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Jacobson GM, Kraakman K, Wallace O, Pan J, Hennebry A, Smolenski G, Cursons R, Hodgkinson S, Williamson A, Kelton W. Immunogenic fusion proteins induce neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the serum and milk of sheep. Biotechnol Rep (Amst) 2023; 38:e00791. [PMID: 36915646 PMCID: PMC9995299 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2023.e00791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Antigen-specific polyclonal immunoglobulins derived from the serum, colostrum, or milk of immunized ruminant animals have potential as scalable therapeutics for the control of viral diseases including COVID-19. Here we show that the immunization of sheep with fusions of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) to ovine IgG2a Fc domains promotes significantly higher levels of antigen-specific antibodies compared to native RBD or full-length spike antigens. This antibody population contained elevated levels of neutralizing antibodies that suppressed binding between the RBD and hACE2 receptors in vitro. A second immune-stimulating fusion candidate, Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), induced high neutralizing responses in select animals but narrowly missed achieving significance. We further demonstrated that the antibodies induced by these fusion antigens were transferred into colostrum/milk and possessed cross-neutralizing activity against diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our findings highlight a new pathway for recombinant antigen design in ruminant animals with applications in immune milk production and animal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M Jacobson
- Te Aka Mātuatua School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Kirsty Kraakman
- Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.,Ruakura Technologies Ltd, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton 3214, New Zealand
| | - Olivia Wallace
- Ruakura Technologies Ltd, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton 3214, New Zealand
| | - Jolyn Pan
- Te Aka Mātuatua School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Alex Hennebry
- Ruakura Technologies Ltd, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton 3214, New Zealand
| | - Grant Smolenski
- Ruakura Technologies Ltd, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton 3214, New Zealand
| | - Ray Cursons
- Te Aka Mātuatua School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Steve Hodgkinson
- Ruakura Technologies Ltd, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton 3214, New Zealand
| | - Adele Williamson
- Te Aka Mātuatua School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - William Kelton
- Te Aka Mātuatua School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.,Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
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Mitchell C, Steward KF, Charbonneau ARL, Walsh S, Wilson H, Timoney JF, Wernery U, Joseph M, Craig D, van Maanen K, Hoogkamer-van Gennep A, Leon A, Witkowski L, Rzewuska M, Stefańska I, Żychska M, van Loon G, Cursons R, Patty O, Acke E, Gilkerson JR, El-Hage C, Allen J, Bannai H, Kinoshita Y, Niwa H, Becú T, Pringle J, Guss B, Böse R, Abbott Y, Katz L, Leggett B, Buckley TC, Blum SE, Cruz López F, Fernández Ros A, Marotti Campi MC, Preziuso S, Robinson C, Newton JR, Schofield E, Brooke B, Boursnell M, de Brauwere N, Kirton R, Barton CK, Abudahab K, Taylor B, Yeats CA, Goater R, Aanensen DM, Harris SR, Parkhill J, Holden MTG, Waller AS. Globetrotting strangles: the unbridled national and international transmission of Streptococcus equi between horses. Microb Genom 2021; 7:mgen000528. [PMID: 33684029 PMCID: PMC8190609 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The equine disease strangles, which is characterized by the formation of abscesses in the lymph nodes of the head and neck, is one of the most frequently diagnosed infectious diseases of horses around the world. The causal agent, Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, establishes a persistent infection in approximately 10 % of animals that recover from the acute disease. Such 'carrier' animals appear healthy and are rarely identified during routine veterinary examinations pre-purchase or transit, but can transmit S. equi to naïve animals initiating new episodes of disease. Here, we report the analysis and visualization of phylogenomic and epidemiological data for 670 isolates of S. equi recovered from 19 different countries using a new core-genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) web bioresource. Genetic relationships among all 670 S. equi isolates were determined at high resolution, revealing national and international transmission events that drive this endemic disease in horse populations throughout the world. Our data argue for the recognition of the international importance of strangles by the Office International des Épizooties to highlight the health, welfare and economic cost of this disease. The Pathogenwatch cgMLST web bioresource described herein is available for tailored genomic analysis of populations of S. equi and its close relative S. equi subspecies zooepidemicus that are recovered from horses and other animals, including humans, throughout the world. This article contains data hosted by Microreact.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karen F. Steward
- Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK
- Present address: Technology Networks, Sudbury, UK
| | | | - Saoirse Walsh
- Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK
- Present address: University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hayley Wilson
- Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK
- Present address: University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Ulli Wernery
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Dubai, UAE
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Lucjan Witkowski
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Rzewuska
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ilona Stefańska
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Monika Żychska
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Ray Cursons
- University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | | | - Els Acke
- Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - John Pringle
- Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bengt Guss
- Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | | | - Lisa Katz
- University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ellen Schofield
- Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK
- Present address: University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | - Roxane Kirton
- Redwings Horse Sanctuary, Norwich, UK
- Present address: Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Horsham, UK
| | | | - Khalil Abudahab
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ben Taylor
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Corin A. Yeats
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Richard Goater
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - David M. Aanensen
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Simon R. Harris
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Present address: Microbiotica Limited, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Matthew T. G. Holden
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
- University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Andrew S. Waller
- Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK
- Department of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- Intervacc AB, Stockholm, Sweden
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Bartley J, Garrett J, Camargo CA, Scragg R, Vandal A, Sisk R, Milne D, Tai R, Jeon G, Cursons R, Wong C. Vitamin D 3 supplementation in adults with bronchiectasis: A pilot study. Chron Respir Dis 2018; 15:384-392. [PMID: 29490469 PMCID: PMC6234573 DOI: 10.1177/1479972318761646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin D supplementation prevents acute respiratory infections and, through modulating innate and adaptive immunity, could have a potential role in bronchiectasis management. The primary aims of this pilot study were to assess serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in New Zealand adults with bronchiectasis, and their 25(OH)D levels after vitamin D3 supplementation. Adults with bronchiectasis received an initial 2.5 mg vitamin D3 oral loading dose and 0.625 mg vitamin D3 weekly for 24 weeks. The primary outcome was serum 25(OH)D levels before and after vitamin D3 supplementation. Secondary outcomes (time to first infective exacerbation, exacerbation frequency, spirometry, health-related quality of life measures, sputum bacteriology and cell counts and chronic rhinosinusitis) were also assessed. This study is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN 12612001222831). The initial, average 25(OH)D level was 71 nmol/L (95% confidence interval (CI): [58, 84]), rising to 218 nmol/L (95% CI: [199, 237]) at 12 weeks and 205 nmol/L (95% CI: [186, 224]) at 24 weeks. The initial serum cathelicidin level was 25 nmol/L (95% CI: [17, 33]), rising to 102 nmol/L (95% CI: [48, 156]) at 12 weeks and 151 nmol/L (95% CI: [97, 205]) at 24 weeks. Over the 24-week study period, we observed statistically significant changes of 1.11 (95% CI: [0.08, 2.14]) in the Leicester Cough Questionnaire and -1.97 (95% CI: [-3.71, -0.23]) in the Dartmouth COOP charts score. No significant adverse effects were recorded. Many New Zealand adults with bronchiectasis have adequate 25(OH)D levels. Weekly vitamin D3 supplementation significantly improved 25(OH)D levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jim Bartley
- Department of Surgery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jeff Garrett
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Carlos A Camargo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert Scragg
- School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Alain Vandal
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
- Ko Awatea, Counties Manukau District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Rose Sisk
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - David Milne
- Department of Radiology, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ray Tai
- Department of Radiology, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Gene Jeon
- Middlemore Clinical Trials Unit, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ray Cursons
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Conroy Wong
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
