Global trends in emerging infectious diseases

A systematic review on global zoonotic virus-associated mortality events in marine mammals

Marine mammals play a critical role as sentinels for tracking the spread of zoonotic diseases, with viruses being the primary causative factor behind infectious disease induced mortality events. A systematic review was conducted to document marine mammal mortality events attributed to zoonotic viral infections in published literature across the globe. This rigorous search strategy yielded 2883 studies with 88 meeting inclusion criteria. The studies spanned from 1989 to 2023, with a peak in publications observed in 2020. Most of the included studies were retrospective, providing valuable insights into historical trends. The United States (U.S.) reported the highest number of mortality events followed by Spain, Italy, Brazil and the United Kingdom. Harbor seals were the most impacted species, particularly in regions like Anholt, Denmark and the New England Coast, U.S. Analysis revealed six main viruses responsible for mortality events, with Morbillivirus causing the highest proportion of deaths. Notably, the occurrence of these viral events varied geographically, with distinct patterns observed in different regions. Immunohistochemistry emerged as the most employed detection method. This study underscores the importance of global surveillance efforts in understanding and mitigating the impact of viral infections on marine mammal populations, thereby emphasizing the necessity of collaborative One Health approaches to address emerging threats at the human-animal-environment interface. Additionally, the potential transfer of zoonotic viruses to aquatic organisms used in food production, such as fish and shellfish, highlights the broader implications for food safety, food security and public health.

Beyond COVID: towards a transdisciplinary synthesis for understanding responses and developing pandemic preparedness in Alaska

Pandemics are regularly occurring events, and there are foundational principles of pandemic preparation upon which communities, regions, states, and nations may draw upon for elevated preparedness against an inevitable future infectious disease threat. Many disciplines within the social sciences can provide crucial insight and transdisciplinary thinking for the development of preparedness measures. In 2023, the National Science Foundation funded a conference of circumpolar researchers and Indigenous partners to reflect on COVID-19-related research. In this article, we synthesise our diverse social science perspectives to: (1) identify potential areas of future pandemic-related research in Alaska, and (2) pose new research questions that elevate the needs of Alaska and its people, pursuant of a specific body of pandemic knowledge that takes into account the ecological and sociocultural contexts of the region. In doing so, we highlight important domains of research in the social sciences from transdisciplinary perspectives, including the centering of Indigenous knowledges and needs, the contexts of risk perception and resilience, food and housing security, and more. We highlight the contributions of social sciences to pandemic knowledge and provide a foundation for future pandemic-related research in Alaska.

Viral diversity in wild and urban rodents of Yunnan Province, China

Rodents represent over 40% of known mammal species and are found in various terrestrial habitats. They are significant reservoirs for zoonotic viruses, including harmful pathogens such as arenaviruses and hantaviruses, yet knowledge of their hosts and distributions is limited. Therefore, characterizing the virome profile in these animals is invaluable for outbreak preparedness, especially in potential hotspots of mammal diversity. This study included 681 organs from 124 rodents and one Chinese tree shrew collected from Yunnan Province, China, during 2020-2021. Metagenomic analysis revealed unique features of mammalian viruses in rodent organs across habitats with varying human disturbances. R. tanezumi in locations with high anthropogenic disturbance exhibited the highest mammal viral diversity, with spleen and lung samples showing the highest diversities for these viruses at the organ level. Mammal viral diversity for both commensal and non-commensal rats was identified to positively correlate with landscape disturbance. Some virus families were associated with particular organs or host species, suggesting tropism for these pathogens. Notably, known and novel viral species that are likely to infect humans were identified. R. tanezumi was identified as a reservoir and carrier for various zoonotic viruses, including porcine bocavirus, hantavirus, cardiovirus, and lyssavirus. These findings highlight the influence of rodent community composition and anthropogenic activities on diverse virome profiles, with R. tanezumi as an important reservoir for zoonotic viruses.

Climate change, its impact on emerging infectious diseases and new technologies to combat the challenge

ABSTRACTImproved sanitation, increased access to health care, and advances in preventive and clinical medicine have reduced the mortality and morbidity rates of several infectious diseases. However, recent outbreaks of several emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) have caused substantial mortality and morbidity, and the frequency of these outbreaks is likely to increase due to pathogen, environmental, and population effects driven by climate change. Extreme or persistent changes in temperature, precipitation, humidity, and air pollution associated with climate change can, for example, expand the size of EID reservoirs, increase host-pathogen and cross-species host contacts to promote transmission or spillover events, and degrade the overall health of susceptible host populations leading to new EID outbreaks. It is therefore vital to establish global strategies to track and model potential responses of candidate EIDs to project their future behaviour and guide research efforts on early detection and diagnosis technologies and vaccine development efforts for these targets. Multi-disciplinary collaborations are demanding to develop effective inter-continental surveillance and modelling platforms that employ artificial intelligence to mitigate climate change effects on EID outbreaks. In this review, we discuss how climate change has increased the risk of EIDs and describe novel approaches to improve surveillance of emerging pathogens that pose the risk for EID outbreaks, new and existing measures that could be used to contain or reduce the risk of future EID outbreaks, and new methods to improve EID tracking during further outbreaks to limit disease transmission.

Spatio-temporal spread of Lassa virus and a new rodent host in the Mano River Union area, West Africa

The spread of Lassa virus (LASV) in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, which together are named the Mano River Union (MRU) area, was examined phylogeographically. To provide a reliable evolutionary scenario, new rodent-derived, whole LASV sequences were included. These were generated by metatranscriptomic next-generation sequencing from rodents sampled between 2003 and 2020 in 21 localities of Guinea and Sierra Leone. An analysis was performed using BEAST to perform continuous phylogeographic inference and EvoLaps v36 to visualize spatio-temporal spread. LASV was identified as expected in its primary host reservoir, the Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis), and also in two Guinean multimammate mice (Mastomys erythroleucus) in northern Sierra Leone and two rusty-bellied brush-furred mice (Lophuromys sikapusi) in southern Sierra Leone. This finding is consistent with the latter two species being secondary host reservoirs. The strains in these three species were very closely related in LASV lineage IV. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the most recent common ancestor of lineage IV existed 316-374 years ago and revealed distinct, well-supported clades from Sierra Leone (Bo, Kabala and Kenema), Guinea (Faranah, Kissidougou-Guekedou and Macenta) and Liberia (Phebe-Ganta). The phylogeographic scenario suggests southern Guinea as the point of origin of LASV in the MRU area, with subsequent spread to towards Mali, Liberia and Sierra Leone at a mean speed of 1.6 to 1.1 km/year.

Zoonotic potential of urban wildlife faeces, assessed through metabarcoding

Monitoring zoonoses in urban environments is of great relevance, where the incidence of certain pathogens may be higher and where population density makes the spread of any contagious disease more likely. In this study we applied a metabarcoding approach to study potentially zoonotic pathogens in faecal samples of 9 urban vertebrate species. We applied this methodology with two objectives. Firstly, to obtain information on potential pathogens present in the urban fauna of a large European city (Madrid, Spain) and to determine which are their main reservoirs. In addition, we tested for differences in the prevalence of these potential pathogens between urban and rural European rabbits, used as ubiquitous species. Additionally, based on the results obtained, we evaluated the effectiveness of metabarcoding as a tool for monitoring potential pathogen. Our results revealed the presence of potentially zoonotic bacterial genera in all studied host species, 10 of these genera with zoonotic species of mandatory monitoring in the European Union. Based on these results, urban birds (especially house sparrows and pigeons) and bats are the species posing the greatest potential risk, with Campylobacter and Listeria genera in birds and of Chlamydia and Vibrio cholerae in bats as most relevant pathogens. This information highlights the risk associated with fresh faeces from urban wildlife. In addition, we detected Campylobacter in >50 % of the urban rabbit samples, while we only detected it in 11 % of the rural rabbit samples. We found that urban rabbits have a higher prevalence of some pathogens relative to rural rabbits, which could indicate increased risk of pathogen transmission to humans. Finally, our results showed that metabarcoding can be an useful tool to quickly obtain a first screening of potentially zoonotic organisms, necessary information to target the monitoring efforts on the most relevant pathogens and host species.

