of both host phylogeny and habitat shaping of the cetacean intestinal microbiome. Perhaps, the microbiota is reflecting a potentially disordered intestinal microbial profile caused by the ingestion of macro-plastics which led to starvation. Moreover, two operational taxonomic units (0.17% of the total reads) affiliated with Actinobacillus and Acinetobacter lwoffii were detected along the intestinal tract. These bacterial species may cause infections in immunocompromised dolphins which are malnourished. This preliminary study profiles the intestinal microbiota of a Risso’s dolphin, and provides an additional understanding of the potential relationships between starvation raised by ingesting macro-plastics with cetacean gut microbiota.(AU)

Selected adjuvants increase the efficacy of foliar biofortification of iodine in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain.

Agronomic biofortification of crops is a promising approach that can improve the nutritional value of staple foods by alleviating dietary micronutrient deficiencies. Iodine deficiency is prevalent in many countries, including Australia, but it is not clear what foliar application strategies will be effective for iodine fortification of grain. This study hypothesised that combining adjuvants with iodine in foliar sprays would improve iodine penetration in wheat, leading to more efficient biofortification of grains. The glasshouse experiment included a total of nine treatments, including three reference controls: 1) Water; 2) potassium iodate (KIO3) and 3) potassium chloride (KCl); and a series of six different non-ionic surfactant or oil-based adjuvants: 4) KIO3 + BS1000; 5) KIO3 + Pulse® Penetrant; 6) KIO3 + Uptake®; 7) KIO3 + Hot-Up®; 8) KIO3 + Hasten® and 9) KIO3 + Synerterol® Horti Oil. Wheat was treated at heading, and again during the early milk growth stage. Adding the organosilicon-based adjuvant (Pulse®) to the spray formulation resulted in a significant increase in grain loading of iodine to 1269 µg/kg compared to the non-adjuvant KIO3 control at 231µg/kg, and the water and KCl controls (both 51µg/kg). The second most effective adjuvant was Synerterol® Horti Oil, which increased grain iodine significantly to 450µg/kg. The Uptake®, BS1000, Hasten®, and Hot-Up® adjuvants did not affect grain iodine concentrations relative to the KIO3 control. Importantly, iodine application and the subsequent increase in grain iodine had no significant effects on biomass production and grain yield relative to the controls. These results indicate that adjuvants can play an important role in agronomic biofortification practices, and organosilicon-based products have a great potential to enhance foliar penetration resulting in a higher translocation rate of foliar-applied iodine to grains, which is required to increase the iodine density of staple grains effectively.

Trends of frequency, mortality and risk factors among patients admitted with stroke from 2017 to 2019 to the medical ward at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre hospital: a retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: The burden of stroke has increased in recent years worldwide, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. In this study we aim to determine the number of stroke admissions, and associated comorbidities, at a referral hospital in Northern Tanzania. DESIGN: This was a retrospective observational study. SETTING: The study was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), in the orthern zone of Tanzania. PARTICIPANTS: The study included adults aged 18 years and above, who were admitted to the medical wards from 2017 to 2019. OUTCOME: The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who had a stroke admitted in the medical ward at KCMC and the secondary outcome was clinical outcome such as mortality. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective audit of medical records from 2017 to 2019 for adult patients admitted to the medical ward at KCMC. Data extracted included demographic characteristics, previous history of stroke and outcome of the admission. Factors associated with stroke were investigated using logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 7976 patients admitted between 2017 and 2019, 972 (12.2%) were patients who had a stroke. Trends show an increase in patients admitted with stroke over the 3 years with 222, 292 and 458 in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Of the patients who had a stroke, 568 (58.4%) had hypertension while 167 (17.2%) had diabetes mellitus. The proportion of admitted stroke patients aged 18-45 years, increased from 2017 (n=28, 3.4%) to 2019 (n=40, 4.3%). The in-hospital mortality related to stroke was 229 (23.6%) among 972 patients who had a stroke and female patients had 50% higher odds of death as compared with male patients (OR:1.5; CI 1.30 to 1.80). CONCLUSION: The burden of stroke on individuals and health services is increasing over time, which reflects a lack of awareness on the cause of stroke and effective preventive measures. Prioritising interventions directed towards the reduction of non-communicable diseases and associated complications, such as stroke, is urgently needed.

The intestinal microbiota of a Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus): possible relationships with starvation raised by macro-plastic ingestion.

