Last data update: Jun 11, 2024. (Total: 46992 publications since 2009)
Records 1-30 (of 38 Records) |
Query Trace: Griffiths S [original query] |
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Evaluation of a non-dispersive infrared spectrometer for quantifying organic and elemental carbon in diesel particulate matter
Parks DA , Zhao Y , Griffiths PR , Miller AL . Aerosol Sci Technol 2024 Diesel particulate matter (DPM) is a common and well-known health hazard in the mining environment. The regulatory method for monitoring both the organic and elemental carbon (OC, EC) portions of DPM is a laboratory-based thermal-optical method with a typical turnaround time of one week. In order to evaluate exposure levels and take corrective action prior to overexposure, a portable real-time device capable of quantifying both OC and EC is needed. To that end, researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) designed and tested the feasibility of a device based on bandpass optical filters that target key infrared wavelengths associated with DPM and its spectroscopic baseline. The resulting device, referred to here as a non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) spectrometer could serve as the basis of a cost-effective, field-portable alternative to the laboratory thermal-optical method. The limits of quantification (LOD) indicate that the NDIR spectrometer can quantify EC, OC, and TC provided they are present at 20, 37, and 46 μg/m3 or more, respectively. In the event that the NDIR spectrometer is integrated with a sampler and filter tape the LOD is estimated to be reduced to 13, 7, and 10 μg/m3 for EC, OC, and TC, respectively. These LOD estimates assume a face velocity of 59 cm/s and a sampling time of 30 min. ©, This work was authored as part of the Contributor's official duties as an Employee of the United States Government and is therefore a work of the United States Government. In accordance with 17 USC. 105, no copyright protection is available for such works under US Law. |
Putting everything in its place: using the INSDC compliant Pathogen Data Object Model to better structure genomic data submitted for public health applications
Timme RE , Karsch-Mizrachi I , Waheed Z , Arita M , MacCannell D , Maguire F , Petit Iii R , Page AJ , Mendes CI , Nasar MI , Oluniyi P , Tyler AD , Raphenya AR , Guthrie JL , Olawoye I , Rinck G , O'Cathail C , Lees J , Cochrane G , Cummins C , Brister JR , Klimke W , Feldgarden M , Griffiths E . Microb Genom 2023 9 (12) Fast, efficient public health actions require well-organized and coordinated systems that can supply timely and accurate knowledge. Public databases of pathogen genomic data, such as the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC), have become essential tools for efficient public health decisions. However, these international resources began primarily for academic purposes, rather than for surveillance or interventions. Now, queries need to access not only the whole genomes of multiple pathogens but also make connections using robust contextual metadata to identify issues of public health relevance. Databases that over time developed a patchwork of submission formats and requirements need to be consistently organized and coordinated internationally to allow effective searches.To help resolve these issues, we propose a common pathogen data structure called the Pathogen Data Object Model (DOM) that will formalize the minimum pieces of sequence data and contextual data necessary for general public health uses, while recognizing that submitters will likely withhold a wide range of non-public contextual data. Further, we propose contributors use the Pathogen DOM for all pathogen submissions (bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasites), which will simplify data submissions and provide a consistent and transparent data structure for downstream data analyses. We also highlight how improved submission tools can support the Pathogen DOM, offering users additional easy-to-use methods to ensure this structure is followed. |
Vaccine value profile for cytomegalovirus
Boppana SB , van Boven M , Britt WJ , Gantt S , Griffiths PD , Grosse SD , Hyde TB , Lanzieri TM , Mussi-Pinhata MM , Pallas SE , Pinninti SG , Rawlinson WD , Ross SA , Vossen Actm , Fowler KB . Vaccine 2023 41 Suppl 2 S53-S75 Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common infectious cause of congenital malformation and a leading cause of developmental disabilities such as sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), motor and cognitive deficits. The significant disease burden from congenital CMV infection (cCMV) led the US National Institute of Medicine to rank CMV vaccine development as the highest priority. An average of 6.7/1000 live births are affected by cCMV, but the prevalence varies across and within countries. In contrast to other congenital infections such as rubella and toxoplasmosis, the prevalence of cCMV increases with CMV seroprevalence rates in the population. The true global burden of cCMV disease is likely underestimated because most infected infants (85-90 %) have asymptomatic infection and are not identified. However, about 7-11 % of those with asymptomatic infection will develop SNHL throughout early childhood. Although no licensed CMV vaccine exists, several candidate vaccines are in development, including one currently in phase 3 trials. Licensure of one or more vaccine candidates is feasible within the next five years. Various models of CMV vaccine strategies employing different target populations have shown to provide substantial benefit in reducing cCMV. Although CMV can cause end-organ disease with significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals, the focus of this vaccine value profile (VVP) is on preventing or reducing the cCMV disease burden. This CMV VVP provides a high-level, comprehensive assessment of the currently available data to inform the potential public health, economic, and societal value of CMV vaccines. The CMV VVP was developed by a working group of subject matter experts from academia, public health groups, policy organizations, and non-profit organizations. All contributors have extensive expertise on various elements of the CMV VVP and have described the state of knowledge and identified the current gaps. The VVP was developed using only existing and publicly available information. |
The political economy of financing traditional vaccines and vitamin A supplements in six African countries