Unsustainable production patterns and disease emergence: The paradigmatic case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1

Current food production systems are causing severe environmental damage, including the emergence of dangerous pathogens that put humans and wildlife at risk. Several dangerous pathogens (e.g., the 2009 A(H1N1) Influenza Virus, Nipah virus) have emerged associated with the dominant intensive food production systems. In this article, we use the case of the emergence and spillover of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus H5N1 (hereafter, H5N1) to illustrate how intensive food production methods provide a breeding ground for dangerous pathogens. We also discuss how emerging pathogens, such as H5N1, may affect not only ecosystem health but also human well-being and the economy. The current H5N1 panzootic (2020-2024) is producing a catastrophic impact: the millions of domestic birds affected by this virus have led to significant economic losses globally, and wild birds and mammals have suffered alarming mortalities, with the associated loss of their material and non-material ecosystem services. Transformative actions are required to reduce the emergence and impact of pathogens such as H5N1; we particularly need to reconsider the ways we are producing food. Governments should redirect funds to the promotion of alternative production systems that reduce the risk of new emerging pathogens and produce environmentally healthy food. These systems need to have a positive relationship with nature rather than being systems based on business as usual to the detriment of the environment. Sustainable food production systems may save many lives, economies, and biodiversity, together with the ecosystem services species provide.

Strategic vaccine stockpiles for regional epidemics of emerging viruses: A geospatial modeling framework

Multinational epidemics of emerging infectious diseases are increasingly common, due to anthropogenic pressure on ecosystems and the growing connectivity of human populations. Early and efficient vaccination can contain outbreaks and prevent mass mortality, but optimal vaccine stockpiling strategies are dependent on pathogen characteristics, reservoir ecology, and epidemic dynamics. Here, we model major regional outbreaks of Nipah virus and Middle East respiratory syndrome, and use these to develop a generalized framework for estimating vaccine stockpile needs based on spillover geography, spatially-heterogeneous healthcare capacity and spatially-distributed human mobility networks. Because outbreak sizes were highly skewed, we found that most outbreaks were readily contained (median stockpile estimate for MERS-CoV: 2,089 doses; Nipah: 1,882 doses), but the maximum estimated stockpile need in a highly unlikely large outbreak scenario was 2-3 orders of magnitude higher (MERS-CoV: ∼87,000 doses; Nipah ∼ 1.1 million doses). Sensitivity analysis revealed that stockpile needs were more dependent on basic epidemiological parameters (i.e., death and recovery rate) and healthcare availability than any uncertainty related to vaccine efficacy or deployment strategy. Our results highlight the value of descriptive epidemiology for real-world modeling applications, and suggest that stockpile allocation should consider ecological, epidemiological, and social dimensions of risk.

Systematic review and meta-analysis on seroprevalence of leptospirosis in non-human primates worldwide

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease whose transmission is linked to multiple factors involving the interface between animals, humans, and the environment. This disease is of great importance for public health, as it profoundly affects the health aspects of the population and animals. Considering the importance of non-human primates in this epidemiological chain, the objective of this research was to conduct a systematic literature review with meta-analysis, providing information on leptospirosis in non-human primates (NHPs) and an update on the infection situation in Brazil and other countries. Thus, a search was performed in five databases, initially finding 3332 studies, of which 32 met the eligibility criteria and were used for the systematic review. According to them, the most prevalent serogroup in non-human primates was Icterohaemorrhagiae, which is adapted to rodents as primary hosts. A wide distribution of the infection was found in the regions of both wild and captive animals. Through meta-analysis, the seroprevalence rate of leptospirosis in non-human primates was 27.21% (CI 17.97-38.95%). Cochran's Q test (p < 0.01) identified heterogeneity between studies, classified as high by the Higgins and Thompson test (I2 = 92.4%). Therefore, seroepidemiological and Leptospira isolation studies in non-human primates are important to investigate and monitor the suspected impact of these species as maintainers or transmitters of the pathogen to humans and other wild and domestic animals, in addition to demonstrating the need for standardization related to control and prevention measures.

The Effect of Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Other Emerging Infections on Dentistry

The appearance of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other emerging infections has significantly impacted the field of dentistry, leading to widespread changes in practices and protocols. This has included the implementation of strict infection control measures, such as meticulous use of personal protective equipment, minimizing aerosol-generating procedures, and the adoption of teledentistry to reduce in-person contact. To date, the complete impact of delays in dental care caused by lockdowns has yet to be determined. The challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic have propelled innovation, shaping a new era of dentistry focused on safety against novel and re-emerging infections.

Specific and cumulative infection burden and mild cognitive impairment and dementia: A population-based study

Infection by pathogenic microbes is widely hypothesized to be a risk factor for the development of neurocognitive disorders and dementia, but evidence remains limited. We analyzed the association of seropositivity to 11 common pathogens and cumulative infection burden with neurocognitive disorder (mild cognitive impairment and dementia) in a population-based cohort of 475 older individuals (mean age = 67.6 y) followed up over 3-5 years for the risk of MCI-dementia. Specific seropositivities showed a preponderance of positive trends of association with MCI-dementia, including for Plasmodium, H. pylori, and RSV (p < 0.05), as well as Chickungunya, HSV-2, CMV and EBV (p > 0.05), while HSV-1 and HHV-6 showed equivocal or no associations, and Dengue and VZV showed negative associations (p < 0.05) with MCI-dementia. High infection burden (5 + cumulated infections) was significantly associated with an increased MCI-dementia risk in comparison with low infection burden (1-3 cumulative infections), adjusted for age, sex, and education. Intriguingly, for a majority (8 of 11) of pathogens, levels of antibody titers were significantly lower in those with MCI-dementia compared to cognitive normal individuals. Based on our observations, we postulate that individuals who are unable to mount strong immunological responses to infection by diverse microorganisms, and therefore more vulnerable to infection by greater numbers of different microbial pathogens or repeated infections to the same pathogen in the course of their lifetime are more likely to develop MCI or dementia. This hypothesis should be tested in more studies.

Donor-acceptor type COFs with multiple fluorine groups as electron storage units to promote antimicrobial performance

The novel donor-acceptor (D-A) type covalent organic frameworks TATF-COF and TATP-COF, with multiple fluorine groups as electron storage units, were successfully constructed to achieve efficient charge transfer and photocatalytic activity for antibacterial photocatalytic therapy. Fluorine, the most electronegative element, was utilized as an electron-withdrawing substituent for the acceptor, which could unite the donor unit together and efficiently improve the charge transfer from the donor to acceptor. The unique D-A structures of TATF-COF and TATP-COF ensure that they have narrow band gaps, strong photocurrent responses, long fluorescence lifetimes, and good capacity to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to realize good antibacterial activity. Meanwhile, the inclusion of multiple hydrophilic fluorine groups means that TATF-COF and TATP-COF are highly water dispersible, which is also beneficial in terms of promoting the generation of adequate quantities of ROS. Hence, in view of their excellent photoelectric properties and good water dispersibility, further investigations were performed, and excellent antibacterial activities in vitro against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria were demonstrated for TATF-COF and TATP-COF. In addition, we also showed that they can function as effective antibacterial dental materials.