Ingesting marine plastics is increasingly common in cetaceans, but little is known about their potential effects. Here, by utilizing 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we profiled the intestinal bacterial communities of a stranded Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) which died because of the ingestion of rubber gloves. In this study, we explored the potential relationships between starvation raised by plastic ingestion with the dolphin gut microbiota. Our results showed significant differences in bacterial diversity and composition among the different anatomical areas along the intestinal tract, which may be related to the intestinal emptying process under starvation. In addition, the intestinal bacterial composition of the Risso's dolphin showed both similarity and divergence to that of other toothed whales, suggesting potential roles of both host phylogeny and habitat shaping of the cetacean intestinal microbiome. Perhaps, the microbiota is reflecting a potentially disordered intestinal microbial profile caused by the ingestion of macro-plastics which led to starvation. Moreover, two operational taxonomic units (0.17% of the total reads) affiliated with Actinobacillus and Acinetobacter lwoffii were detected along the intestinal tract. These bacterial species may cause infections in immunocompromised dolphins which are malnourished. This preliminary study profiles the intestinal microbiota of a Risso's dolphin, and provides an additional understanding of the potential relationships between starvation raised by ingesting macro-plastics with cetacean gut microbiota.

Socioeconomic inequities in mortality and functional outcome after stroke in Zanzibar: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To characterise mortality and functional outcome and their relationships with socioeconomic deprivation for women and men in Zanzibar. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants in ZanStroke, a prospective observational study of patients admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of acute stroke, were followed up until one year after the stroke. The modified National Institute of Health Stroke Scale was used to assess initial stroke severity, while modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to assess disability at 12 months post-stroke. A multidimensional poverty index was created using individual-level data. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression model were used to examine associations of socioeconomic deprivation and death at 28 days and 12 months after stroke onset, while logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations between deprivation and functional outcome. RESULTS: Overall mortality rate was 38.2% (CI 34.8-41.9) at 28 days, rising to 59.0% (CI 55.2-62.8) at 12 months. When adjusted for other variables, survival was higher among the least deprived (HR 0.60 CI 0.45-0.80), an association that was strongly significant for women (HR 0.46 CI 0.29-0.74). Among 12-month survivors 45.1% (n = 122) had no/low level of disability (mRS 0-2), while 22.9% (n = 62) were unable to walk independently or at all. No difference between socioeconomic deprivation and outcome was seen at one year. CONCLUSION: Case-fatality rates were high, and socioeconomic disparities were evident even during the acute stroke phase. Policies are needed to reduce significant health disparities, adapt evidence-based interventions, and promote equitable access to stroke care and rehabilitation.

Immune and genomic biomarkers of immunotherapy response in cancer of unknown primary.

BACKGROUND: Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is a heterogeneous group of metastatic cancers where a primary tissue of origin (TOO) is uncertain. Most patients with CUP have limited treatment options and poor survival outcomes. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can be efficacious in some patients with CUP, but the optimal predictive biomarkers are unknown. We therefore assessed immune and genomic biomarkers as well as predicted TOO in patients with CUP, including a subset treated with ICIs. METHODS: Patients with CUP were subject to gene-expression profiling (GEP) and DNA panel sequencing. Immune and stromal-related gene expression was explored by NanoString, including genes associated with immunotherapy response (IR) in other solid malignancies. ICI responsive cancer types were assigned based on Food and Drug Administration-approved indications, and either detection of a latent primary tumor or the TOO was suspected based on genomics informed pathology review. Tumor mutation burden (TMB) and gene mutations were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 219 patients with CUP were included, 215 assessed for TOO in a previous study, with the majority (163) receiving both RNA and DNA tests. Of GEP profiled cases, 33% (59/175) had a high IR gene-expression score. Of the DNA sequenced cases, 16% (32/203) had high TMB (>10 mutations/Mb), including two with mismatch repair deficiency. Low correlation was observed between TMB and an IR score (R=0.26, p<0.001). Among 110 CUPs with a latent primary or suspected TOO, 47% (52/110) belonged to ICI-responsive cancer types. More than half of the CUPs had at least one feature that may predict ICI response (high IR score, high TMB, ICI-responsive cancer type). Among patients with CUP treated with ICIs, 8/28 (29%) responded (2 complete responses and 6 partial responses). Among non-responders, 9 had stable and 11 had progressive disease. All responders had a high IR score (7/8) and/or high TMB (3/8), while most (5/8) belonged to ICI-responsive cancer types. These features were detected at a lower frequency in non-responders and mostly in patients with stable disease. CONCLUSIONS: A significant fraction of CUP tumors had genomic features previously associated with ICI response. High IR score was the most sensitive predictive feature of ICI response, warranting evaluation in a larger patient series.