Nonvignon J , Aryeetey GC , Adjagba A , Asman J , Sharkey A , Hasman A , Pallas SW , Griffiths UK . Health Policy Plan 2023 38 (10) 1154-1165 Vaccines and vitamin A supplementation are financed by donors in several countries, indicating that challenges remain with achieving sustainable government financing of these critical health commodities. This qualitative study aimed to explore political economy variables of actors' interests, roles, power, and commitment to ensure government financing of vaccines and vitamin A supplementation (VAS). A total of 77 interviews were conducted in Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. Governments and development partners had similar interests. Donor commitment to vaccines and VAS was sometimes dependent on the priorities and political situation of the donor country. Governments' commitment to financing vaccines was demonstrated through policy measures, such as enactment of immunization laws. Explicit government financial commitment to VAS was absent in all six countries. Some development partners were able to influence governments directly via allocation of health funding while others influenced indirectly through coordination, consolidation, and networks. Government power was exercised through multiple systemic and individual processes, including hierarchy, bureaucracy in governance and budgetary process, proactiveness of Ministry of Health officials in engaging with Ministry of Finance, and control over resources. Enablers that were likely to increase government commitment to financing vaccines and VAS included emerging reforms, attention to the voice of citizens, and improvements in the domestic economy that in turn increased government revenues. Barriers identified were political instability, health sector inefficiencies, overly complicated bureaucracy, frequent changes of health sector leadership, and non-health competing needs. Country governments were aware of their role in financing vaccines, but only a few had made tangible efforts to increase government financing. Discussions on government financing of VAS were absent. Development partners continue to influence government health commodity financing decisions. The political economy environment and contextual factors work together to facilitate or impede domestic financing. |
Annual (2023) taxonomic update of RNA-directed RNA polymerase-encoding negative-sense RNA viruses (realm Riboviria: kingdom Orthornavirae: phylum Negarnaviricota)
Kuhn JH , Abe J , Adkins S , Alkhovsky SV , Avšič-Županc T , Ayllón MA , Bahl J , Balkema-Buschmann A , Ballinger MJ , Kumar Baranwal V , Beer M , Bejerman N , Bergeron É , Biedenkopf N , Blair CD , Blasdell KR , Blouin AG , Bradfute SB , Briese T , Brown PA , Buchholz UJ , Buchmeier MJ , Bukreyev A , Burt F , Büttner C , Calisher CH , Cao M , Casas I , Chandran K , Charrel RN , Kumar Chaturvedi K , Chooi KM , Crane A , Dal Bó E , Carlos de la Torre J , de Souza WM , de Swart RL , Debat H , Dheilly NM , Di Paola N , Di Serio F , Dietzgen RG , Digiaro M , Drexler JF , Duprex WP , Dürrwald R , Easton AJ , Elbeaino T , Ergünay K , Feng G , Firth AE , Fooks AR , Formenty PBH , Freitas-Astúa J , Gago-Zachert S , Laura García M , García-Sastre A , Garrison AR , Gaskin TR , Gong W , Gonzalez JJ , de Bellocq J , Griffiths A , Groschup MH , Günther I , Günther S , Hammond J , Hasegawa Y , Hayashi K , Hepojoki J , Higgins CM , Hongō S , Horie M , Hughes HR , Hume AJ , Hyndman TH , Ikeda K , Jiāng D , Jonson GB , Junglen S , Klempa B , Klingström J , Kondō H , Koonin EV , Krupovic M , Kubota K , Kurath G , Laenen L , Lambert AJ , Lǐ J , Li JM , Liu R , Lukashevich IS , MacDiarmid RM , Maes P , Marklewitz M , Marshall SH , Marzano SL , McCauley JW , Mirazimi A , Mühlberger E , Nabeshima T , Naidu R , Natsuaki T , Navarro B , Navarro JA , Neriya Y , Netesov SV , Neumann G , Nowotny N , Nunes MRT , Ochoa-Corona FM , Okada T , Palacios G , Pallás V , Papa A , Paraskevopoulou S , Parrish CR , Pauvolid-Corrêa A , Pawęska JT , Pérez DR , Pfaff F , Plemper RK , Postler TS , Rabbidge LO , Radoshitzky SR , Ramos-González PL , Rehanek M , Resende RO , Reyes CA , Rodrigues TCS , Romanowski V , Rubbenstroth D , Rubino L , Runstadler JA , Sabanadzovic S , Sadiq S , Salvato MS , Sasaya T , Schwemmle M , Sharpe SR , Shi M , Shimomoto Y , Kavi Sidharthan V , Sironi M , Smither S , Song JW , Spann KM , Spengler JR , Stenglein MD , Takada A , Takeyama S , Tatara A , Tesh RB , Thornburg NJ , Tian X , Tischler ND , Tomitaka Y , Tomonaga K , Tordo N , Tu C , Turina M , Tzanetakis IE , Maria Vaira A , van den Hoogen B , Vanmechelen B , Vasilakis N , Verbeek M , von Bargen S , Wada J , Wahl V , Walker PJ , Waltzek TB , Whitfield AE , Wolf YI , Xia H , Xylogianni E , Yanagisawa H , Yano K , Ye G , Yuan Z , Zerbini FM , Zhang G , Zhang S , Zhang YZ , Zhao L , Økland AL . J Gen Virol 2023 104 (8) In April 2023, following the annual International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) ratification vote on newly proposed taxa, the phylum Negarnaviricota was amended and emended. The phylum was expanded by one new family, 14 new genera, and 140 new species. Two genera and 538 species were renamed. One species was moved, and four were abolished. This article presents the updated taxonomy of Negarnaviricota as now accepted by the ICTV. |
Water Pipe (Hookah) Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Bhatnagar A , Maziak W , Eissenberg T , Ward KD , Thurston G , King BA , Sutfin EL , Cobb CO , Griffiths M , Goldstein LB , Rezk-Hanna M . Circulation 2019 139 (19) e917-e936 Tobacco smoking with a water pipe or hookah is increasing globally. There are millions of water pipe tobacco smokers worldwide, and in the United States, water pipe use is more common among youth and young adults than among adults. The spread of water pipe tobacco smoking has been abetted by the marketing of flavored tobacco, a social media environment that promotes water pipe smoking, and misperceptions about the addictive potential and potential adverse health effects of this form of tobacco use. There is growing evidence that water pipe tobacco smoking affects heart rate, blood pressure regulation, baroreflex sensitivity, tissue oxygenation, and vascular function over the short term. Long-term water pipe use is associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease. Several harmful or potentially harmful substances present in cigarette smoke are also present in water pipe smoke, often at levels exceeding those found in cigarette smoke. Water pipe tobacco smokers have a higher risk of initiation of cigarette smoking than never smokers. Future studies that focus on the long-term adverse health effects of intermittent water pipe tobacco use are critical to strengthen the evidence base and to inform the regulation of water pipe products and use. The objectives of this statement are to describe the design and operation of water pipes and their use patterns, to identify harmful and potentially harmful constituents in water pipe smoke, to document the cardiovascular risks of water pipe use, to review current approaches to water pipe smoking cessation, and to offer guidance to healthcare providers for the identification and treatment of individuals who smoke tobacco using water pipes. |
2022 taxonomic update of phylum Negarnaviricota (Riboviria: Orthornavirae), including the large orders Bunyavirales and Mononegavirales.