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Radhakrishnan K, Gamel AE, Jacobson G, Burton D, Cursons R. Does Beating Heart Surgery or Haemofiltration Attenuate Inflammatory Response to Cardiopulmonary Bypass. Heart Lung Circ 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2015.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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McCormick H, Cursons R, Wilkins RJ, King CM. Location of a contact zone between Mus musculus domesticus and M. m. domesticus with M. m. castaneus mtDNA in southern New Zealand. Mamm Biol 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2014.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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McKenzie JL, Duyvestyn JM, Smith T, Bendak K, MacKay J, Cursons R, Cook GM, Arcus VL. Determination of ribonuclease sequence-specificity using Pentaprobes and mass spectrometry. RNA 2012; 18:1267-1278. [PMID: 22539524 PMCID: PMC3358648 DOI: 10.1261/rna.031229.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2011] [Accepted: 02/26/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The VapBC toxin-antitoxin (TA) family is the largest of nine identified TA families. The toxin, VapC, is a metal-dependent ribonuclease that is inhibited by its cognate antitoxin, VapB. Although the VapBCs are the largest TA family, little is known about their biological roles. Here we describe a new general method for the overexpression and purification of toxic VapC proteins and subsequent determination of their RNase sequence-specificity. Functional VapC was isolated by expression of the nontoxic VapBC complex, followed by removal of the labile antitoxin (VapB) using limited trypsin digestion. We have then developed a sensitive and robust method for determining VapC ribonuclease sequence-specificity. This technique employs the use of Pentaprobes as substrates for VapC. These are RNA sequences encoding every combination of five bases. We combine the RNase reaction with MALDI-TOF MS to detect and analyze the cleavage products and thus determine the RNA cut sites. Successful MALDI-TOF MS analysis of RNA fragments is acutely dependent on sample preparation methods. The sequence-specificity of four VapC proteins from two different organisms (VapC(PAE0151) and VapC(PAE2754) from Pyrobaculum aerophilum, and VapC(Rv0065) and VapC(Rv0617) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis) was successfully determined using the described strategy. This rapid and sensitive method can be applied to determine the sequence-specificity of VapC ribonucleases along with other RNA interferases (such as MazF) from a range of organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tony Smith
- Department of Computer Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Katerina Bendak
- School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Joel MacKay
- School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | | | - Gregory M. Cook
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
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van Haren FM, Sleigh J, Cursons R, La Pine M, Pickkers P, van der Hoeven JG. The effects of hypertonic fluid administration on the gene expression of inflammatory mediators in circulating leucocytes in patients with septic shock: a preliminary study. Ann Intensive Care 2011; 1:44. [PMID: 22044529 PMCID: PMC3217886 DOI: 10.1186/2110-5820-1-44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2011] [Accepted: 11/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This study was designed to investigate the effect of hypertonic fluid administration on inflammatory mediator gene expression in patients with septic shock. Design and setting Prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical study in a 15-bed mixed intensive care unit in a tertiary referral teaching hospital. Interventions Twenty-four patients, who met standard criteria for septic shock, were randomized to receive a bolus of hypertonic fluid (HT, 250 ml 6% HES/7.2% NaCl) or isotonic fluid (IT, 500 ml 6% HES/0.9% NaCl) administered over 15 minutes. Randomization and study fluid administration was within 24 hours of ICU admission for all patients. This trial is registered with ANZCTR.org.au as ACTRN12607000259448. Results Blood samples were taken immediately before and 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours after fluid administration. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT rtPCR) was used to quantify mRNA expression of different inflammatory mediators in peripheral leukocytes. In the HT group, compared with the IT group, levels of gene expression of MMP9 and L-selectin were significantly suppressed (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.007, respectively), and CD11b gene expression tended to be elevated (p = NS). No differences were found in the other mediators examined. Conclusions In septic shock patients, hypertonic fluid administration compared with isotonic fluid may modulate expression of genes that are implicated in leukocyte-endothelial interaction and capillary leakage. The study was performed at the Intensive Care Department, Waikato Hospital, and at the Molecular Genetics Laboratory, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Trial registration Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR): ACTRN12607000259448
