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Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Replicon Particle Vaccine Protects Nonhuman Primates From Intramuscular And Aerosol Challenge With Ebolavirus, Andrew S. Herbert, Ana I. Kuehne, James F. Barth, Ramon A. Ortiz, Donald K. Nichols, Samantha E. Zak, Spencer W. Stonier, Majidat A. Muhammad, Russell R. Bakken, Laura I. Prugar, Gene G. Olinger, Jennifer L. Groebner, John S. Lee, William D. Pratt, Max Custer, Kurt I. Kamrud, Jonathan F. Smith, Mary Kate Hart, John M. Dye

United States Army: Publications

There are no vaccines or therapeutics currently approved for the prevention or treatment of ebolavirus infection. Previously, a replicon vaccine based on Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) demonstrated protective efficacy against Marburg virus in nonhuman primates. Here, we report the protective efficacy of Sudan virus (SUDV)- and Ebola virus (EBOV)-specific VEEV replicon particle (VRP) vaccines in nonhuman primates. VRP vaccines were developed to express the glycoprotein (GP) of either SUDV or EBOV. A single intramuscular vaccination of cynomolgus macaques with VRP expressing SUDV GP provided complete protection against intramuscular challenge with SUDV. Vaccination against SUDV and subsequent survival of SUDV …

Characterization Of The Uukuniemi Virus Group (Phlebovirus: Bunyaviridae): Evidence For Seven Distinct Species, Gustavo Oalacios, Nazir Savji, Amelia Tracassos Da Rosa, Hilda Guzman, Xuejie Yu, Aaloki Desai, Gail Emilia Rosen, Stephen Hutchison, W. Ian Lipkin, Robert Tesh

United States Army: Publications

Evolutionary insights into the phleboviruses are limited because of an imprecise classification scheme based on partial nucleotide sequences and scattered antigenic relationships. In this report, the serologic and phylogenetic relationships of the Uukuniemi group viruses and their relationships with other recently characterized tick-borne phleboviruses are described using full length genome sequences. We propose that the viruses currently included in the Uukuniemi virus group be assigned to five different species as follows: Uukuniemi virus, EgAn 1825-61 virus, Fin V707 virus, Chizé virus, and Zaliv Terpenia virus would be classified into the Uukuniemi species; Murre virus, RML-105-105355 …

Immunization Of Mice With Formalin-Inactivated Spores From Avirulent Bacillus Cereus Strains Provides Significant Protection From Challenge With Bacillus Anthracis Ames, James M. Vergis, Christopher K. Cote, Joel Bozue, Farhang Alem, Christy L. Ventura, Susan L. Welkos, Alison D. O’Brien

United States Army: Publications

Bacillus anthracis spores are the infectious form of the organism for humans and animals. However, the approved human vaccine in the United States is derived from a vegetative culture filtrate of a toxigenic, nonencapsulated B. anthracis strain that primarily contains protective antigen (PA). Immunization of mice with purified spore proteins and formalin-inactivated spores (FIS) from a nonencapsulated, nontoxigenic B. anthracis strain confers protection against B. anthracis challenge when PA is also administered. To investigate the capacity of the spore particle to act as a vaccine without PA, we immunized mice subcutaneously with FIS from nontoxigenic, nonencapsulated B. cereus strain G9241 …

Characterization Of The Burkholderia Thailandensis Sos Response By Using Whole-Transcriptome Shotgun Sequencing, Ricky L. Ulrich, David Deshazer, Tara A. Kenny, Melanie P. Ulrich, Anna Moravusova, Timonthy Opperman, Sina Bavari, Terry L. Bowlin, Donald T. Molr, Rekha G. Panchal