Kuhn JH , Adkins S , Alkhovsky SV , Avi-upanc T , Aylln MA , Bahl J , Balkema-Buschmann A , Ballinger MJ , Bandte M , Beer M , Bejerman N , Bergeron , Biedenkopf N , Bigarr L , Blair CD , Blasdell KR , Bradfute SB , Briese T , Brown PA , Bruggmann R , Buchholz UJ , Buchmeier MJ , Bukreyev A , Burt F , Bttner C , Calisher CH , Candresse T , Carson J , Casas I , Chandran K , Charrel RN , Chiaki Y , Crane A , Crane M , Dacheux L , B ED , delaTorre JC , deLamballerie X , deSouza WM , deSwart RL , Dheilly NM , DiPaola N , DiSerio F , Dietzgen RG , Digiaro M , Drexler JF , Duprex WP , Drrwald R , Easton AJ , Elbeaino T , Ergnay K , Feng G , Feuvrier C , Firth AE , Fooks AR , Formenty PBH , Freitas-Asta J , Gago-Zachert S , Garca ML , Garca-Sastre A , Garrison AR , Godwin SE , Gonzalez JJ , deBellocq JG , Griffiths A , Groschup MH , Gnther S , Hammond J , Hepojoki J , Hierweger MM , Hong S , Horie M , Horikawa H , Hughes HR , Hume AJ , Hyndman TH , Jing D , Jonson GB , Junglen S , Kadono F , Karlin DG , Klempa B , Klingstrm J , Koch MC , Kond H , Koonin EV , Krsov J , Krupovic M , Kubota K , Kuzmin IV , Laenen L , Lambert AJ , L J , Li JM , Lieffrig F , Lukashevich IS , Luo D , Maes P , Marklewitz M , Marshall SH , Marzano SL , McCauley JW , Mirazimi A , Mohr PG , Moody NJG , Morita Y , Morrison RN , Mhlberger E , Naidu R , Natsuaki T , Navarro JA , Neriya Y , Netesov SV , Neumann G , Nowotny N , Ochoa-Corona FM , Palacios G , Pallandre L , Palls V , Papa A , Paraskevopoulou S , Parrish CR , Pauvolid-Corra A , Pawska JT , Prez DR , Pfaff F , Plemper RK , Postler TS , Pozet F , Radoshitzky SR , Ramos-Gonzlez PL , Rehanek M , Resende RO , Reyes CA , Romanowski V , Rubbenstroth D , Rubino L , Rumbou A , Runstadler JA , Rupp M , Sabanadzovic S , Sasaya T , Schmidt-Posthaus H , Schwemmle M , Seuberlich T , Sharpe SR , Shi M , Sironi M , Smither S , Song JW , Spann KM , Spengler JR , Stenglein MD , Takada A , Tesh RB , Tkov J , Thornburg NJ , Tischler ND , Tomitaka Y , Tomonaga K , Tordo N , Tsunekawa K , Turina M , Tzanetakis IE , Vaira AM , vandenHoogen B , Vanmechelen B , Vasilakis N , Verbeek M , vonBargen S , Wada J , Wahl V , Walker PJ , Whitfield AE , Williams JV , Wolf YI , Yamasaki J , Yanagisawa H , Ye G , Zhang YZ , kland AL . Arch Virol 2022 167 (12) 2857-2906 In March 2022, following the annual International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) ratification vote on newly proposed taxa, the phylum Negarnaviricota was amended and emended. The phylum was expanded by two new families (bunyaviral Discoviridae and Tulasviridae), 41 new genera, and 98 new species. Three hundred forty-nine species were renamed and/or moved. The accidentally misspelled names of seven species were corrected. This article presents the updated taxonomy of Negarnaviricota as now accepted by the ICTV. |
An introduction to the Marburg virus vaccine consortium, MARVAC
Cross RW , Longini IM , Becker S , Bok K , Boucher D , Carroll MW , Díaz JV , Dowling WE , Draghia-Akli R , Duworko JT , Dye JM , Egan MA , Fast P , Finan A , Finch C , Fleming TR , Fusco J , Geisbert TW , Griffiths A , Günther S , Hensley LE , Honko A , Hunegnaw R , Jakubik J , Ledgerwood J , Luhn K , Matassov D , Meshulam J , Nelson EV , Parks CL , Rustomjee R , Safronetz D , Schwartz LM , Smith D , Smock P , Sow Y , Spiropoulou CF , Sullivan NJ , Warfield KL , Wolfe D , Woolsey C , Zahn R , Henao-Restrepo AM , Muñoz-Fontela C , Marzi A . PLoS Pathog 2022 18 (10) e1010805 The emergence of Marburg virus (MARV) in Guinea and Ghana triggered the assembly of the MARV vaccine "MARVAC" consortium representing leaders in the field of vaccine research and development aiming to facilitate a rapid response to this infectious disease threat. Here, we discuss current progress, challenges, and future directions for MARV vaccines. |
WHO-led consensus statement on vaccine delivery costing: process, methods, and findings
Levin A , Boonstoppel L , Brenzel L , Griffiths U , Hutubessy R , Jit M , Mogasale V , Pallas S , Resch S , Suharlim C , Yeung KHT . BMC Med 2022 20 (1) 88 BACKGROUND: Differences in definitions and methodological approaches have hindered comparison and synthesis of economic evaluation results across multiple health domains, including immunization. At the request of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Immunization and Vaccines-related Implementation Research Advisory Committee (IVIR-AC), WHO convened an ad hoc Vaccine Delivery Costing Working Group, comprising experts from eight organizations working in immunization costing, to address a lack of standardization and gaps in definitions and methodological guidance. The aim of the Working Group was to develop a consensus statement harmonizing terminology and principles and to formulate recommendations for vaccine delivery costing for decision making. This paper discusses the process, findings of the review, and recommendations in the Consensus Statement. METHODS: The Working Group conducted several interviews, teleconferences, and one in-person meeting to identify groups working in vaccine delivery costing as well as existing guidance documents and costing tools, focusing on those for low- and middle-income country settings. They then reviewed the costing aims, perspectives, terms, methods, and principles in these documents. Consensus statement principles were drafted to align with the Global Health Cost Consortium costing guide as an agreed normative reference, and consensus definitions were drafted to reflect the predominant view across the documents reviewed. RESULTS: The Working Group identified four major workstreams on vaccine delivery costing as well as nine guidance documents and eleven costing tools for immunization costing. They found that some terms and principles were commonly defined while others were specific to individual workstreams. Based on these findings and extensive consultation, recommendations to harmonize differences in terminology and principles were made. CONCLUSIONS: Use of standardized principles and definitions outlined in the Consensus Statement within the immunization delivery costing community of practice can facilitate interpretation of economic evidence by global, regional, and national decision makers. Improving methodological alignment and clarity in program costing of health services such as immunization is important to support evidence-based policies and optimal resource allocation. On the other hand, this review and Consensus Statement development process revealed the limitations of our ability to harmonize given that study designs will vary depending upon the policy question that is being addressed and the country context. |
Future-proofing and maximizing the utility of metadata: The PHA4GE SARS-CoV-2 contextual data specification package.
Griffiths EJ , Timme RE , Mendes CI , Page AJ , Alikhan NF , Fornika D , Maguire F , Campos J , Park D , Olawoye IB , Oluniyi PE , Anderson D , Christoffels A , da Silva AG , Cameron R , Dooley D , Katz LS , Black A , Karsch-Mizrachi I , Barrett T , Johnston A , Connor TR , Nicholls SM , Witney AA , Tyson GH , Tausch SH , Raphenya AR , Alcock B , Aanensen DM , Hodcroft E , Hsiao WWL , Vasconcelos ATR , MacCannell DR . Gigascience 2022 11 BACKGROUND: The Public Health Alliance for Genomic Epidemiology (PHA4GE) (https://pha4ge.org) is a global coalition that is actively working to establish consensus standards, document and share best practices, improve the availability of critical bioinformatics tools and resources, and advocate for greater openness, interoperability, accessibility, and reproducibility in public health microbial bioinformatics. In the face of the current pandemic, PHA4GE has identified a need for a fit-for-purpose, open-source SARS-CoV-2 contextual data standard. RESULTS: As such, we have developed a SARS-CoV-2 contextual data specification package based on harmonizable, publicly available community standards. The specification can be implemented via a collection template, as well as an array of protocols and tools to support both the harmonization and submission of sequence data and contextual information to public biorepositories. CONCLUSIONS: Well-structured, rich contextual data add value, promote reuse, and enable aggregation and integration of disparate datasets. Adoption of the proposed standard and practices will better enable interoperability between datasets and systems, improve the consistency and utility of generated data, and ultimately facilitate novel insights and discoveries in SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. The package is now supported by the NCBI's BioSample database. |
2021 Taxonomic update of phylum Negarnaviricota (Riboviria: Orthornavirae), including the large orders Bunyavirales and Mononegavirales.