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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Vitamin D regulates the production of the antimicrobial peptides cathelicidin and beta-defensin-2, which play an important role in the innate immune response to infection. We hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency would be associated with lower levels of these peptides and worse outcomes in patients admitted to hospital with community acquired pneumonia. METHODS Associations between mortality and serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, cathelicidin and beta-defensin-2 were investigated in a prospective cohort of 112 patients admitted with community acquired pneumonia during winter. RESULTS Severe 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency (<30nmol/L) was common in this population (15%) and was associated with a higher 30-day mortality compared with patients with sufficient 25-hydroxyvitamin D (>50nmol/L) (odds ratio 12.7, 95% confidence interval: 2.2-73.3, P=0.004). These associations were not explained by differences in age, comorbidities, or the severity of the acute illness. Neither cathelicidin nor beta-defensin-2 levels predicted mortality, although there was a trend towards increased mortality with lower cathelicidin (P=0.053). Neither cathelicidin nor beta-defensin-2 levels correlated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D. CONCLUSIONS 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency is associated with increased mortality in patients admitted to hospital with community acquired pneumonia during winter. Contrary to our hypothesis, 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were not associated with levels of cathelicidin or beta-defensin-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leong Leow
- Respiratory Research Unit, Waikato Hospital Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Waikato, Hamilton Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Abstract
The objective of this study was to compare the clinical and bacteriological cure rates of cows with clinical mastitis following treatment with either tylosin base (5 g injected 3 times at 24-h intervals; n = 306) or penethamate hydriodide (5 g injected 3 times at 24-h intervals; n = 289). Duplicate milk samples were collected before treatment and again 14 +/- 3 and 21 +/- 3 d later for microbiological analysis. Only those quarters from which gram-positive mastitis pathogens were isolated before treatment were included in the analyses. Streptococcus uberis was the most prevalent isolate. The number of cows with clinical failure (i.e., retreated within 21 d of enrollment) did not differ between treatments (64 vs. 63, respectively). At the quarter level, there was no difference in the proportion of bacteriological cure between treatments (81.2 vs. 83.8% for penethamate hydriodide or tylosin, respectively). The proportions of clinical and bacteriological cure were influenced by age, herd, severity of mastitis, number of glands within the cow with clinical mastitis, bacterial species, and days postpartum at enrollment. There was no difference between treatment groups for SCC (4.46 vs. 4.44 +/- 0.08, mean +/- standard error of the difference in ln SCC for cows treated with penethamate hydriodide or tylosin, respectively) or production of milk solids (1.45 vs. 1.48 +/- 0.02 kg/d of milk fat + protein, for the penethamate hydriodide or tylosin treatment, respectively). Overall, there was no difference in the proportions of clinical failure (17.3 vs. 16.5% of cows treated with penethamate hydriodide or tylosin, respectively) or bacteriological cure (79.8 vs. 82.0% of cows treated with penethamate hydriodide or tylosin, respectively), or in SCC or milk production between dairy cows with clinical mastitis and those treated for clinical mastitis with 1 of 2 parenteral antibiotic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S McDougall
- Animal Health Centre, PO Box 21, Morrinsville, New Zealand.
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Cursons R, Sleigh J, Hood D, Pullon D. A case of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis: North Island, New Zealand. N Z Med J 2003; 116:U712. [PMID: 14752540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ray Cursons
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Hillcrest, Hamilton, New Zealand.
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Sleigh J, Cursons R, La Pine M. Detection of bacteraemia in critically ill patients using 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. Intensive Care Med 2001; 27:1269-73. [PMID: 11511938 DOI: 10.1007/s001340100981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2000] [Accepted: 04/23/2001] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To confirm the sensitivity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique (versus blood cultures) and to gain a better understanding of the incidence of true- and false-positive results when using this technique. DESIGN Observational study. SETTING Fourteen-bed, level 3 intensive care unit. PATIENTS Hundred twenty-six critically ill adult patients. Hundred ninety-seven blood culture and PCR samples taken as clinically indicated for suspected sepsis, according to routine ICU protocol. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS The PCR product (16SrDNA: 341F-1195R) was sequenced and compared with a database of known species (Genebank) to identify the bacterial nucleic acid. The PCR or blood culture result was classified as a true-positive if there was other microbiological or clinical supporting evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Sleigh
- Department of Intensive Care, Waikato Hospital, Pembroke Street, Hamilton, New Zealand.