Sensitive Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Using Allosteric Probe and Hairpin Switches-Based Isothermal Transcription Amplification

Pathogens pose a serious threat to public and population health, leading to serious outbreak and spread of diseases irrespective of the region. The capability to directly, sensitively, and specifically detect viable pathogens in low numbers in food and clinical samples is very desirable but remains a challenge. In this work, we present a novel assay of a combination of an aptamer-based allosteric probe and hairpin switch-controlled T7 RNA polymerase-based isothermal transcription amplification, which enables rapid, ultrasensitive, label-free detection of direct pathogens. It can detect Escherichia coli as low as 73.2 CFU/mL. Moreover, with the usage of the proposed assay, sensitive quantification of E. coliO157:H7 in milk samples has been achieved, showing significant potential as a simple and sensitive tool to quantify pathogens in milk and other foods.

Harnessing high-throughput OMICS in emerging zoonotic virus preparedness and response activities

Emerging and re-emerging viruses pose unpredictable and significant challenges to global health. Emerging zoonotic infectious diseases, which are transmitted between humans and non-human animals, have been estimated to be responsible for nearly two-thirds of emerging infectious disease events and emergence events attributed to these pathogens have been increasing in frequency with the potential for high global health and economic burdens. In this review we will focus on the application of highthroughput OMICS approaches to emerging zoonotic virus investigtations. We highlight the key contributions of transcriptome and proteome investigations to emerging zoonotic virus preparedness and response activities with a focus on SARS-CoV-2, avian influenza virus subtype H5N1, and Orthoebolavirus investigations.

Detection of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in lizards: Using non-lethal sampling techniques in a sylvatic species with zoonotic reservoir potential in Chile

Several reptile species have been described as hosts of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, and therefore, they have become vertebrates of epidemiological interest. In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in animal welfare, especially in populations with small numbers where lethal sampling could have catastrophic consequences, and non-lethal methodologies have been developed for detecting zoonotic parasites. In this study, we compared three non-lethal sampling methodologies for detecting T. cruzi DNA in 21 captured specimens of the native lizard Liolaemus monticola, collected from the semiarid Mediterranean ecosystem of Chile. Specimens were subjected to xenodiagnosis (XD), tail clipping, and living syringe sampling procedures to evaluate whether lizards could serve as sentinel species for T. cruzi in endemic regions. To detect the protozoan, real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed on the DNA extracted from the samples (intestinal contents, tail tissues, and blood from living syringes). Trypanosoma cruzi DNA was detected in 12 of 21 lizards, considering all three methodologies. By XD, 12 specimens showed infection (57.1 %), and both living syringe and tail sampling methodologies detected only one infected lizard (4.8 %). Therefore, T. cruzi can be detected in lizards by qPCR using the three methodologies but XD is by far the most effective non-lethal detection methodology. The use of tail and living syringe methodologies showed a large underestimation; however, they might be options for monitoring the presence of T. cruzi in lizard populations when large sample sizes are available.

A "One health" approach to the understanding of mammals, ticks and Rickettsia interactions in the Andes of Colombia

Infectious diseases, especially zoonotic, represent a significant global threat to both human and animal health. Ticks are among the primary vectors of pathogens affecting wild and domestic animals, some of which can also cause severe human diseases. To effectively face zoonotic diseases, the "One Health" approach is being promoted to integrate the health of human, animals, and ecosystems. Here, we identify the associations between ticks, rickettsiae, wild and domestic mammals, and humans in the Andean region of Colombia. A total of 366 ticks of 17 species belonging to the genera Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Ixodes, Ornithodoros, and Rhipicephalus were collected as free-living organisms, or parasitizing humans, wild (22 species) and domestic (3 species) mammals. Infection with Rickettsia parkeri strain NOD, Rickettsia cf. monacensis and 'Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae' was detected in 3.4 % of the ticks analyzed (n = 3). This study highlights the diversity of ticks in humans and wild and domestic mammals in Colombia. It also underscores the risk these ectoparasites represent to human and animal health due to the potential transmission of zoonotic pathogens such as Rickettsia spp.

Development and validation of a droplet digital PCR assay for Nipah virus quantitation

BACKGROUND

Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic pathogen that poses a significant threat because of its wide host range, multiple transmission modes, high transmissibility, and high mortality rates, affecting both human health and animal husbandry. In this study, we developed a one-step reverse transcription droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) assay that targets the N gene of NiV.

RESULTS

Our RT-ddPCR assay exhibited remarkable sensitivity, with a lower limit of detection of 6.91 copies/reaction. Importantly, it displayed no cross-reactivity with the other 13 common viruses and consistently delivered reliable results with a coefficient of variation below 10% across different concentrations. To validate the effectiveness of our RT-ddPCR assay, we detected 75 NiV armored RNA virus samples, mimicking real-world conditions, and negative control samples, and the RT-ddPCR results perfectly matched the simulated results. Furthermore, compared with a standard quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay, our RT-ddPCR assay demonstrated greater stability when handling complex matrices with low viral loads.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings show that our NiV RT-ddPCR assay is exceptionally sensitive and provides a robust tool for quantitatively detecting NiV, particularly in stimulated field samples with low viral loads or complex matrices. This advancement has significant implications for early NiV monitoring, safeguarding human health and safety, and advancing animal husbandry practices.

Identification of Potent, Broad-Spectrum Coronavirus Main Protease Inhibitors for Pandemic Preparedness

The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the ongoing risk of zoonotic transmission of coronaviruses to global health. To prepare for future pandemics, it is essential to develop effective antivirals targeting a broad range of coronaviruses. Targeting the essential and clinically validated coronavirus main protease (Mpro), we constructed a structurally diverse Mpro panel by clustering all known coronavirus sequences by Mpro active site sequence similarity. Through screening, we identified a potent covalent inhibitor that engaged the catalytic cysteine of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and used structure-based medicinal chemistry to develop compounds in the pyrazolopyrimidine sulfone series that exhibit submicromolar activity against multiple Mpro homologues. Additionally, we solved the first X-ray cocrystal structure of Mpro from the human-infecting OC43 coronavirus, providing insights into potency differences among compound-target pairs. Overall, the chemical compounds described in this study serve as starting points for the development of antivirals with broad-spectrum activity, enhancing our preparedness for emerging human-infecting coronaviruses.

Persist or Perish: Can Bats Threatened with Extinction Persist and Recover from White-nose Syndrome?

Emerging mycoses are an increasing concern in wildlife and human health. Given the historical rarity of fungal pathogens in warm-bodied vertebrates, there is a need to better understand how to manage mycoses and facilitate recovery in affected host populations. We explore challenges to host survival and mechanisms of host recovery in three bat species (Myotis lucifugus, Perimyotis subflavus, and M. septentrionalis) threatened with extinction by the mycosis, white-nose syndrome (WNS) as it continues to spread across North America. We present evidence from the literature that bats surviving WNS are exhibiting mechanisms of avoidance (by selecting microclimates within roosts) and tolerance (by increasing winter fat reserves), which may help avoid costs of immunopathology incurred by a maladaptive host resistance response. We discuss management actions for facilitating species recovery that take into consideration disease pressures (e.g., environmental reservoirs) and mechanisms underlying persistence, and suggest strategies that alleviate costs of immunopathology and target mechanisms of avoidance (protect or create refugia) and tolerance (increase body condition). We also propose strategies that target population and species-level recovery, including increasing reproductive success and reducing other stressors (e.g., wind turbine mortality). The rarity of fungal pathogens paired with the increasing frequency of emerging mycoses in warm-bodied vertebrate systems, including humans, requires a need to challenge common conventions about how diseases operate, how hosts respond, and how these systems could be managed to increase probability of recovery in host populations.

