Vaccines against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B strains – What does genomics reveal on the Portuguese strain’s coverage

In Portugal, Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB) is the most common serogroup causing invasive meningococcal disease. To protect against MenB disease two protein based MenB vaccines are available in Portugal, the 4CMenB that was licenced in 2014 and included in the routine immunization program in October 2020, and the bivalent rLP2086 vaccine licensed in 2017. The aim of this study was to predict the coverage of the 4CMenB and rLP2086 vaccines against Portuguese isolates of Neisseria meningitidis sampled between 2012 and 2019 and to evaluate the diversity of vaccine antigens based on genomic analysis.Whole-genome sequence data from 324 Portuguese Neisseria meningitidis isolates were analysed. To predict strain coverage by 4CMenB and rLP2086, vaccine antigen reactivity was assessed using the MenDeVar index available on the PubMLST Neisseria website.This study included 235 (75.6%) MenB isolates of all invasive MenB strains reported between 2012 and 2019. Moreover, 89 non MenB isolates sampled in the same period, enrolling 68 from invasive disease and 21 from healthy carriers, were also studied.The predicted strain coverage of MenB isolates was 73.5% (95% CI: 64.8%–81.2%) for 4CMenB and 100% for rLP2086. Predicted strain coverage by 4CMenB in the age group from 0 to 4 years old, was 73.9%. Most of MenB isolates were covered by a single antigen (85.4%), namely fHbp (30.3%), P1.4 (29.2%), and NHBA (24.7%).In Portugal, the most prevalent peptides in MenB isolates were: P1.4 (16.2%), NHBA peptide 2 (14.0%), and fHbp peptide 14 (7.2%), from 4CMenB and fHbp peptide 19 (10.6%) from rLP2086. No significant temporal trends were observed concerning the distribution and diversity of vaccine antigen variants.4CMenB and rLP2086 vaccines showed potential coverage for isolates regardless serogroup.The use of both vaccines should be considered to control possible outbreaks caused by serogroups with no vaccine available.     

Genetics of Alkaloids in Papaver somniferum

Based on numerical and graphic analyses of 6 x 6 diallele cross progenies (n (2) = 36) over two environments, dominance was found to be most prevalent (in overdominance range without being inflated by non-allelic interactions) in parents for latex yield, and morphine, codeine, thebaine, and narcotine contents. However, the additive component was also significant for the former three traits. Dominant alleles mostly with positive effects were, by and large, asymmetrically distributed in parents except for narcotine content. Heritability estimates were moderate and corresponded with low genetic advance estimates for morphine, codeine, and thebaine contents. Ample genetic diversity among parents was reflected for all traits except narcotine content. On an overall basis, heterosis breeding was suggested to be a rewarding proposition for genetic improvement of the opium poppy ( PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM L.).     

Inheritance of Biomass Yield and Tropane Alkaloid Content in Hyoscyamus muticus

The nature of gene action for biomass yield and tropane alkaloid content was ascertained through diallel analysis in Egyptian henbane, HYOSCYAMUS MUTICUS L. Dominance variation was preponderant over additive genetic variance, dominance being in the overdominance range for both traits. On an overall basis, recessive alleles had a positive (i.e. increasing) effect on both the characters. However, the positive or negative effects of recessive or dominant alleles were genotype-specific. Hence, transgressive breeding was suggested for isolating segregants with dominant alleles for herb yield and with recessives for alkaloid content so as to achieve overall high yields of tropane alkaloid per unit area.     

Thermal vestibulometry in peripheral labyrinthine lesions

Nystagmus is said to be the most important expression of vestibular disease. It can be observed with the naked eye but behind a Frenzel’s glass it can be observed better. For accurate reading, electrical recording is necessary and for that purpose the change in the corneo-retinal potential consequent upon the movement of the eye has been utilised. This technique of recording is called Electronystagmography (E.N.G.). With the electronystagmograph one can determine the amplitude, frequency and velocity of the slow component. It also helps in recording nystagmus behind the closed eyes or with the eyes open in darkness and in light. It is universally agreed that the maximum information that can be gained is by calculating the maximum velocity of the slow component (Henriksson 1955, Van Egmond and Torok (1954), Aschan et al 1956 and Sokolovski, 1966.).     

Mechanized laundering of mops for floor cleaning can reduce infection transmission through hospital floor

PurposeHospital floors are underappreciated reservoir for microbes; therefore, floor cleaning should warrant reduction of microbial load for decreasing risk of infection transmission and has to be aesthetically acceptable. It was aimed to study the impact of mechanized laundering of floor mops in reducing microbial load compared to manual washing.MethodsAn interventional study was conducted from January to July 2019 in various inpatient areas of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Culture of floor mops were taken after manual washing (pre-intervention) and mechanized laundering(intervention). During intervention, mops were equally divided into two piles, with one pile soaked in sodium hypochlorite for 15–20 min before mechanized laundering and other were put directly for mechanized laundering. Bacterial load in floor mops was observed in each group.ResultsSignificant difference (P Value 0.001) in bacterial load was observed in manually washed (502 cfu/plate) and mechanized laundering (278 cfu/plate) of floor mops. Presoaking of floor mops with sodium hypochlorite (262 cfu/plate) did not show any significant difference (P-value 0.59) in reduction of bacterial load compared to mops which were cleaned using mechanized laundering (294 cfu/plate). The bacterial load of floor mops which were manually washed showed increase in mean value of microbial load from 609 cfu/plate from day one to 4015 cfu/plate on day five.ConclusionMechanized laundering of floor mops standardizes the mop cleaning process and brings down the microbial load significantly compared to manual washing. Disinfection of floor mops before mechanized laundering using sodium hypochlorite did not have significant impact on reduction of microbial load.     

Improving outcomes in primary CNS lymphoma

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is an aggressive disease with previously poor prognosis. The advent of high-dose methotrexate-based induction regimens as well as use of consolidation therapy has greatly improved this prognosis in recent decades, but durable remission still eludes half of patients. In this review, we summarize the progress made in the treatment of PCNSL as well as the challenges that remain, with a focus on defining optimal induction and consolidation regimens, including the promise of developing biotherapies. Future studies will help delineate the best combination of existing and novel treatment strategies, with the goal of expanding the cohort of patients achieving a cure.