United States Army: Publications

The bacterial SOS response is a well-characterized regulatory network encoded by most prokaryotic bacterial species and is involved in DNA repair. In addition to nucleic acid repair, the SOS response is involved in pathogenicity, stress-induced mutagenesis, and the emergence and dissemination of antibiotic resistance. Using high-throughput sequencing technology (SOLiD RNASeq), we analyzed the Burkholderia thailandensis global SOS response to the fluoroquinolone antibiotic, ciprofloxacin (CIP), and the DNA-damaging chemical, mitomycin C (MMC). We demonstrate that a B. thailandensis recA mutant (RU0643) is approximately 4- fold more sensitive to CIP in contrast to the parental strain B. thailandensis DW503. Our RNA-Seq results …

Bacterial Peritonitis Due To Acinetobacter Baumannii Sequence Type 25 With Plasmid-Borne New Delhi Metallo-Beta-Lactamase In Honduras, Paige E. Waterman, Patrick Mcgann, Erik Snesrud, Robert J. Clifford, Yoon I. Kwak, Ivon P. Munoz-Urbizo, Juana Tabora-Castellanos, Michael Milillo, Lan Preston, Ricardo Aviles, Deena E. Sutter, Emil P. Lesho

United States Army: Publications

A carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strain was isolated from the peritoneal fluid of a patient with complicated intra-abdominal infection and evaluated at the Multidrug-resistant Organism Repository and Surveillance Network by wholegenome sequencing and real-time PCR. The isolate was sequence type 25 and susceptible to colistin and minocycline, with low MICs of tigecycline. bla_NDM-1 was located on a plasmid with >99% homology to pNDM-BJ02. The isolate carried numerous other antibiotic resistance genes, including the 16S methylase gene, armA.

Ixodid Ticks Associated With Feral Swine In Texas, David M. Sanders, Anthony L. Schuster, P. Wesley Mccardle, Otto F. Strey, Terry L. Blankenship, Pete D. Teel

United States Army: Publications

Ixodid ticks were collected from feral swine in eight Texas ecoregions from 2008-2011. Sixty-two percent of 806 feral swine were infested with one or more of the following species: Amblyomma americanum, A. cajennense, A. maculatum, Dermacentor albipictus, D. halli, D. variabilis, and Ixodes scapularis. Juvenile and adult feral swine of both sexes were found to serve as host to ixodid ticks. Longitudinal surveys of feral swine at four geographic locations show persistent year-round tick infestations of all gender-age classes for tick species common to their respective geographic locations and …

The Feasibility Of Implementing The Acp-215 At The Dayton Community Blood Center: A Cost-Benefit Analysis, Angela Albrecht

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

The community blood supply is a limited resource with a relatively short shelf-life. To ensure an adequate supply, a balance must be maintained between the numbers of donors providing blood and blood products required by hospitals to meet patient needs. Any change in the number of blood donors or in the volume of blood required by hospitals can create a blood shortage. During times of disaster, a blood shortage may be inevitable. Additional strategies must be in place to ensure availability of blood for essential transfusions across the community. Cryopreservation of red blood cells to build and maintain a blood …

Deciphering Serology To Understand The Ecology Of Infectious Diseases In Wildlife, Amy T. Gilbert, A. R. Fooks, D. T. S. Hayman, D. L. Horton, T. Muller, R. Plowright, A. J. Peel, R. Bowen, J. L. Wood, J. Miils, A. A. Cunningham, C. E. Rupprecht

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The ecology of infectious disease in wildlife has become a pivotal theme in animal and public health. Studies of infectious disease ecology rely on robust surveillance of pathogens in reservoir hosts, often based on serology, which is the detection of specific antibodies in the blood and is used to infer infection history. However, serological data can be inaccurate for inference to infection history for a variety of reasons. Two major aspects in any serological test can substantially impact results and interpretation of antibody prevalence data: cross-reactivity and cut-off thresholds used to discriminate positive and negative reactions. Given the ubiquitous use …