Proximity ligation-triggered DNAzyme for selective fluorescent aptasensing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

There is an urgent need for novel strategies to accurately and reliably detect pathogenic bacteria to address the global epidemic of antibiotic resistance. This study proposes an innovative approach combining dual aptamer-based target recognition and proximity ligation assay (PLA) triggered DNAzyme recycling cleavage. This method allows for the precise identification and reliable detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The fluorescence probe labeled with a fluorophore is modified on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), resulting in the quenching of the fluorescent signal by the AuNPs. The interaction between MRSA and two aptamers leads to forming a Mg2+-dependent DNAzyme. The DNAzyme cleaves the fluorescence probe, causing the fluorescent fragment to detach from the surface of the AuNPs, in which the quenched fluorescence signal in the fluorescence probe reappears. The DNAzyme-assisted cleavage and rebinding process generates a processive strolling along the surface track of AuNPs. Consequently, the fluorescence intensity experiences a substantial recovery. A strong linear correlation is observed between the fluorescence intensity and MRSA concentration within 50 cfu/mL to 106 cfu/mL. We believe that implementing the novel integrated strategy will broaden the range of bacterial detection methods in the battlefield environment and stimulate the creation of potential new drugs in the future.

Designing antibacterial materials through simulation and theory

Antibacterial materials have a wide range of potential applications in bio-antimicrobial, environmental antimicrobial, and food antimicrobial fields due to their intrinsic antimicrobial properties, which can circumvent the development of drug resistance in bacteria. Understanding the intricate mechanisms and intrinsic nature of diverse antibacterial materials is significant for the formulation of guidelines for the design of materials with rapid and efficacious antimicrobial action and a high degree of biomedical material safety. Herein, this review highlights the recent advances in investigating antimicrobial mechanisms of different antibacterial materials with a particular focus on tailored computer simulations and theoretical analysis. From the view of structure and function, we summarize the characteristics and mechanisms of different antibacterial materials, introduce the latest advances of new antibacterial materials, and discuss the design concept and development direction of new materials. In addition, we underscore the significance of employing simulation and theoretical methodologies to elucidate the intrinsic antimicrobial mechanisms, which is crucial for a comprehensive comprehension of the control strategies, safer biomedical applications, and the management of health and environmental concerns associated with antibacterial materials. This review could potentially stimulate further endeavors in fundamental research and facilitate the extensive utilization of computational and theoretical approaches in the design of novel functional nanomaterials.

Virology-The next fifty years

Virology has made enormous advances in the last 50 years but has never faced such scrutiny as it does today. Herein, we outline some of the major advances made in virology during this period, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and suggest some areas that may be of research importance in the next 50 years. We focus on several linked themes: cataloging the genomic and phenotypic diversity of the virosphere; understanding disease emergence; future directions in viral disease therapies, vaccines, and interventions; host-virus interactions; the role of viruses in chronic diseases; and viruses as tools for cell biology. We highlight the challenges that virology will face moving forward-not just the scientific and technical but also the social and political. Although there are inherent limitations in trying to outline the virology of the future, we hope this article will help inspire the next generation of virologists.

Associations between frailty, depression and risk of hospitalisation for infection: A large prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

There is a considerable lack of epidemiological evidence on whether frailty, and frailty comorbid depression could increase the risk of infections in older adults. This study aimed to examine the prospective association between frailty, depression, and risk of infections.

METHODS

A total of 308,892 eligible participants were included. Linked hospital admission records (HES) were used to identify a primary or secondary diagnosis of depression, and infection. Frailty was assessed by Fried frailty phenotype indicators. Cox proportional hazard model was conducted to examine the associated risk between frailty, depression, comorbid frailty and depression and risk of incident infections. Results were stratified by age and gender.

RESULTS

During the follow-up, 74,749 (24.19 %) incident any infection cases were identified, the incidence density of any infection was 17.29/1000 person years. Frailty alone (HR = 1.38, 95 % CI: 1.33-1.43), depression alone (HR = 1.90, 95 % CI: 1.86-1.94), and comorbid frailty and depression (HR = 1.91, 95 % CI: 1.82-1.99) were associated with greater risks of any infections relative to participants with neither frailty nor depression. The associations between frailty alone, depression alone, comorbid frailty and depression, and any infections/most infection subtypes were significant for all age strata in both male and female.

LIMITATIONS

Frailty phenotype was assessed through the adapted Fried criteria, based on a mix of self-reported and objective measurements.

CONCLUSION

Frailty, depression, and comorbid frailty and depression were significantly associated with increased risk of incident infections.

Surveillance strategies for SARS-CoV-2 infections through one health approach

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is an emergent disease that threatens global health. Public health structures and economic activities have been disrupted globally by the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 556.3 million confirmed cases and 6.3 million deaths have been reported. However, the exact mechanism of its emergence in humans remains unclear. SARS-CoV-2 is believed to have a zoonotic origin, suggesting a spillover route from animals to humans, which is potentially facilitated by wildlife farming and trade. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of the One Health approach in managing threats of zoonosis in the human-animal-environment interaction. Implementing vigilant surveillance programs by adopting the One Health concept at the interfaces between wildlife, livestock, and humans is the most pertinent, practical, and actionable strategy for preventing and preparing for future pandemics of zoonosis, such as COVID-19 infection. This review summarizes the updated evidence of CoV infections in humans and animals and provides an appropriate strategy for preventive measures focused on surveillance systems through an On Health approach.

Viral diseases and the environment relationship

Viral diseases have been present throughout human history, with early examples including influenza (1500 B.C.), smallpox (1000 B.C.), and measles (200 B.C.). The term "virus" was first used in the late 1800s to describe microorganisms smaller than bacteria, and significant milestones include the discovery of the polio virus and the development of its vaccine in the mid-1900s, and the identification of HIV/AIDS in the latter part of the 20th century. The 21st century has seen the emergence of new viral diseases such as West Nile Virus, Zika, SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. Human activities, including crowding, travel, poor sanitation, and environmental changes like deforestation and climate change, significantly influence the spread of these diseases. Conversely, viral diseases can impact the environment by polluting water resources, contributing to deforestation, and reducing biodiversity. These environmental impacts are exacerbated by disruptions in global supply chains and increased demands for resources. This review highlights the intricate relationship between viral diseases and environmental factors, emphasizing how human activities and viral disease progression influence each other. The findings underscore the need for integrated approaches to address the environmental determinants of viral diseases and mitigate their impacts on both health and ecosystems.

Metagenomics Insight into Veterinary and Zoonotic Pathogens Identified in Urban Wetlands of Los Lagos, Chile

Wetlands are ecosystems that are essential to ecological balance and biodiversity; nevertheless, human activity is a constant threat to them. Excess nutrients are caused by intensive livestock and agricultural operations, pollution, and population growth, which in turn leads to uncontrolled microbiological development. This impairment in water quality can constitute a risk to animal, human, and environmental health. To thoroughly characterize the microbial communities, shotgun metagenomics was used to characterize the taxonomic and functional pattern of microorganisms that inhabit urban wetlands in the Los Lagos Region of Chile. The main objective was to identify microorganisms of veterinary relevance, assess their potential antibiotic resistance, and characterize the main virulence mechanism. As expected, a high diversity of microorganisms was identified, including bacteria described as animal or human pathogens, such as Pasteurella multocida, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Also, a diverse repertory of antimicrobial-resistant genes (ARGs) was detected in metagenomic assembled sequences and inside the sequence of mobile genetic elements, genes that confer mainly resistance to beta-lactams, consistent with the families of antibiotics most used in Chile. In addition, a diverse collection of virulence mechanisms was also identified. Given the significance of the relationship between environmental, animal, and human health-a concept known as One Health-there is a need to establish molecular surveillance programs that monitor the environmental biohazard elements using molecular tools. This work is the first report of the presence of these harmful biological elements in urban wetlands subjected to anthropogenic pressure, located in the south of Chile.

A study on the diversity of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) in karstic limestone areas in Vientiane Province, Laos, with a description of two new species of Sergentomyia França and & Parrot

BACKGROUND

Southeast Asia is well known as a hotspot of biodiversity. However, very little is known about cave-dwelling hematophagous insects that are medically important. Taxonomic knowledge and ecology of phlebotomine sand flies are very poorly studied in Laos, as well as in other countries in the region. Herein, we report species diversity data and some notes on the ecology of the detected species from these karstic limestone areas of Laos.