Kuhn JH , Adkins S , Agwanda BR , Al Kubrusli R , Alkhovsky Aльxoвcкий Cepгeй Bлaдимиpoвич SV , Amarasinghe GK , Avšič-Županc T , Ayllón MA , Bahl J , Balkema-Buschmann A , Ballinger MJ , Basler CF , Bavari S , Beer M , Bejerman N , Bennett AJ , Bente DA , Bergeron É , Bird BH , Blair CD , Blasdell KR , Blystad DR , Bojko J , Borth WB , Bradfute S , Breyta R , Briese T , Brown PA , Brown JK , Buchholz UJ , Buchmeier MJ , Bukreyev A , Burt F , Büttner C , Calisher CH , Cao 曹孟籍 M , Casas I , Chandran K , Charrel RN , Cheng Q , Chiaki 千秋祐也 Y , Chiapello M , Choi IR , Ciuffo M , Clegg JCS , Crozier I , Dal Bó E , de la Torre JC , de Lamballerie X , de Swart RL , Debat H , Dheilly NM , Di Cicco E , Di Paola N , Di Serio F , Dietzgen RG , Digiaro M , Dolnik O , Drebot MA , Drexler JF , Dundon WG , Duprex WP , Dürrwald R , Dye JM , Easton AJ , Ebihara 海老原秀喜 H , Elbeaino T , Ergünay K , Ferguson HW , Fooks AR , Forgia M , Formenty PBH , Fránová J , Freitas-Astúa J , Fu 付晶晶 J , Fürl S , Gago-Zachert S , Gāo 高福 GF , García ML , García-Sastre A , Garrison AR , Gaskin T , Gonzalez JJ , Griffiths A , Goldberg TL , Groschup MH , Günther S , Hall RA , Hammond J , Han 韩彤 T , Hepojoki J , Hewson R , Hong 洪健 J , Hong 洪霓 N , Hongo 本郷誠治 S , Horie 堀江真行 M , Hu JS , Hu T , Hughes HR , Hüttner F , Hyndman TH , Ilyas M , Jalkanen R , Jiāng 姜道宏 D , Jonson GB , Junglen S , Kadono 上遠野冨士夫 F , Kaukinen KH , Kawate M , Klempa B , Klingström J , Kobinger G , Koloniuk I , Kondō 近藤秀樹 H , Koonin EV , Krupovic M , Kubota 久保田健嗣 K , Kurath G , Laenen L , Lambert AJ , Langevin SL , Lee B , Lefkowitz EJ , Leroy EM , Li 李邵蓉 S , Li 李龙辉 L , Lǐ 李建荣 J , Liu 刘华珍 H , Lukashevich IS , Maes P , de Souza WM , Marklewitz M , Marshall SH , Marzano SL , Massart S , McCauley JW , Melzer M , Mielke-Ehret N , Miller KM , Ming TJ , Mirazimi A , Mordecai GJ , Mühlbach HP , Mühlberger E , Naidu R , Natsuaki 夏秋知英 T , Navarro JA , Netesov Heтёcoв Cepгeй Bиктopoвич SV , Neumann G , Nowotny N , Nunes MRT , Olmedo-Velarde A , Palacios G , Pallás V , Pályi B , Papa Άννα Παπά A , Paraskevopoulou Σοφία Παρασκευοπούλου S , Park AC , Parrish CR , Patterson DA , Pauvolid-Corrêa A , Pawęska JT , Payne S , Peracchio C , Pérez DR , Postler TS , Qi 亓立莹 L , Radoshitzky SR , Resende RO , Reyes CA , Rima BK , Luna GR , Romanowski V , Rota P , Rubbenstroth D , Rubino L , Runstadler JA , Sabanadzovic S , Sall AA , Salvato MS , Sang R , Sasaya 笹谷孝英 T , Schulze AD , Schwemmle M , Shi 施莽 M , Shí 石晓宏 X , Shí 石正丽 Z , Shimomoto 下元祥史 Y , Shirako Y , Siddell SG , Simmonds P , Sironi M , Smagghe G , Smither S , Song 송진원 JW , Spann K , Spengler JR , Stenglein MD , Stone DM , Sugano J , Suttle CA , Tabata A , Takada 高田礼人 A , Takeuchi 竹内繁治 S , Tchouassi DP , Teffer A , Tesh RB , Thornburg NJ , Tomitaka 冨高保弘 Y , Tomonaga 朝長啓造 K , Tordo N , Torto B , Towner JS , Tsuda 津田新哉 S , Tu 涂长春 C , Turina M , Tzanetakis IE , Uchida J , Usugi 宇杉富雄 T , Vaira AM , Vallino M , van den Hoogen B , Varsani A , Vasilakis Νίκος Βασιλάκης N , Verbeek M , von Bargen S , Wada 和田治郎 J , Wahl V , Walker PJ , Wang 王林发 LF , Wang 王国平 G , Wang 王雁翔 Y , Wang 王亚琴 Y , Waqas M , Wèi 魏太云 T , Wen 温少华 S , Whitfield AE , Williams JV , Wolf YI , Wu 吴建祥 J , Xu 徐雷 L , Yanagisawa 栁澤広宣 H , Yang 杨彩霞 C , Yang 杨作坤 Z , Zerbini FM , Zhai 翟立峰 L , Zhang 张永振 YZ , Zhang 张松 S , Zhang 张靖国 J , Zhang 张哲 Z , Zhou 周雪平 X . Arch Virol 2021 166 (12) 3513-3566 In March 2021, following the annual International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) ratification vote on newly proposed taxa, the phylum Negarnaviricota was amended and emended. The phylum was expanded by four families (Aliusviridae, Crepuscuviridae, Myriaviridae, and Natareviridae), three subfamilies (Alpharhabdovirinae, Betarhabdovirinae, and Gammarhabdovirinae), 42 genera, and 200 species. Thirty-nine species were renamed and/or moved and seven species were abolished. This article presents the updated taxonomy of Negarnaviricota as now accepted by the ICTV. |
Quantifying elemental and organic carbon in diesel particulate matter by mid-infrared spectrometry
Parks DA , Griffiths PR , Weakley AT , Miller AL . Aerosol Sci Technol 2021 55 (9) [Epub ahead of print] A method for the quantification of airborne organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) within aerosolized diesel particulate matter (DPM) is described in this article. DPM is a known carcinogen encountered in many industrial workplaces (notably mining) and in the ambient atmosphere. The method described here collects DPM particles onto a quartz fiber filter, after which reflection-mode infrared spectra are measured on a mid-infrared Fourier transform (FT-IR) spectrometer. Several infrared absorption bands are investigated for their efficacy in quantifying OC and EC. The thermo-optical (T-O) method is used to calibrate a linear regression model to predict OC and EC from the infrared spectra. The calibrated model, generated from laboratory DPM samples, is then utilized to quantify OC and EC in mine samples obtained from two metal mine locations under a variety of operating conditions. The feasibility of further improving these results by partial least squares (PLS) regression was investigated. A single calibration that is broadly applicable would be considered an improvement over currently available portable instruments, which require aerosol-specific calibration. |
2020 taxonomic update for phylum Negarnaviricota (Riboviria: Orthornavirae), including the large orders Bunyavirales and Mononegavirales.
