public health Archives

WHO moves mpox response to the next level

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Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV). Outbreaks result from person-to-person spread through close contact, which may include sexual contact. In some settings outbreaks follow contact with an infected animal or consumption of contaminated meat. The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new Strategic Framework for enhancing prevention and control of mpox in order to […]

Combatting antimicrobial resistance using novel small fusion proteins

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Antibiotic resistance is a public health burden worldwide. Alternatives to antibiotics that can counter the detrimental effects of resistant ‘superbugs’ are urgently needed. Dr Xristo Zarate at the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon in Mexico and his collaborators have worked extensively on developing novel small carrier proteins, like SmbP and CusF3H+, for recombinant protein and peptide expression and purification in […]

Exploring the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes within poultry litter

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Antibiotic resistance is a major threat to human and animal health. Bacteria containing antibiotic resistance genes are found in poultry litter, usually from commercial chicken production. Since poultry litter is often used as a soil fertiliser, there is a risk that this antibiotic resistance could be transferred into the soil. Professor John Maurer at Virginia Tech University, USA, has shown […]

Multifunctional roles of water in the ozonolysis of limonene aerosols

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Limonene, a monoterpene found in citrus peel oils and many household products, readily undergoes ozonolysis to form secondary organic aerosols. Researchers investigate the role of water in the process and the environmental implications.

Aerosols are suspensions of tiny solid particles or liquid droplets, which significantly impact Earth’s atmosphere by influencing the planet’s energy balance, global climate, and public health. Secondary organic aerosols can be formed due to various physicochemical processes involving natural and human-made aerosols, or their gas-phase precursors. Limonene, a type of monoterpene, often found in citrus peel oils and many household and […]

From friend to foe: Food strains share their toxic genes in E. coli

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The team investigates plasmid content in food isolates of E. coli and its role as a reservoir for the horizontal transfer of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes to clinical isolates.

Food-borne bacteria can cause life-threatening disease, yet it is still unclear why some strains are tolerated by the host. To find an answer, a project led by Professor Rosa del Carmen Rocha-Gracia (Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Mexico) and Professor Manel Camps (University of California Santa Cruz, USA) analysed the genetic diversity of Escherichia coli populations, comparing isolates from food […]

Using patient datasets to track COVID-19 prevalence

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Hou and colleagues accessed existing patient data collected by the Maui Medical Group (MMG) clinics.

Obtaining an accurate picture of COVID-19 cases has provided a major challenge throughout the pandemic. Changes in testing methods and skewed selection of higher-risk groups may bias the results. Dr Amy Hou, Dr Genevieve Pang, and Dr Lorrin Pang at the Hawaii State Department of Health, Maui District Health Office, US, propose a novel way to estimate local prevalence of […]

Epidemiology–laboratory interactions for developing resilience against future infectious diseases

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Salmonella is the leading cause of deaths caused by foodborne illnesses in the USA.

Bacteria are one of the leading causes of public health burden associated with food and waterborne diseases. In addition, they have many abilities that allow them to survive decontamination methods, such as biofilm formation. With the rise in antibiotic resistance and climate change also driving bacterial proliferation, new approaches are needed to mitigate the public health burden of infectious diseases. […]

Elucidating the substance use disorder-HIV health syndemic

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Dr Bryan Garner researches the overlap between people living with HIV, and substance use disorders.

Dr Bryan Garner is a Senior Implementation Research Scientist with RTI International. His latest research explores the neglected overlap between HIV and substance use disorders (SUDs). In May 2019, clients of AIDS service organisations (ASOs), ASO staff, and HIV/AIDS Planning Council members participated in a Stakeholder-Engaged Real-Time Delphi (SE-RTD) survey exploring the prevalence and individual-level negative impact of five SUDs […]

A solution-focused project to address the challenges of COVID-19 restrictions on children and young people

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Dr Darren Sharpe studied the various impacts that the COVID-19 restrictions had on children and young people in Zambia and Sierra Leone, providing them with basic goods as well as studying their wellbeing

Apart from the severe health complications, the Coronavirus pandemic has posed other significant challenges to our society: loss of economic stability, social isolation, and deterioration of mental health are among some of them. Arguably one of the most affected demographics are the vulnerable and the young. Children and young people (CYP) living with physical and mental disabilities, especially in low- […]

Cointegration of causes of mortality as a possible measure of human ageing

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Many of us can expect to live longer than previous generations. We might also surmise that one of the top five causes of mortality will prove our demise. Ultimately, however, most causes of death are linked to ageing, an inevitable process for which we have no direct measurement. Professor Séverine Arnold, of the University of Lausanne, has provided a potential […]