METHODS

Phlebotomine sand flies were collected using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps from limestone cave locations in three districts of Vientiane Province, Laos. Both morphological and molecular techniques were used for sand fly identification. Species diversity and abundance were analyzed according to sites, locations, collection seasons, and trapping positions.

RESULTS

A total of 6564 sand flies, of which 5038 were females and 1526 were males, were morphologically identified into 20 species belonging to five genera (Chinius, Idiophlebotomus, Phlebotomus, Sergentomyia, and Grassomyia). The most abundant species were Chinius eunicegalatiae, Phlebotomus stantoni, Sergentomyia hivernus, Se. siamensis, and Idiophlebotomus longiforceps. Cytochrome b analysis results supported the morphological identification and revealed that Se. siamensis was separated from other members of the Se. barraudi group. Two new species, Se. dvoraki n. sp. and Se. marolii n. sp., were described. Sand fly density was generally high except in a cave in Vangvieng, with species richness ranging from 14 to 18 across different caves. Outside caves had higher species richness (R = 20) and diversity (H = 2.50) than cave entrances (R = 18, H = 2.41) and interiors (R = 16, H = 2.13). Seasonal variations showed high sand fly density in Feung and Hinheup during both dry and rainy seasons, while Vangvieng had a notable decrease in density during the dry season (D = 6.29).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that the diversity of phlebotomine sand fly fauna in Laos, particularly in karstic limestone areas, is greater than previously known. However, the taxonomic status of many species in Laos, as well as Southeast Asia, still needs more in-depth study using both morphological characters and molecular methods. Many species could be found from inside, at the entrance, and outside of caves, indicating a wide range of host-seeking behavior or possible natural breeding in the karstic cave areas.

First report of fesavirus 4 detection from cats in Japan

Fesaviruses, picorna-like RNA viruses, were discovered in 2014 in feces from cats in an animal shelter in the United States but have not since been reported elsewhere. In this study, we collected cat fecal samples from 20 adult cats from an animal shelter in Tokyo, Japan, and examined them for viral pathogens. Next generation sequencing (NGS) was performed to detect both RNA and DNA virus sequences. Sequences of a total of 7 RNA viruses including some common feline pathogenic viruses were detected across 8 samples, while no DNA virus sequences were identified in any sample. Of the RNA virus sequences detected in the samples, two sequences, 4,746 and 4,439 bp, demonstrated 90.3% and 85.0% similarity, respectively, to the fesavirus 4 sequence in the database. To confirm the NGS results, quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) assays were developed using specific primers and probes designed based on the contig sequences. Based on the qRT-PCR assays, we detected relatively high copy-numbers of fesavirus 4 RNA in the two fecal samples from which the fesavirus 4 sequences were originally obtained, and low copy numbers in other samples. These results demonstrate the presence of fesavirus 4 in cats in Japan for the first time.

The abundance of snail hosts mediates the effects of antagonist interactions between trematodes on the transmission of human schistosomes

BACKGROUND

Combating infectious diseases and halting biodiversity loss are intertwined challenges crucial to ensure global health. Biodiversity can constrain the spread of vector-borne pathogens circulation, necessitating a deeper understanding of ecological mechanisms underlying this pattern. Our study evaluates the relative importance of biodiversity and the abundance of Bulinus truncatus, a major intermediate host for the trematode Schistosoma haematobium on the circulation of this human pathogen at aquatic transmission sites.

METHODS

We combined mathematical modelling and a molecular based empirical study to specifically assess the effect of co-infections between S. haematobium and other trematodes within their B. truncatus snail hosts; and B. truncatus abundance at transmission sites, on the production of S. haematobium infective cercariae stages released into the aquatic environment.

RESULTS

Our modelling approach shows that more competitive trematode species exploiting B. truncatus as an intermediate host at the transmission site level leads to higher co-infection rates within snail hosts, subsequently reducing the production of S. haematobium cercariae. Conversely, an increase in B. truncatus abundance results in lower co-infection rates, and a higher proportion of S. haematobium cercariae released into the environment. Our empirical data from the field support these findings, indicating a significant negative effect of local trematode species richness (P-value = 0.029; AIC = 14.9) and co-infection rates (P-value = 0.02, AIC = 17.4) on the dominance of S. haematobium based on our GLMM models, while B. truncatus abundance positively influences S. haematobium dominance (P-value = 0.047, AIC = 20.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlights the importance of biodiversity in influencing the transmission of S. haematobium through the effect of antagonistic interactions between trematodes within bulinid snail hosts. This effect intensifies when B. truncatus populations are low, promoting co-infections within snails. In line with the One Health concept, our results suggest that maintaining high level of freshwater biodiversity to sustain global trematode diversity at transmission sites can help reducing the circulation of Schistosoma species locally.

The curious case of the rare Citrobacter pasteurii isolated from an endangered primate in Brazil

The genus Citrobacter comprises clinically important human pathogens but has been less frequently associated with wildlife infections. Citrobacter pasteurii was first identified as causing human diarrhea and remains rarely documented. In this study, a Gram-negative bacterial strain, named A318, was identified as causing diarrhea in a black lion tamarin. This strain was biochemically identified as Trabulsiella guamensis, a species of unusual nature, and was submitted to whole-genome characterization. Curiously, phylogenomic analysis showed that A318 strain belonged to the genus Citrobacter, with confirmation of the species C. pasteurii by average nucleotide identity (99.02 %) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (93.80 %) analyzes. Cases of misidentification of C. pasteurii as Citrobacter youngae were detected and corrected in this study. In addition to the genome sequence of the type strain of C. pasteurii, only two others from the Australian cockle and Portuguese silver gull are publicly available. Single nucleotide polymorphism differences among all C. pasteurii indicated a highly diverse population. No acquired antimicrobial resistance genes and plasmid replicons were found. Therefore, our findings emphasize the importance of gold-standard methods for accurate identification and underscores the importance of continued surveillance and research to mitigate the risks posed by zoonotic and zooanthroponotic pathogens.

Countering Zoonotic Diseases: Current Scenario and Advances in Diagnostics, Monitoring, Prophylaxis and Therapeutic Strategies

Human life and health have interacted reciprocally with the surrounding environment and animal fauna for ages. This relationship is evident in developing nations, where human life depends more on the animal population for food, transportation, clothing, draft power, and fuel sources, among others. This inseparable link is a potent source of public health issues, especially in outbreaks of zoonotic diseases transmitted from animals to humans. Zoonotic diseases are referred to as diseases that are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and humans. Among the globally emerging diseases in the last decade, 75% are of animal origin, most of which are life-threatening. Since most of them are caused by potent new pathogens capable of long-distance transmission, the impact is widespread and has serious public health and economic consequences. Various other factors also contribute to the transmission, spread, and outbreak of zoonotic diseases, among which industrialization-led globalization followed by ecological disruption and climate change play a critical role. In this regard, all the possible strategies, including advances in rapid and confirmatory disease diagnosis and surveillance/monitoring, immunization/vaccination, therapeutic approaches, appropriate prevention and control measures to be adapted, and awareness programs, need to be adopted collaboratively among different health sectors in medical, veterinary, and concerned departments to implement the necessary interventions for the effective restriction, minimization, and timely control of zoonotic threats. The present review focuses on the current scenario of zoonotic diseases and their counteracting approaches to safeguard their health impact on humans.