Kuhn JH , Adkins S , Alioto D , Alkhovsky SV , Amarasinghe GK , Anthony SJ , Avšič-Županc T , Ayllón MA , Bahl J , Balkema-Buschmann A , Ballinger MJ , Bartonička T , Basler C , Bavari S , Beer M , Bente DA , Bergeron É , Bird BH , Blair C , Blasdell KR , Bradfute SB , Breyta R , Briese T , Brown PA , Buchholz UJ , Buchmeier MJ , Bukreyev A , Burt F , Buzkan N , Calisher CH , Cao M , Casas I , Chamberlain J , Chandran K , Charrel RN , Chen B , Chiumenti M , Choi IR , Clegg JCS , Crozier I , da Graça JV , Dal Bó E , Dávila AMR , de la Torre JC , de Lamballerie X , de Swart RL , Di Bello PL , Di Paola N , Di Serio F , Dietzgen RG , Digiaro M , Dolja VV , Dolnik O , Drebot MA , Drexler JF , Dürrwald R , Dufkova L , Dundon WG , Duprex WP , Dye JM , Easton AJ , Ebihara H , Elbeaino T , Ergünay K , Fernandes J , Fooks AR , Formenty PBH , Forth LF , Fouchier RAM , Freitas-Astúa J , Gago-Zachert S , Gāo GF , García ML , García-Sastre A , Garrison AR , Gbakima A , Goldstein T , Gonzalez JJ , Griffiths A , Groschup MH , Günther S , Guterres A , Hall RA , Hammond J , Hassan M , Hepojoki J , Hepojoki S , Hetzel U , Hewson R , Hoffmann B , Hongo S , Höper D , Horie M , Hughes HR , Hyndman TH , Jambai A , Jardim R , Jiāng D , Jin Q , Jonson GB , Junglen S , Karadağ S , Keller KE , Klempa B , Klingström J , Kobinger G , Kondō H , Koonin EV , Krupovic M , Kurath G , Kuzmin IV , Laenen L , Lamb RA , Lambert AJ , Langevin SL , Lee B , Lemos ERS , Leroy EM , Li D , Lǐ J , Liang M , Liú W , Liú Y , Lukashevich IS , Maes P , Marciel de Souza W , Marklewitz M , Marshall SH , Martelli GP , Martin RR , Marzano SL , Massart S , McCauley JW , Mielke-Ehret N , Minafra A , Minutolo M , Mirazimi A , Mühlbach HP , Mühlberger E , Naidu R , Natsuaki T , Navarro B , Navarro JA , Netesov SV , Neumann G , Nowotny N , Nunes MRT , Nylund A , Økland AL , Oliveira RC , Palacios G , Pallas V , Pályi B , Papa A , Parrish CR , Pauvolid-Corrêa A , Pawęska JT , Payne S , Pérez DR , Pfaff F , Radoshitzky SR , Rahman AU , Ramos-González PL , Resende RO , Reyes CA , Rima BK , Romanowski V , Robles Luna G , Rota P , Rubbenstroth D , Runstadler JA , Ruzek D , Sabanadzovic S , Salát J , Sall AA , Salvato MS , Sarpkaya K , Sasaya T , Schwemmle M , Shabbir MZ , Shí X , Shí Z , Shirako Y , Simmonds P , Širmarová J , Sironi M , Smither S , Smura T , Song JW , Spann KM , Spengler JR , Stenglein MD , Stone DM , Straková P , Takada A , Tesh RB , Thornburg NJ , Tomonaga K , Tordo N , Towner JS , Turina M , Tzanetakis I , Ulrich RG , Vaira AM , van den Hoogen B , Varsani A , Vasilakis N , Verbeek M , Wahl V , Walker PJ , Wang H , Wang J , Wang X , Wang LF , Wèi T , Wells H , Whitfield AE , Williams JV , Wolf YI , Wú Z , Yang X , Yáng X , Yu X , Yutin N , Zerbini FM , Zhang T , Zhang YZ , Zhou G , Zhou X . Arch Virol 2020 165 (12) 3023-3072 In March 2020, following the annual International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) ratification vote on newly proposed taxa, the phylum Negarnaviricota was amended and emended. At the genus rank, 20 new genera were added, two were deleted, one was moved, and three were renamed. At the species rank, 160 species were added, four were deleted, ten were moved and renamed, and 30 species were renamed. This article presents the updated taxonomy of Negarnaviricota as now accepted by the ICTV. |
The US Public Health Service and the American Medical Association House of Delegates: Informing policy at the intersection of public health and medical care
Iskander J , Thomas D , Vora NM , Davlantes E , Lewis B , Griffiths S , Toye S , Puddy RW . Public Health Rep 2020 135 (3) 33354920915438 The Commissioned Corps of the US Public Health Service (USPHS) is 1 of the 7 US uniformed services. Under the leadership of the US Surgeon General, USPHS has approximately 6800 commissioned officers, who span multiple categories of health service professionals and work for various agencies within the US Department of Health and Human Services. In addition to the US Air Force, US Army, US Navy, and US Department of Veterans Affairs, USPHS is recognized as an American Medical Association (AMA) Federal Services Member Organization and, therefore, holds a seat in the AMA House of Delegates (HOD). |
Towards a field-portable real-time organic and elemental carbon monitor
Parks DA , Raj KV , Berry CA , Weakley AT , Griffiths PR , Miller AL . Min Metall Explor 2019 36 (4) 765-772 Diesel particulate matter (DPM) has been classified as a carcinogen to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. As a result of its potential carcinogenic nature, DPM exposure is regulated by the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Currently, diesel emissions in the workplace are monitored by collecting the aerosol onto filters, which are then sent to a laboratory for thermal-optical analysis using the NIOSH method 5040. This process can take days or even weeks, and workers can potentially be exposed to excessive levels of DPM before the problem is identified. Moreover, the delay involved in getting the loaded filter to the lab inevitably means the loss of some of the more volatile organic carbon. To remedy this delay, researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health are seeking to develop a field-portable, real-time method for measuring elemental and organic carbons in DPM aerosols. In the current study, the use of mid-infrared spectrometry was investigated. It is believed that mid-infrared spectroscopy is more suitable for use in a real-time field-portable device than thermo-optical analysis methods. This article presents a method for measuring organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in DPM for a broad range of OC/EC ratios. The method has been successfully applied to laboratory-generated and mine samples. |
Taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales: update 2019.