Robinsoniella peoriensis: an emerging pathogen with few virulence factors / Robinsoniella peoriensis: un patógeno emergente con pocos factores de virulencia

Robinsoniella peoriensis is a Gram-positive bacterium which is anaerobic, spore-forming, and non-motile. It was initially isolated and characterized from feces and swine manure. Strains of this species have since been identified from different mammalian and non-mammalian gastrointestinal tracts. Strains have also been isolated from a variety of human infections, such as bacteremia, bone infections, and skin structures. R. peoriensis has recently been reported as causative for pyometra, which could result in death in the absence of sufficient antimicrobial treatment. However, to the author’s knowledge, there has not been a single virulence factor identified. A major challenge of modern medicine is the failure of conventional procedures to characterize the capability of an emerging pathogen to cause disease. The goal of this study is to initially characterize the pathogenicity of this bacterium using a pathogenomics approach.(AU)

Staff perceptions of organisational performance measurement implementation in a health charity.

The non-acute health charity sector forms part of the global health services industry. Organisational Performance Measurement (OPM) is fundamental for modern business to achieve sustained excellence yet is under-utilised by non-acute health charities. The Non-Acute Health Charity Performance Implementation Framework (NCPI Framework) was developed to support non-acute health charities undertaking OPM. A non-acute health charity case study undertook a 12-month OPM implementation process using the NCPI Framework. This study had three aims. Firstly, to understand the perceptions of staff employed by the case study organisation regarding their experience of the 12-month NCPI Framework implementation process, secondly to identify whether an interrelationship existed between the NCPI Framework's implementation elements and the staff's perspectives, and thirdly, identify areas of strength and improvement which could enhance the NCPI Framework's effectiveness. Data were collected post implementation and analysed thematically from open-ended question responses from an anonymous survey and semi-structured interviews. Participants supported the introduction of OPM and valued the NCPI Framework's structured implementation guidelines. Six interrelated themes were identified: clarity, adaptability, alignment, transparent communication, capability and accountability. Participants suggested adaptations to enhance the NCPI Framework's impact. A culture aligned with organisational learning was identified as potentially having a positive impact on the NCPI Framework's implementation. The NCPI Framework may also have relevance and application to the non-profit industry beyond non-acute health care and for use in program development and service quality initiatives.

Robinsoniella peoriensis: an emerging pathogen with few virulence factors.

Robinsoniella peoriensis is a Gram-positive bacterium which is anaerobic, spore-forming, and non-motile. It was initially isolated and characterized from feces and swine manure. Strains of this species have since been identified from different mammalian and non-mammalian gastrointestinal tracts. Strains have also been isolated from a variety of human infections, such as bacteremia, bone infections, and skin structures. R. peoriensis has recently been reported as causative for pyometra, which could result in death in the absence of sufficient antimicrobial treatment. However, to the author's knowledge, there has not been a single virulence factor identified. A major challenge of modern medicine is the failure of conventional procedures to characterize the capability of an emerging pathogen to cause disease. The goal of this study is to initially characterize the pathogenicity of this bacterium using a pathogenomics approach.

Draft genome sequence data of Clostridium perfringens FA isolated from the faecal material of the critically endangered African wild dog, Lycaon pictus.

In this present article the draft sequence data for Clostridium perfringens FA, which was isolated from the faecal material of a critically endangered African Wild dog, is reported. The bacterium is widely distributed in the environment and in the normal intestinal flora of humans and animals. The genome of strain C. perfringens FA was assembled into 21 contigs with a total length of 3, 044, 349 bp and a GC content of 28.20%. There are 2742 CDS, 70 tRNAs and 5 rRNAs. Five putative virulence genes were detected. There were no plasmid replicons found. The genome of few environmental isolates has been sequenced. The draft genome of strain FA can be compared to disease causing isolates cultured from humans to aid in a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the bacterium.

Biogeographic patterns of potential pathogenic bacteria in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River as well as its two adjoining lakes, China.