Graphene Quantum Dots Nanoantibiotic-Sensitized TiO2- x Heterojunctions for Sonodynamic-Nanocatalytic Therapy of Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Infections

The exploration of sonodynamic therapy (SDT) as a possible replacement for antibiotics by creating reactive oxygen species (ROS) is suggested as a non-drug-resistant theranostic method. However, the low-efficiency ROS generation and complex tumor microenvironment which can deplete ROS and promote tumor growth will cause the compromised antibacterial efficacy of SDT. Herein, through an oxygen vacancy engineering strategy, TiO2- x microspheres with an abundance of Ti3+ are synthesized using a straightforward reductant co-assembly approach. The narrow bandgaps and Ti3+/Ti4+-mediated multiple-enzyme catalytic activities of the obtained TiO2- x microspheres make them suitable for use as sonosensitizers and nanozymes. When graphene quantum dot (GQD) nanoantibiotics are deposited on TiO2- x microspheres, the resulting GQD/TiO2- x shows an increased production of ROS, which can be ascribed to the accelerated separation of electron-hole pairs, as well as the peroxidase-like catalytic activity mediated by Ti3+, and the depletion of glutathione mediated by Ti4+. Moreover, the catalytic activities of TiO2- x microspheres are amplified by the heterojunctions-accelerated carrier transfer. In addition, GQDs can inhibit Topo I, displaying strong antibacterial activity and further enhancing the antibacterial activity. Collectively, the combination of GQD/TiO2- x-mediated SDT/NCT with nanoantibiotics can result in a synergistic effect, allowing for multimodal antibacterial treatment that effectively promotes wound healing.

Reaching new lands: Updating the distribution of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in South America with the first record in Argentina

BACKGROUND

Angiostrongylus cantonensis, commonly known as the rat lungworm, is a metastrongyloid nematode found primarily not only in tropical and subtropical regions but also in temperate areas and considered the leading cause of eosinophilic meningitis in humans. Synanthropic rodents such as Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus are the most frequent definitive hosts of this parasite.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The presence of this parasite was detected in the pulmonary arteries of three specimens of R. norvegicus in the city of Buenos Aires representing the species' southernmost known record in natural hosts. Species confirmation was achieved through partial sequences of 18S and COI genes. By comparing the COI gene sequences with those available in GenBank through the construction of a haplotype network, we obtained that the analysed specimen presents high similarity with those reported in Japan and Southeast Asia.

CONCLUSIONS

All infected rats were captured in an area surrounding a port with significant import and export activity, suggesting that A. cantonensis may have been introduced through commercial ships. Specifically, the parasite was detected in a neighbourhood with vulnerable socio-economic conditions and in a nature reserve, which exhibit biotic and abiotic characteristics conducive to sustaining high-density rat populations, scattered waste, areas of spontaneous vegetation, debris accumulation and flooded areas or lagoons offering suitable habitats for intermediate hosts such as snails. Thus, the close proximity of the port to these sites creates a favourable ecological context for the establishment of A. cantonensis. This study shows the need to conduct research to detect A. cantonensis in non-endemic areas but with the characteristics that promote its arrival and development of its life cycle in order to implement control measures to prevent expansion of this parasite and its transmission to humans and other animals.

Spatially explicit downscaling and projection of population in mainland China

Spatially explicit population data is critical to investigating human-nature interactions, identifying at-risk populations, and informing sustainable management and policy decisions. Most long-term global population data have three main limitations: 1) they were estimated with simple scaling or trend extrapolation methods which are not able to capture detailed population variation spatially and temporally; 2) the rate of urbanization and the spatial patterns of settlement changes were not fully considered; and 3) the spatial resolution is generally coarse. To address these limitations, we proposed a framework for large-scale spatially explicit downscaling of populations from census data and projecting future population distributions under different Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSP) scenarios with the consideration of distinctive changes in urban extent. We downscaled urban and rural population separately and considered urban spatial sprawl in downscaling and projection. Treating urban and rural populations as distinct but interconnected entities, we constructed a random forest model to downscale historical populations and designed a gravity-based population potential model to project future population changes at the grid level. This work built a new capacity for understanding spatially explicit demographic change with a combination of temporal, spatial, and SSP scenario dimensions, paving the way for cross-disciplinary studies on long-term socio-environmental interactions.

A systematic review on current approaches in bat virus discovered between 2018 and 2022

Zoonotic viruses are widely seen as the primary threat for future pandemics. Bats are the most diverse group of mammals, with more than 1400 species distributed across most habitats on Earth. So far, 31 known virus families were associated with bats, although the understanding of most viruses were insufficient. Continuous efforts to discover, understand and monitor these bats viruses, is thereby an area of public health interest. This systematic review was designed to catalogue publications reporting novel bat virus discoveries within PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases, within a 5-year period from 2018 to 2022. Various experimental parameters, including sampling locations, methodology, bat species diversity, similarity to known viruses, species demarcation of new viruses, and genomic sequencing strategies, were extracted from 41 publications and analyzed. In total, 72 novel viruses from 19 virus families were identified between 2018 and 2022, particularly from Genomoviridae (DNA viruses) and Coronaviridae (RNA viruses). That said, only a limited number of bat families featured extensively despite noticeable shift towards next generation sequencing methods and metagenomics pipeline for virus identification across different sampling methods. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the global efforts made over the past five years to identify and characterize emerging viruses in bat species, and to provide a detailed overview of the current technologies and methodologies used in these studies.

The Risk of Virus Emergence in South America: A Subtle Balance Between Increasingly Favorable Conditions and a Protective Environment

South American ecosystems host astonishing biodiversity, with potentially great richness in viruses. However, these ecosystems have not yet been the source of any widespread, epidemic viruses. Here we explore a set of putative causes that may explain this apparent paradox. We discuss that human presence in South America is recent, beginning around 14,000 years ago; that few domestications of native species have occurred; and that successive immigration events associated with Old World virus introductions reduced the likelihood of spillovers and adaptation of local viruses into humans. Also, the diversity and ecological characteristics of vertebrate hosts might serve as protective factors. Moreover, although forest areas remained well preserved until recently, current brutal, sudden, and large-scale clear cuts through the forest have resulted in nearly no ecotones, which are essential for creating an adaptive gradient of microbes, hosts, and vectors. This may be temporarily preventing virus emergence. Nevertheless, the mid-term effect of such drastic changes in habitats and landscapes, coupled with explosive urbanization and climate changes, must not be overlooked by health authorities.

Knowledge and awareness on vector-borne diseases: a pending subject for the Spanish society?

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the level of knowledge and risk perception regarding vector-borne diseases in the Spanish society and identify the risk factors associated with the level of understanding.

METHODOLOGY

An online survey was conducted between January and May 2021, targeting Spanish adults. The survey consisted of 11 questions assessing knowledge and risk perception related to vector-borne diseases. Sociodemographic variables predicting the outcome variable (objective level of knowledge, determined by correctly naming two vector-borne diseases) were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. The outcome variable was then compared with the self-reported knowledge declared by the participants (kappa coefficient),k.

RESULTS

Out of the 1,646 respondents who completed the survey, 72.2% were female and 59.8% were >40 years old). Additionally, 87.3% showed a high risk perception and 61.7% understood what is a vector; however, only 36.3% had an objective level of knowledge (k= 0.353). The variables being >40 years (p <0.0001), having a monthly income >1,500 € (p <0.0001), and owning pets (p= 0.0423) were positively related with an objective level of knowledge on vector-borne diseases (adjusted effects).

CONCLUSIONS

Both knowledge and perception of the risk on vector-borne diseases need to be strengthened in Spain, especially in regions where vector-borne diseases are endemic, emerging, or re-emerging. These preliminary results underscore the necessity of enhancing institutional efforts to build a robust knowledge base within the Spanish society, extending beyond scientific forums.