Amarasinghe GK , Ayllon MA , Bao Y , Basler CF , Bavari S , Blasdell KR , Briese T , Brown PA , Bukreyev A , Balkema-Buschmann A , Buchholz UJ , Chabi-Jesus C , Chandran K , Chiapponi C , Crozier I , de Swart RL , Dietzgen RG , Dolnik O , Drexler JF , Durrwald R , Dundon WG , Duprex WP , Dye JM , Easton AJ , Fooks AR , Formenty PBH , Fouchier RAM , Freitas-Astua J , Griffiths A , Hewson R , Horie M , Hyndman TH , Jiang D , Kitajima EW , Kobinger GP , Kondo H , Kurath G , Kuzmin IV , Lamb RA , Lavazza A , Lee B , Lelli D , Leroy EM , Li J , Maes P , Marzano SL , Moreno A , Muhlberger E , Netesov SV , Nowotny N , Nylund A , Okland AL , Palacios G , Palyi B , Paweska JT , Payne SL , Prosperi A , Ramos-Gonzalez PL , Rima BK , Rota P , Rubbenstroth D , Shi M , Simmonds P , Smither SJ , Sozzi E , Spann K , Stenglein MD , Stone DM , Takada A , Tesh RB , Tomonaga K , Tordo N , Towner JS , van den Hoogen B , Vasilakis N , Wahl V , Walker PJ , Wang LF , Whitfield AE , Williams JV , Zerbini FM , Zhang T , Zhang YZ , Kuhn JH . Arch Virol 2019 164 (7) 1967-1980 In February 2019, following the annual taxon ratification vote, the order Mononegavirales was amended by the addition of four new subfamilies and 12 new genera and the creation of 28 novel species. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). |
ICTV virus taxonomy profile: Filoviridae
Kuhn JH , Amarasinghe GK , Basler CF , Bavari S , Bukreyev A , Chandran K , Crozier I , Dolnik O , Dye JM , Formenty PBH , Griffiths A , Hewson R , Kobinger GP , Leroy EM , Muhlberger E , Netesov SV , Palacios G , Palyi B , Paweska JT , Smither SJ , Takada A , Towner JS , Wahl V . J Gen Virol 2019 100 (6) 911-912 Members of the family Filoviridae produce variously shaped, often filamentous, enveloped virions containing linear non-segmented, negative-sense RNA genomes of 15-19 kb. Several filoviruses (e.g., Ebola virus) are pathogenic for humans and are highly virulent. Several filoviruses infect bats (e.g., Marburg virus), whereas the hosts of most other filoviruses are unknown. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on Filoviridae, which is available at www.ictv.global/report/filoviridae. |
Taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales: second update 2018
Maes P , Amarasinghe GK , Ayllon MA , Basler CF , Bavari S , Blasdell KR , Briese T , Brown PA , Bukreyev A , Balkema-Buschmann A , Buchholz UJ , Chandran K , Crozier I , de Swart RL , Dietzgen RG , Dolnik O , Domier LL , Drexler JF , Durrwald R , Dundon WG , Duprex WP , Dye JM , Easton AJ , Fooks AR , Formenty PBH , Fouchier RAM , Freitas-Astua J , Ghedin E , Griffiths A , Hewson R , Horie M , Hurwitz JL , Hyndman TH , Jiang D , Kobinger GP , Kondo H , Kurath G , Kuzmin IV , Lamb RA , Lee B , Leroy EM , Li J , Marzano SL , Muhlberger E , Netesov SV , Nowotny N , Palacios G , Palyi B , Paweska JT , Payne SL , Rima BK , Rota P , Rubbenstroth D , Simmonds P , Smither SJ , Song Q , Song T , Spann K , Stenglein MD , Stone DM , Takada A , Tesh RB , Tomonaga K , Tordo N , Towner JS , van den Hoogen B , Vasilakis N , Wahl V , Walker PJ , Wang D , Wang LF , Whitfield AE , Williams JV , Ye G , Zerbini FM , Zhang YZ , Kuhn JH . Arch Virol 2019 164 (4) 1233-1244 In October 2018, the order Mononegavirales was amended by the establishment of three new families and three new genera, abolishment of two genera, and creation of 28 novel species. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). |
Experiences and lessons learned for delivery of micronutrient powders interventions
Reerink I , Namaste SM , Poonawala A , Nyhus Dhillon C , Aburto N , Chaudhery D , Kroeun H , Griffiths M , Haque MR , Bonvecchio A , Jefferds ME , Rawat R . Matern Child Nutr 2017 13 Suppl 1 An effective delivery strategy coupled with relevant social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) have been identified as central to the implementation of micronutrient powders (MNP) interventions, but there has been limited documentation of what works. Under the auspices of "The Micronutrient Powders Consultation: Lessons Learned for Operational Guidance," three working groups were formed to summarize experiences and lessons across countries regarding MNP interventions for young children. This paper focuses on programmatic experiences related to MNP delivery (models, platforms, and channels), SBCC, and training. Methods included a review of published and grey literature, interviews with key informants, and deliberations throughout the consultation process. We found that most countries distributed MNP free of charge via the health sector, although distribution through other platforms and using subsidized fee for product or mixed payment models have also been used. Community-based distribution channels have generally shown higher coverage and when part of an infant and young child feeding approach, may provide additional benefit given their complementarity. SBCC for MNP has worked best when focused on meeting the MNP behavioural objectives (appropriate use, intake adherence, and related infant and young child feeding behaviours). Programmers have learned that reincorporating SBCC and training throughout the intervention life cycle has allowed for much needed adaptations. Diverse experiences delivering MNP exist, and although no one-size-fits-all approach emerged, well-established delivery platforms, community involvement, and SBCC-centred designs tended to have more success. Much still needs to be learned on MNP delivery, and we propose a set of implementation research questions that require further investigation. |
An online program for caregivers of persons living with dementia: Lessons learned
Kovaleva M , Blevins L , Griffiths PC , Hepburn K . J Appl Gerontol 2017 38 (2) 733464817705958 The population of individuals living with dementia and their caregivers and the need to provide caregiver training will increase in the next several decades. In-person caregiver educational programs are delimited by logistical and resource boundaries that could be overcome with online programs. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the acceptability and ways to improve the content and delivery of an online 7-week psychoeducational pilot program-Tele-Savvy. Thirty-six caregivers who completed the pilot were interviewed about their experience with Tele-Savvy and their suggestions for its improvement. Conventional content analysis allowed for the identification of three themes: barriers and facilitators to establishing rapport with participants and instructors, content enrichment and diversification, and structural refinement. These lessons learned directly from the caregivers provide evidence to guide the refinement of analogous online interventions and highlight the need for their wider availability. |
Direct-on-filter alpha-quartz estimation in respirable coal mine dust using transmission fourier transform infrared spectrometry and partial least squares regression