Understanding the distribution patterns and shaping factors of bacterial pathogens in aquatic ecosystems, especially in natural waters, are critical to the control of pathogen transmission. In this study, using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we explored the composition and biogeographic dynamics of potential bacterial pathogens in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, as well as its two vast adjoining lakes (Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake). The pathogen community belonged to 12 potential pathogenic groups, with "intracellular parasites," "animal parasites or symbionts" and "human pathogens all" occupying 97.5% in total. The potential pathogen community covered seven phyla with Proteobacteria (69.8%) and Bacteroidetes (13.5%) the most predominant. In addition, 53 genera were identified with Legionella (15.2%) and Roseomonas (14.2%) the most dominant. The average relative abundance, alpha diversity and microbial composition of the potential bacterial pathogens exhibited significant biogeographical variations among the different sections. An in-depth analysis reflected that environmental variables significantly structured the potential bacterial pathogens, including water physiochemical properties (i.e., chlorophyll-a, total nitrogen and transparency), heavy metals (i.e., As and Ni), climate (i.e., air temperature) and land use type (i.e., waters). Compared to the overall bacterial community which was composed of both pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria, the pathogen community exhibited distinct microbial diversity patterns and shaping factors. This signifies the importance of different variables for shaping the pathogen community. This study represents one attempt to explore pathogen diversity patterns and their underlying drivers in the Yangtze River, which provides a foundation for the management of pathogenic bacteria.

Identification of two chickpea multidrug and toxic compound extrusion transporter genes transcriptionally upregulated upon aluminum treatment in root tips.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity poses a significant challenge for the yield improvement of chickpea, which is an economically important legume crop with high nutritional value in human diets. The genetic basis of Al-tolerance in chickpea remains unclear. Here, we assessed the Al-tolerance of 8 wild Cicer and one cultivated chickpea (PBA Pistol) accessions by measuring the root elongation in solution culture under control (0 µM Al3+) and Al treatments (15, 30 µM Al3+). Compared to PBA Pistol, the wild Cicer accessions displayed both tolerant and sensitive phenotypes, supporting wild Cicer as a potential genetic pool for Al-tolerance improvement. To identify potential genes related to Al-tolerance in chickpea, genome-wide screening of multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) encoding genes was performed. Fifty-six MATE genes were identified in total, which can be divided into 4 major phylogenetic groups. Four chickpea MATE genes (CaMATE1-4) were clustered with the previously characterized citrate transporters MtMATE66 and MtMATE69 in Medicago truncatula. Transcriptome data showed that CaMATE1-4 have diverse expression profiles, with CaMATE2 being root-specific. qRT-PCR analyses confirmed that CaMATE2 and CaMATE4 were highly expressed in root tips and were up-regulated upon Al treatment in all chickpea lines. Further measurement of carboxylic acids showed that malonic acid, instead of malate or citrate, is the major extruded acid by Cicer spp. root. Protein structural modeling analyses revealed that CaMATE2 has a divergent substrate-binding cavity from Arabidopsis AtFRD3, which may explain the different acid-secretion profile for chickpea. Pangenome survey showed that CaMATE1-4 have much higher genetic diversity in wild Cicer than that in cultivated chickpea. This first identification of CaMATE2 and CaMATE4 responsive to Al3+ treatment in Cicer paves the way for future functional characterization of MATE genes in Cicer spp., and to facilitate future design of gene-specific markers for Al-tolerant line selection in chickpea breeding programs.

Biofilm formation, antimicrobial assay, and toxin-genotypes of Clostridium perfringens type C isolates cultured from a neonatal Yangtze finless porpoise.

This is a culture-dependent study with the objective of pure culturing and characterizing pathogenic bacteria from the blowhole, lung, stomach and fecal samples of a neonatal crucially endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) that died 27 days after birth. Bacteria were inoculated using a swab onto blood and MacConkey agar plates and representative isolates were identified through 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. A total of three Clostridium perfringens type C strains from the fecal samples were isolated. Toxin genes, including cpa, cpb and cpb2, were detected by PCR amplification, whereas the etx, iap and cpe genes were not detected. Biofilm formation of the three strains was then examined. Only one strain was capable of biofilm formation. In addition, isolates showed strong resistance against the antibiotics amikacin (3/3), erythromycin (1/3), gentamicin (3/3), streptomycin (3/3), and trimethoprim (3/3), while sensitivity to ampicillin (3/3), bacitracin (3/3), erythromycin (2/3), penicillin G (3/3), and tetracycline (3/3). The results suggested C. perfringens type C could have contributed to the death of this neonatal porpoise.

The SARS-CoV2 envelope differs from host cells, exposes procoagulant lipids, and is disrupted in vivo by oral rinses.