Comprehending the risk of foodborne and waterborne disease outbreaks: Current situation and control measures with Special reference to the Indian Scenario

Background

Foodborne and waterborne diseases and outbreaks are a neglected public health issue worldwide. In developing countries, diarrheal disease caused by foodborne and waterborne infections is a major cause of ill health. There is a lack of information on foodborne pathogens, their transmission routes, outbreaks, and related mortalities, due to the absence of a robust disease surveillance system and adequately equipped laboratories. Although hygiene practices are much better in Western countries, the widespread use of preserved and raw food items is a cause of concern. Consequently, the occurrence of foodborne diseases is not rare in these countries either. WHO has recently released the 'Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022-2030', addressing the emerging challenges, new technologies, and innovative approaches to strengthen food safety systems and enhance laboratory capacity for foodborne disease surveillance. Foodborne outbreaks are a huge challenge in India. Malnutrition, anemia, hookworm and enteric infections, are the predominant cryptic health conditions among children in rural and tribal areas, leading to severe consequences, including death, and posing a substantial threat to public health. Combating such events with adequate food safety and hygiene practices is achievable. Systematic collection of data can help to develop food safety policies that could reduce the burden of foodborne diseases.

Objective

This review aims to examine the current situation of foodborne and waterborne diseases, identification of the factors contributing to their occurrence and outbreaks, and defining the gaps in control measures, challenges, and potential solutions in improving the public health system.

Methods

Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis was made based on the literature review of foodborne and waterborne infections to assess the current situation and to identify knowledge gaps.

Finding

SWOT analysis showed the strength and gaps in the different national initiatives analogous to the global programs. Though, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the core Government missions, independently generate substantial information, sporadic and outbreak cases of diarrhea still prevail in the country due to the absence of a systematic national surveillance system. Recently, many government initiatives have been made through Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), G20 goals, etc. However, potential threats such as risk of zoonotic disease transmission to humans, emerging infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and unauthorized activities in the food sector pose a big challenge in safeguarding the public health.

Conclusion

Maintenance of global food safety requires a systematic analysis of present situations, identification of existing shortcomings, and targeted efforts toward prevention of infections. The ongoing G20 mission and the SDGs for 2030 represent significant strides in this direction. To have pathogen-free animals and supply of contamination-free raw foods is impractical, but, mitigating the prevalence of zoonotic diseases can be accomplished by rigorously enforcing hygiene standards throughout the food production chain. A crucial requirement at present is the implementation of integrated laboratory surveillance for foodborne and waterborne infections, as this will provide policymakers and stakeholders all the evidence based scientific information. This system will facilitate efforts in minimizing the risks associated with foodborne and waterborne infections.

Multi-omics analysis reveals the genetic and environmental factors in shaping the gut resistome of a keystone rodent species

Understanding the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wildlife is critical for the health of humans and animals from a "One Health" perspective. The gut microbiota serve as a reservoir for ARGs; however, it remains poorly understood how environmental and host genetic factors influence ARGs by affecting the gut microbiota. To elucidate this, we analyzed whole-genome resequencing data from 79 individuals of Brandt's vole in two geographic locations with different antibiotics usage, together with metabolomic data and shotgun sequencing data. A high diversity of ARGs (851 subtypes) was observed in vole's gut, with a large variation in ARG composition between individuals from Xilingol and Hulunbuir in China. The diversity and composition of ARGs were strongly correlated with variations in gut microbiota community structure. Genome-wide association studies revealed that 803 loci were significantly associated (P<5.05×10-9) with 31 bacterial species, and bipartite networks identified 906 bacterial species-ARGs associations. Structural equation modeling analysis showed that host genetic factors, air temperature, and presence of pollutants (Bisphenol A) significantly affected gut microbiota community structure, which eventually regulated the diversity of ARGs. The present study advances our understanding of the complex host-environment interactions that underlie the spread of ARGs in the natural environments.

One Health Ethics and the Ethics of Zoonoses: A Silent Call for Global Action

This paper presents a critical review of key issues related to the emergence of new networks for the spread of zoonotic diseases amid the mass extinction of species. Zoonotic and infectious diseases account for approximately 70% of new and existing diseases affecting humans and animals. The initial section argues that the term "zoonoses" should not be confined to single-cause events within veterinary medicine. Instead, zoonoses should be viewed as complex, systemic phenomena shaped by interrelated factors, including environmental, sociocultural, and economic elements, influenced by anthropogenic climate change. The second section presents bioethical principles and potential strategies for those engaged in zoonotic disease prevention. The third section uses the slaughter of animals in disaster settings as a case study to illustrate the need for further clarification of normative and interspecies justice conflicts in One Health ethics. This section concludes with an outlook on "zoonoethics". Section four develops the analysis of the interlinked elements that trigger zoonoses and examines antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from an ethical and political standpoint, concluding with policy recommendations for addressing AMR. Section five offers a critical reflection, integrating contributions from zoonoethics, human ecology, and the ecotheological turn. Finally, section six concludes with a call to action and policy recommendations for an inclusive, intercultural, and gender-sensitive One Health approach.

Outcome of the entomological monitoring for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in the western and southern regions of Kazakhstan in 2021-2022

The natural foci of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Kazakhstan are geographically located in the southern regions of the country (Kyzylorda, Turkestan and Zhambyl regions), where the infection of ticks with the CCHF virus predominantly reside, tick species composition and the number of vectors are monitored annually. The objective of our research was to investigate the genetic variants of the CCHF virus in the southern endemic regions, as well as to monitor the spread of the CCHF virus in the western regions of the country (Aktobe, Atyrau and Mangystau regions). In total, 974 (216 pools) ticks from the western regions and 3527 (583 pools) ticks from the southern regions collected during 2021-2022 were investigated. The presence of CCHF virus was detected by real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT- PCR) in 1 pool out of 799 pools (0.12%) with Hyalomma scupense ticks captured in the CCHF-endemic Kyzylorda region. In the western regions, CCHF virus was not detected in ticks. The sequencing of incomplete fragments of the S, M and L segments of the CCHF virus in the detected virus was identified as genotype Asia - I. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the isolate obtained in this study is grouped with the isolate from a patient with CCHF, which we reported in 2015 (KX129738 Genbank). Our findings highlight the importance of including sequencing in the annual monitoring system for better understanding the evolution of the CCHF virus in the study areas of our country.

A Generalizable Prioritization Protocol for Climate-Sensitive Zoonotic Diseases

Emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases pose a significant threat to global health and economic security. This threat is further aggravated by amplifying drivers of change, including climate hazards and landscape alterations induced by climate change. Given the complex relationships between climate change and zoonotic disease health outcomes, a structured decision-making process is required to effectively identify pathogens of greatest concern to prioritize prevention and surveillance efforts. Here, we describe a workshop-based expert elicitation process in six steps to prioritize climate-sensitive zoonoses based on a structured approach to defining criteria for climate sensitivity. Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process methodology is used to analyze data provided by experts across human, animal, and environmental health sectors accounting for uncertainties at different stages of the prioritization process. We also present a new interactive expert elicitation interface that facilitates data collection and real-time visualization of prioritization results. The novel approach presented in this paper offers a generalized platform for prioritizing climate-sensitive zoonoses at a national or regional level. This allows for a structured decision-making support process when allocating limited financial and personnel resources to enhance preparedness and response to zoonotic diseases amplified by climate change.

Enhanced Diversifying Selection on Polymerase Genes in H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b: A Key Driver of Altered Species Tropism and Host Range Expansion

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses have shown unprecedented host range and pathogenicity, including infections in cattle, previously not susceptible to H5N1. We investigated whether selection pressures on clade 2.3.4.4b viral genes could shed light on their unique epidemiological features. Our analysis revealed that while the gene products of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 primarily undergo purifying selection, there are notable instances of episodic diversifying selection. Specifically, the polymerase genes PB2, PB1, and PA exhibit significantly greater selection pressures in clade 2.3.4.4b than all earlier H5N1 virus clades. Polymerases play critical roles in influenza virus adaptation, including viral fitness, interspecies transmission, and virulence. Our findings provide evidence that significant selection pressures have shaped the evolution of the H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses, facilitating their expanded host tropism and the potential for further adaptation to mammalian hosts. We discuss how exogenous factors, such as altered bird migration patterns and increased host susceptibility, may have contributed to the expanded host range. As H5N1 viruses continue to infect new hosts, there is a greater risk of emergent novel variants with increased pathogenicity in humans and animals. Thus, comprehensive One Health surveillance is critical to monitor transmission among avian and mammalian hosts.