Miller AL , Weakley AT , Griffiths PR , Cauda EG , Bayman S . Appl Spectrosc 2016 71 (5) 1014-1024 In order to help reduce silicosis in miners, the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) is developing field-portable methods for measuring airborne respirable crystalline silica (RCS), specifically the polymorph alpha-quartz, in mine dusts. In this study we demonstrate the feasibility of end-of-shift measurement of alpha-quartz using a direct-on-filter (DoF) method to analyze coal mine dust samples deposited onto polyvinyl chloride filters. The DoF method is potentially amenable for on-site analyses, but deviates from the current regulatory determination of RCS for coal mines by eliminating two sample preparation steps: ashing the sampling filter and redepositing the ash prior to quantification by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry. In this study, the FT-IR spectra of 66 coal dust samples from active mines were used, and the RCS was quantified by using: (1) an ordinary least squares (OLS) calibration approach that utilizes standard silica material as done in the Mine Safety and Health Administration's P7 method; and (2) a partial least squares (PLS) regression approach. Both were capable of accounting for kaolinite, which can confound the IR analysis of silica. The OLS method utilized analytical standards for silica calibration and kaolin correction, resulting in a good linear correlation with P7 results and minimal bias but with the accuracy limited by the presence of kaolinite. The PLS approach also produced predictions well-correlated to the P7 method, as well as better accuracy in RCS prediction, and no bias due to variable kaolinite mass. Besides decreased sensitivity to mineral or substrate confounders, PLS has the advantage that the analyst is not required to correct for the presence of kaolinite or background interferences related to the substrate, making the method potentially viable for automated RCS prediction in the field. This study demonstrated the efficacy of FT-IR transmission spectrometry for silica determination in coal mine dusts, using both OLS and PLS analyses, when kaolinite was present. |
A preliminary randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial of intravenous immunoglobulin for Japanese encephalitis in Nepal
Rayamajhi A , Nightingale S , Bhatta NK , Singh R , Ledger E , Bista KP , Lewthwaite P , Mahaseth C , Turtle L , Robinson JS , Galbraith SE , Wnek M , Johnson BW , Faragher B , Griffiths MJ , Solomon T . PLoS One 2015 10 (4) e0122608 BACKGROUND: Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus found across Asia that is closely related to West Nile virus. There is no known antiviral treatment for any flavivirus. Results from in vitro studies and animal models suggest intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) containing virus-specific neutralizing antibody may be effective in improving outcome in viral encephalitis. IVIG's anti-inflammatory properties may also be beneficial. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We performed a pilot feasibility randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of IVIG containing anti-JEV neutralizing antibody (ImmunoRel, 400mg/kg/day for 5 days) in children with suspected JE at two sites in Nepal; we also examined the effect on serum neutralizing antibody titre and cytokine profiles. 22 children were recruited, 13 of whom had confirmed JE; 11 received IVIG and 11 placebo, with no protocol violations. One child (IVIG group) died during treatment and two (placebo) subsequently following hospital discharge. Overall, there was no difference in outcome between treatment groups at discharge or follow up. Passive transfer of anti-JEV antibody was seen in JEV negative children. JEV positive children treated with IVIG had JEV-specific neutralizing antibody titres approximately 16 times higher than those treated with placebo (p=0.2), which was more than could be explained by passive transfer alone. IL-4 and IL-6 were higher in the IVIG group. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: A trial of IVIG for JE in Nepal is feasible. IVIG may augment the development of neutralizing antibodies in JEV positive patients. IVIG appears an appealing option for JE treatment that warrants further study. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01856205. |
Evaluation of diffuse reflection infrared sectrometry for end-of-shift measurement of alpha-quartz in coal dust samples
Miller AL , Murphy NC , Bayman SJ , Briggs ZP , Kilpatrick AD , Quinn CA , Wadas MR , Cauda EG , Griffiths PR . J Occup Environ Hyg 2015 12 (7) 421-30 The inhalation of toxic substances is a major threat to the health of miners, and dust containing respirable crystalline silica (alpha-quartz) is of particular concern, due to the recent rise in cases of coal workers' pneumoconiosis and silicosis in some U.S. mining regions. Currently, there is no field-portable instrument that can measure airborne alpha-quartz and give miners timely feedback on their exposure. The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is therefore conducting studies to investigate technologies capable of end-of-shift or real-time measurement of airborne quartz. The present study focuses on the potential application of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry conducted in the diffuse reflection (DR) mode as a technique for measuring alpha-quartz in respirable mine dust. A DR accessory was used to analyze lab-generated respirable samples of Min-U-Sil 5 (which contains more than 90% alpha-quartz) and coal dust, at mass loadings in the ranges of 100-600 microg and 600-5300 microg respectively. The dust samples were deposited onto three different types of filters, borosilicate fiberglass, nylon and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The reflectance, R, was calculated by the ratio of a blank filter and a filter with deposited mine dust. Results suggest that for coal and pure quartz dusts deposited on 37-mm PVC filters, measurements of log R correlate linearly with known amounts of quartz on filters, with R2 values of approximately 0.99 and 0.94, respectively, for samples loaded up to ~4000 microg. Additional tests were conducted to measure quartz in coal dusts deposited onto the borosilicate fiberglass and nylon filter media used in the NIOSH-developed Personal Dust Monitor (PDM). The nylon filter was shown to be amenable to DR analysis, but quantification of quartz is more accurate when the filter is "free", as opposed to being mounted in the PDM filter holder. The borosilicate fiberglass filters were shown to produce excessive interference, making quartz quantification impossible. It was concluded that, while the DR/FT-IR method is potentially useful for on-filter measurement of quartz in dust samples, the use of PVC filters produced the most accurate results. |
A review of the global burden, novel diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccine targets for cryptosporidium
Checkley W , White AC Jr , Jaganath D , Arrowood MJ , Chalmers RM , Chen XM , Fayer R , Griffiths JK , Guerrant RL , Hedstrom L , Huston CD , Kotloff KL , Kang G , Mead JR , Miller M , Petri WA Jr , Priest JW , Roos DS , Striepen B , Thompson RC , Ward HD , Van Voorhis WA , Xiao L , Zhu G , Houpt ER . Lancet Infect Dis 2014 15 (1) 85-94 Cryptosporidium spp are well recognised as causes of diarrhoeal disease during waterborne epidemics and in immunocompromised hosts. Studies have also drawn attention to an underestimated global burden and suggest major gaps in optimum diagnosis, treatment, and immunisation. Cryptosporidiosis is increasingly identified as an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Studies in low-resource settings and high-income countries have confirmed the importance of cryptosporidium as a cause of diarrhoea and childhood malnutrition. Diagnostic tests for cryptosporidium infection are suboptimum, necessitating specialised tests that are often insensitive. Antigen-detection and PCR improve sensitivity, and multiplexed antigen detection and molecular assays are underused. Therapy has some effect in healthy hosts and no proven efficacy in patients with AIDS. Use of cryptosporidium genomes has helped to identify promising therapeutic targets, and drugs are in development, but methods to assess the efficacy in vitro and in animals are not well standardised. Partial immunity after exposure suggests the potential for successful vaccines, and several are in development; however, surrogates of protection are not well defined. Improved methods for propagation and genetic manipulation of the organism would be significant advances. |
Filovirus RefSeq entries: evaluation and selection of filovirus type variants, type sequences, and names.