The lipid envelope of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an essential component of the virus; however, its molecular composition is undetermined. Addressing this knowledge gap could support the design of antiviral agents as well as further our understanding of viral-host protein interactions, infectivity, pathogenicity, and innate immune system clearance. Lipidomics revealed that the virus envelope comprised mainly phospholipids (PLs), with some cholesterol and sphingolipids, and with cholesterol/phospholipid ratio similar to lysosomes. Unlike cellular membranes, procoagulant amino-PLs were present on the external side of the viral envelope at levels exceeding those on activated platelets. Accordingly, virions directly promoted blood coagulation. To investigate whether these differences could enable selective targeting of the viral envelope in vivo, we tested whether oral rinses containing lipid-disrupting chemicals could reduce infectivity. Products containing PL-disrupting surfactants (such as cetylpyridinium chloride) met European virucidal standards in vitro; however, components that altered the critical micelle concentration reduced efficacy, and products containing essential oils, povidone-iodine, or chlorhexidine were ineffective. This result was recapitulated in vivo, where a 30-s oral rinse with cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwash eliminated live virus in the oral cavity of patients with coronavirus disease 19 for at least 1 h, whereas povidone-iodine and saline mouthwashes were ineffective. We conclude that the SARS-CoV-2 lipid envelope i) is distinct from the host plasma membrane, which may enable design of selective antiviral approaches; ii) contains exposed phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine, which may influence thrombosis, pathogenicity, and inflammation; and iii) can be selectively targeted in vivo by specific oral rinses.

The SARS-CoV2 envelope is distinct from host membranes, exposes pro-coagulant lipids, and can be inactivated in vivo by surfactant-containing oral rinses.

The lipid envelope of SARS-CoV2 is an essential component of the virus, however its molecular composition is unknown. Addressing this knowledge gap could support the design of anti-viral agents, and further understanding of viral interaction with extracellular host proteins, infectivity, pathogenicity, and innate immune system clearance. Lipidomics analysis of SARS-CoV2 particles generated from Vero or A549 cells revealed that the virus envelope comprised mainly of phospholipids (PL), primarily phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylinositol (PI), with very little cholesterol, sphingolipids or other lipids, indicating significant differences from host membranes. Unlike healthy cellular membranes, procoagulant aminoPL (aPL), specifically PE and phosphatidylserine (PS), were present on the external side at levels far exceeding those seen on activated platelets. As a result, purified virions directly promoted coagulation. To investigate whether these differences enabled the viral envelope to be selectively targeted at relevant sites in vivo, we tested whether non-toxic oral rinses containing lipid disrupting chemicals could reduce viral infectivity. Products containing PL-disrupting surfactant solutions (cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) or ethyl lauroyl arginate) met EN14476 virucidal standards in vitro, however products containing essential oils, PVP-I, or Chlorhexidine did not, nor did rinses containing components that altered the critical micelle concentration of CPC. This result was recapitulated in vivo, where a 30-second oral rinse with CPC-mouthwash eliminated live virus in the oral cavity of COVID19 patients for at least 1hr, while PVP-Iodine and saline mouthwashes were ineffective. Thus, the SARS-CoV2 lipid envelope is distinct from the host plasma membrane which may enable design of selective anti-viral approaches, it exposes PE and PS which may influence thrombosis, pathogenicity, and inflammation, and can be selectively targeted in vivo by specific oral rinses.

Analysis of the microbial diversity in the fecal material of the critically endangered African wild dog, Lycaon pictus.

The African wild dog (AWD) (Lycaon pictus) is a critically endangered species. These animals are hypercarnivores, hunting mostly medium-sized antelope. In this study, using bacterial tag-encoded FLX-Titanium amplicon pyrosequencing (bTEFAP®), the microbiota in the fecal material of AWDs living in the Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History was investigated. In both samples, the most predominant bacterial phylum was the Firmicutes with members of the genus Blautia spp. being the most dominant bacteria.

Practical Chemoselective Acylation: Organocatalytic Chemodivergent Esterification and Amidation of Amino Alcohols with N-Carbonylimidazoles.

Chemoselective transformations are a cornerstone of efficient organic synthesis; however, achieving this goal for even simple transformations, such as acylation reactions, is often a challenge. We report that N-carbonylimidazoles enable catalytic chemodivergent aniline or alcohol acylation in the presence of pyridinium ions or 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), respectively. Both acylation reactions display high and broad chemoselectivity for the target group. Unprecedented levels of chemoselectivity were observed in the DBU-catalyzed esterification: A single esterification product was obtained from a molecule containing primary aniline, alcohol, phenol, secondary amide, and N-H indole groups. These acylation reactions are highly practical as they involve only readily available, inexpensive, and relatively safe reagents; can be performed on a multigram scale; and can be used on carboxylic acids directly by in situ formation of the acylimidazole electrophile.