Canine on the Couch: The New Canary in the Coal Mine for Environmental Health Research

Human health is intimately connected and tied to the health of our environment and ecosystem, with only a very small fraction of the risk for chronic diseases explained by genetics alone. Companion animals are prone to disease types that are shared with people, including cancers and endocrine disorders, reinforcing the thought that environmental factors contribute to the risks for chronic diseases. These factors include air and water pollution and the built environment. As such, there is increasing interest in pursuing research with companion animals, and specifically dogs, as sentinel species to inform comparative health assessments and identify risk factors for disease. Of the canine diseases for which environmental exposure research has been published, cancers have received the most attention. This review summarizes two main aspects of this comparative approach: (1) cancers that occur in dogs and which are similar to humans and (2) research investigating environmental exposures and health outcomes in dogs. The goal of this review is to highlight the diverse conditions in which pet dogs may provide unique perspectives and advantages to examine relationships between environmental exposures and health outcomes, with an emphasis on chemical pollution and cancer. Furthermore, this review seeks to raise awareness and stimulate discussion around the best practices for the use of companion animals as environmental health sentinels.

The Comparative Study of the Antioxidant and Antibacterial Effects of Propolis Extracts in Veterinary Medicine

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest threats to human and animal health. Efforts to combat AMR include the introduction of antimicrobial drugs as alternative treatment options. To contribute to an effective plan for the treatment of infectious diseases caused by bacteria, the development of new antimicrobial agents is increasingly being explored. Propolis has garnered significant attention from both scientists and industry due to its extensive spectrum of biological activity. The growing interest in polyphenols of natural origin and their plant sources further encourages the investigation of their chemical composition and biological effects. Propolis serves as a rich source of phenolic compounds. Baltic region propolis, classified as poplar-type propolis, was selected for this study, and extracts were prepared using raw propolis materials from various Baltic countries. The production of liquid extracts utilized a combination of 70 percent ethanol, a mixture of water and poloxamer P407, and DES (deep eutectic solvent). The research aims to produce liquid propolis extracts using different solvents and to assess their chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity against different veterinary pathogens. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), revealing antioxidant activity in all extracts, with results correlating with the total phenolic compound content. It was found that p-coumaric acid predominated in the studied propolis extracts (in ethanol extracts 1155.90-1506.65 mg/g, in DES extracts 321.13-954.76 mg/g, and in polymeric extracts 5.34-30.80 mg/g), with smaller amounts of ferulic acid and vanillin detected. Clinical and reference bacterial strains were collected from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, the Academy of Veterinary Medicine, and the Institute of Microbiology and Virology. To effectively treat bacterial infections, the antimicrobial activity of propolis extracts was tested against six pathogenic bacterial species and one pathogenic fungus (S. aureus, S. agalactiae, B. cereus, E. faecalis, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans). Antimicrobial activity studies demonstrated that DES propolis extracts exhibited stronger antimicrobial activity compared to ethanolic propolis extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of DES propolis extracts against the tested strains ranged between 50 and 1000 μg/mL. Considering the study results, it can be concluded that propolis from the Baltic region is abundant in phenolic compounds exhibiting antioxidant and antibacterial activities.

Genetic Characterization of Two Novel Insect-Infecting Negative-Sense RNA Viruses Identified in a Leaf Beetle, Aulacophora indica

Herbivorous insects harbor a variety of insect-specific viruses (ISVs) some of which are considered to be valuable biological agents for potential applications in biological defense and control strategies. Leaf beetles with chewing mouthparts are particularly known for their capacity to disrupt plant tissue while feeding, often creating openings that can act as entry points for plant pathogens. In this study, we have identified two new negative-sense RNA viruses infecting the leaf beetle Aulacophora indica, an important member of the Chrysomelidae family. These recently discovered viruses belong to the viral families Nyamiviridae and Chuviridae and have been preliminarily named Aulacophora indica nyami-like virus 1 (AINlV1) and Aulacophora indica chu-like virus 1 (AIClV1), respectively. The complete genomic sequences of these viruses were obtained using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) techniques. Detailed analysis of their genomic structures has confirmed their similarity to other members within their respective families. Furthermore, analysis of virus-derived small interfering RNA (vsiRNA) demonstrated a high abundance and typical vsiRNA pattern of AINlV1 and AIClV1, offering substantial evidence to support their classification as ISVs. This research enhances our understanding of viral diversity within insects.

Lassa Fever: Critical Review and Prospects for Control

Lassa Fever is a deadly viral haemorrhagic disease, causing annually several hundreds of deaths in West Africa. This zoonotic disease is primarily transmitted to humans by rodents of the genus Mastomys, even though other rodents reportedly carry the Lassa virus, while secondary interhuman transmission accounts for approximately 20% of cases. Although this disease has been endemic in rural zones of Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberfia, and Guinea for hundreds of years, it is also characterised by epidemic outbreaks in the dry season, responsible for heavy death tolls. No licensed vaccine or satisfying treatment is currently available. Disease management is hindered by the incomplete knowledge of the epidemiology and distribution of the disease, resulting from an inadequate health and surveillance system. Additional scientific constraints such as the genetic diversity of the virus and the lack of understanding of the mechanisms of immune protection complexify the development of a vaccine. The intricate socio-economic context in the affected regions, and the lack of monetary incentive for drug development, allow the disease to persist in some of West Africa's poorest communities. The increase in the number of reported cases and in the fatality rate, the expansion of the endemic area, as well as the threat Lassa Fever represents internationally should urge the global community to work on the disease control and prevention. The disease control requires collaborative research for medical countermeasures and tailored public health policies. Lassa Fever, created by the interconnection between animals, humans, and ecosystems, and embedded in an intricate social context, should be addressed with a 'One Health' approach. This article provides an overview of Lassa Fever, focusing on Nigeria, and discusses the perspectives for the control of disease.

Human procurement of meat from lion (Panthera leo) kills: Costs of disturbance and implications for carnivore conservation

In Africa, humans and large carnivores compete over access to resources, including prey. Disturbance by humans to kills made by carnivores, often for purposes of obtaining all or portions of the carcass, constitutes a form of human-wildlife conflict. However the occurrence of this practice, known as human kleptoparasitism, and its impact on carnivores has received little scientific attention. We obtained expert opinions from African lion researchers and stakeholders via a standardized questionnaire to characterize the geographic extent and frequency of human kleptoparasitism as it occurs in modern times. Our survey found modern human kleptoparasitism on kills made by lions, and possibly other large carnivores in Africa, to be geographically more widespread than previously reported. Meat lost to humans requires carnivores to hunt and kill additional prey thereby causing stress, increasing their energetic costs and risks of natural injury, and exposing them to risk of direct injury or death from human usurpers. Because of their conspicuous behaviors and tendency towards killing large-bodied prey, lions are particularly susceptible to humans detecting their kills. While human kleptoparasitism was geographically widespread, socio-economic factors influenced the frequency of occurrence. Prey type (wild game or domestic livestock) influenced human attitudes towards meat theft; ownership allows for legal recovery of livestock carcasses, while possessing wild game meat is mostly illegal and may incur penalties. Meat theft was associated with other illegal activities (i.e., illegal mining) and most prevalent among people of low income, including underpaid game scouts. Despite quantifiable costs to carnivores of human disturbance to their kills, the majority of experts surveyed reported a lack of knowledge on this practice. We propose that human disturbance at kills, especially loss of prey through human kleptoparasitism, constitutes an important anthropogenic threat that may seriously impact energy budgets of individual lions and other scavengers when meat and carcasses are removed from the ecosystem, and that the costs incurred by carnivores warrants further investigation.