Kuhn JH , Andersen KG , Bao Y , Bavari S , Becker S , Bennett RS , Bergman NH , Blinkova O , Bradfute S , Brister JR , Bukreyev A , Chandran K , Chepurnov AA , Davey RA , Dietzgen RG , Doggett NA , Dolnik O , Dye JM , Enterlein S , Fenimore PW , Formenty P , Freiberg AN , Garry RF , Garza NL , Gire SK , Gonzalez JP , Griffiths A , Happi CT , Hensley LE , Herbert AS , Hevey MC , Hoenen T , Honko AN , Ignatyev GM , Jahrling PB , Johnson JC , Johnson KM , Kindrachuk J , Klenk HD , Kobinger G , Kochel TJ , Lackemeyer MG , Leroy EM , Lever MS , Muhlberger E , Netesov SV , Olinger GG , Omilabu SA , Palacios G , Panchal RG , Park DJ , Patterson JL , Paweska JT , Peters CJ , Pettitt J , Pitt L , Radoshitzky SR , Ryabchikova EI , Saphire EO , Sabeti PC , Sealfon R , Smither SJ , Sullivan NJ , Swanepoel R , Takada A , Towner JS , van der Groen G , Volchkov VE , Volchkova VA , Wahl-Jensen V , Warren TK , Warfield KL , Weidmann M , Nichol ST . Viruses 2014 6 (9) 3663-82 Sequence determination of complete or coding-complete genomes of viruses is becoming common practice for supporting the work of epidemiologists, ecologists, virologists, and taxonomists. Sequencing duration and costs are rapidly decreasing, sequencing hardware is under modification for use by non-experts, and software is constantly being improved to simplify sequence data management and analysis. Thus, analysis of virus disease outbreaks on the molecular level is now feasible, including characterization of the evolution of individual virus populations in single patients over time. The increasing accumulation of sequencing data creates a management problem for the curators of commonly used sequence databases and an entry retrieval problem for end users. Therefore, utilizing the data to their fullest potential will require setting nomenclature and annotation standards for virus isolates and associated genomic sequences. The National Center for Biotechnology Information's (NCBI's) RefSeq is a non-redundant, curated database for reference (or type) nucleotide sequence records that supplies source data to numerous other databases. Building on recently proposed templates for filovirus variant naming [<virus name> (<strain>)/<isolation host-suffix>/<country of sampling>/<year of sampling>/<genetic variant designation>-<isolate designation>], we report consensus decisions from a majority of past and currently active filovirus experts on the eight filovirus type variants and isolates to be represented in RefSeq, their final designations, and their associated sequences. |
Quantifying silica in filter-deposited mine dusts using infrared spectra and partial least squares regression
Weakley AT , Miller AL , Griffiths PR , Bayman SJ . Anal Bioanal Chem 2014 406 (19) 4715-24 The feasibility of measuring airborne crystalline silica (alpha-quartz) in noncoal mine dusts using a direct-on-filter method of analysis is demonstrated. Respirable alpha-quartz was quantified by applying a partial least squares (PLS) regression to the infrared transmission spectra of mine-dust samples deposited on porous polymeric filters. This direct-on-filter method deviates from the current regulatory determination of respirable alpha-quartz by refraining from ashing the sampling filter and redepositing the analyte prior to quantification using either infrared spectrometry for coal mines or x-ray diffraction (XRD) from noncoal mines. Since XRD is not field portable, this study evaluated the efficacy of Fourier transform infrared spectrometry for silica determination in noncoal mine dusts. PLS regressions were performed using select regions of the spectra from nonashed samples with important wavenumbers selected using a novel modification to the Monte Carlo unimportant variable elimination procedure. Wavenumber selection helped to improve PLS prediction, reduce the number of required PLS factors, and identify additional silica bands distinct from those currently used in regulatory enforcement. PLS regression appeared robust against the influence of residual filter and extraneous mineral absorptions while outperforming ordinary least squares calibration. These results support the quantification of respirable silica in noncoal mines using field-portable infrared spectrometers. |
Universal newborn screening for congenital CMV infection: what is the evidence of potential benefit?
Cannon MJ , Griffiths PD , Aston V , Rawlinson WD . Rev Med Virol 2014 24 (5) 291-307 Congenital CMV infection is a leading cause of childhood disability. Many children born with congenital CMV infection are asymptomatic or have nonspecific symptoms and therefore are typically not diagnosed. A strategy of newborn CMV screening could allow for early detection and intervention to improve clinical outcomes. Interventions might include antiviral drugs or nonpharmaceutical therapies such as speech-language therapy or cochlear implants. Using published data from developed countries, we analyzed existing evidence of potential benefit that could result from newborn CMV screening. We first estimated the numbers of children with the most important CMV-related disabilities (i.e. hearing loss, cognitive deficit, and vision impairment), including the age at which the disabilities occur. Then, for each of the disabilities, we examined the existing evidence for the effectiveness of various interventions. We concluded that there is good evidence of potential benefit from nonpharmaceutical interventions for children with delayed hearing loss that occurs by 9 months of age. Similarly, we concluded that there is fair evidence of potential benefit from antiviral therapy for children with hearing loss at birth and from nonpharmaceutical interventions for children with delayed hearing loss occurring between 9 and 24 months of age and for children with CMV-related cognitive deficits. We found poor evidence of potential benefit for children with delayed hearing loss occurring after 24 months of age and for children with vision impairment. Overall, we estimated that in the United States, several thousand children with congenital CMV could benefit each year from newborn CMV screening, early detection, and interventions. |
The torque on a dipole in uniform motion
Griffiths DJ , Hnizdo V . Am J Phys 2014 82 (3) 251-254 We calculate the torque on an ideal (point) dipole moving with constant velocity through uniform electric and magnetic fields. |
Priorities for CMV vaccine development
Krause PR , Bialek SR , Boppana SB , Griffiths PD , Laughlin CA , Ljungman P , Mocarski ES , Pass RF , Read JS , Schleiss MR , Plotkin SA . Vaccine 2013 32 (1) 4-10 A multidisciplinary meeting addressed priorities related to development of vaccines against cytomegalovirus (CMV), the cause of congenital CMV (cCMV) disease and of serious disease in the immunocompromised. Participants discussed optimal uses of a CMV vaccine, aspects of clinical study design, and the value of additional research. A universal childhood CMV vaccine could potentially rapidly reduce cCMV disease, as infected children are sources of viral transmission to seronegative and seropositive mothers. A vaccine administered to adolescents or adult women could also reduce cCMV disease by making them immune prior to pregnancy. Clinical trials of CMV vaccines in women should evaluate protection against cCMV infection, an essential precursor of cCMV disease, which is a more practical and acceptable endpoint for assessing vaccine effects on maternal-fetal transmission. Clinical trials of vaccines to evaluate prevention of CMV disease in stem cell transplant recipients could use CMV viremia at a level triggering pre-emptive antiviral therapy as an endpoint, because widespread use of pre-emptive and prophylactic antivirals has rendered CMV-induced disease too rare to be a practical endpoint for clinical trials. In solid organ transplant patients, CMV-associated disease is sufficiently common for use as a primary endpoint. Additional research to advance CMV vaccine development should include identifying factors that predict fetal loss due to CMV, determining age-specific incidence and transmission rates, defining the mechanism and relative contributions of maternal reactivation and re-infection to cCMV disease, developing assays that can distinguish between reactivation and re-infection in seropositive vaccinees, further defining predictors of sequelae from cCMV infection, and identifying clinically relevant immune response parameters to CMV (including developing validated assays that could assess CMV antibody avidity) that could lead to the establishment of immune correlates of protection. |
Mansuripur's paradox
Griffiths DJ , Hnizdo V . Am J Phys 2013 81 (8) 570-574 A recent article by Mansuripur claims that the Lorentz force law is incompatible with special relativity. We discuss the “paradox” on which this claim is based. The resolution depends on whether one assumes a “Gilbert” model for the magnetic dipole (separated monopoles) or the standard “Ampère” model (a current loop). The former case was treated in these pages many years ago; the latter, as several authors have noted, constitutes an interesting manifestation of “hidden momentum.” |
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