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Mayall F, Cursons R, Jacobson G, Chang B. Single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP)-detected p53 gene mutations are a less sensitive marker of malignancy in pleural fluids than p53 immunostaining. Cytopathology 1999; 10:259-62. [PMID: 10458502 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2303.1999.00182.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
p53 immunostaining has been advocated as a marker of malignancy in pleural biopsies and serous fluids. The object of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of p53 immunostaining for the detection of malignant cells in pleural fluids with a technique designed to detect p53 gene mutations in exons 5, 6, 7 and 8 by SSCP and nucleotide sequencing. Five out of eight pleural fluids containing adenocarcinoma showed p53 immunostaining and two of these also showed polymorphisms on SSCP and a mutation on sequencing. None of the 10 benign pleural fluids showed immunostaining for p53 or polymorphisms on SSCP. We believe that the poor sensitivity of p53 gene mutation by SSCP is mainly due to DNA from the background reactive cells 'swamping' the mutant DNA. We do not advocate its use as a diagnostic aid.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Mayall
- Department of Pathology, Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand.
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Murdoch D, Gray TB, Cursons R, Parr D. Acanthamoeba keratitis in New Zealand, including two cases with in vivo resistance to polyhexamethylene biguanide. Aust N Z J Ophthalmol 1998; 26:231-6. [PMID: 9717755 DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-9071.1998.tb01317.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acanthamoeba keratitis is an uncommon corneal infection that can run a protracted course with, at times, serious visual results. Eighty-five per cent of cases occur in soft contact lens wearers. The first New Zealand case occurred in 1990 and only seven cases have been identified in New Zealand to the end of 1996. METHODS We surveyed the ophthalmologists looking after these seven cases of acanthamoeba keratitis as to time to diagnosis, treatment and outcome. RESULTS New Zealand has a low incidence of this disease. All cases were soft contact lens wearers with defective care in every instance. After an initial two late-diagnosed cases, the time to diagnosis for four of the five other cases has been within 2 weeks. Medical treatment has varied over this series, but since the introduction of the cationic antiseptics polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) and chlorhexidine in 1992, the last five cases were all treated with PHMB. One case diagnosed within 2 weeks ran a devastating course, despite intensive PHMB, and a second case remained culture positive after 1 year of PHMB and the late addition of chlorhexidine. Debridement, 0.1% PHMB and hexamidine eventually settled this eye. CONCLUSIONS For treatment PHMB, hexamidine rather than propamidine and surgical debridement are favoured. While all Acanthamoeba isolates show good in vitro sensitivity to PHMB, the in vivo response is not always proportionate. A bacterial endosymbiont may have been a factor in the favourable outcome of one protracted case.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Murdoch
- Eye Department, Auckland Hospital, New Zealand
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14
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Cursons R, Say J. Chlamydial antibodies. N Z Med J 1990; 103:190. [PMID: 2330169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Lau RC, Smith AE, Cursons R, Tobias MI, Shult P, Poole ES. A survey of virus infections in New Zealand, 1982-6. N Z Med J 1988; 101:621-2. [PMID: 3173872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Between 1982 and 1986 virus infections were identified in 16,372 cases. These identifications were based on virus isolation and/or serological evidence of infection by the main virus diagnostic laboratories at Auckland, Waikato, Christchurch and Dunedin hospitals, and at the National Health Institute. The most frequent virus identifications reported were herpes simplex (46.7%), rotavirus (11.8%), respiratory syncytial virus (5.7%), and adenovirus (5.6%). During this period of surveillance, the most prominent feature has been the high incidence of herpes simplex which reached a peak in 1983 but which has abated only slightly since. Significant trends and virus outbreaks or epidemics were detected with the regular reporting of monthly virus identifications in the New Zealand Virus Report (NZVR); these included a measles epidemic in Auckland in 1984/85, major influenza A outbreaks in 1983, 1985 and 1986, the respiratory syncytial virus epidemic in the winter of 1986, the increased incidence of rotavirus predominantly in young infants and children during the winter months, outbreaks of enterovirus type 71 and parainfluenza type 3 infections in 1986, and rubella in 1984.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Lau
- Research and Development Unit, National Health Institute, Dunedin
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Cursons R. A simple staining method for the detection of amoebae. N Z Med J 1981; 94:471. [PMID: 6174907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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