Antibiotics For Mastitis In Breastfeeding Women, S. Jahanfar, C.J. Ng, C.L. Teng

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

Background Mastitis can be caused by ineffective positioning of the baby at the breast or restricted feeding. Infective mastitis is commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The prevalence of mastitis in breastfeeding women may reach 33. Effective milk removal, pain medication and antibiotic therapy have been the mainstays of treatment. Objectives This review aims to examine the effectiveness of antibiotic therapies in relieving symptoms for breastfeeding women with mastitis with or without laboratory investigation. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30 September 2012), contacted investigators and other content experts known to us for unpublished trials …

Effects Of Cocktail Of Four Local Malaysian Medicinal Plants (Phyllanthus Spp.) Against Dengue Virus 2, S.H. Lee, Y.Q. Tang, A. Rathkrishnan, S.M. Wang, K.C. Ong, R. Manikam, B.J. Payne, I.B. Jaganath, S.D. Sekaran

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

Background: The absence of commercialized vaccines and antiviral agents against dengue has made the disease a major health concern around the world. With the current dengue virus transmission rate and incidences, the development of antiviral drugs is of vital need. The aim of this project was to evaluate the possibility of developing a local medicinal plant, Phyllanthus as an anti-dengue agent. Methods: Cocktail (aqueous and methanolic) extracts were prepared from four species of Phyllanthus (P. amarus, P. niruri, P. urinaria, and P. watsonii) and their polyphenolic compounds were identified via HPLC and LC-MS/MS analysis. MTS assay was then carried out …

First Molecular Characterization Of Cryptosporidium In Yemen, N.A. Alyousefi, M.A.K. Mahdy, Yvonne Ai Lian Lim, L. Xiao, Rohela Mahmud

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite of humans and animals and has a worldwide distribution. The parasite has a unique epidemiology in Middle Eastern countries where the IId subtype family of Cryptosporidium parvum dominates. However, there has been no information on Cryptosporidium species in Yemen. Thus, this study was conducted in Yemen to examine the distribution of Cryptosporidium species and subtype families. Fecal samples were collected from 335 patients who attended hospitals in Sana'a city. Cryptosporidium species were determined by PCR and sequence analysis of the 18 s rRNA gene. Cryptosporidium parvum and C. hominis subtypes were identified based on sequence …

Real-Time Pcr Assay In Differentiating Entamoeba Histolytica, Entamoeba Dispar, And Entamoeba Moshkovskii Infections In Orang Asli Settlements In Malaysia, Yee Ling Lau, C. Anthony, S.A. Fakhrurrazi, I. Jamaiah, Init Ithoi, Rohela Mahmud

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

Background: Amebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica is the third leading cause of death worldwide. This pathogenic amoeba is morphologically indistinguishable from E. dispar and E. moshkovskii, the non-pathogenic species. Polymerase chain reaction is the current method of choice approved by World Health Organization. Real-time PCR is another attractive molecular method for diagnosis of infectious diseases as post-PCR analyses are eliminated and turnaround times are shorter. The present work aimed to compare the results of Entamoeba species identification using the real-time assay against the established nested PCR method. Methods: In this study, a total of 334 human faecal samples were collected …

Predictors Of Death During Tuberculosis Treatment In Tb/Hiv Co-Infected Patients In Malaysia, I. Ismail, A. Bulgiba

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

Background: Mortality among TB/HIV co-infected patients is still high particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the predictors of death in TB/HIV co-infected patients during TB treatment. Methods: We reviewed medical records at the time of TB diagnosis and subsequent follow-up of all newly registered TB patients with HIV co-infection at TB clinics in the Institute of Respiratory Medicine and three public hospitals in the Klang Valley between January 2010 and September 2010. We reviewed these medical records again twelve months after their initial diagnosis to determine treatment outcomes and survival. We analysed using Kaplan-Meier and conducted multivariate …

Vertical Distribution Of Aedes Mosquitoes In Multiple Storey Buildings In Selangor And Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, K.W. Lau, Chee Dhang Chen, H.L. Lee, A.A. Izzul, M. Asri-Isa, M. Zulfadli, Mohd Sofian-Azirun

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

The aim of the present study was to determine the vertical distribution and abundance of Aedes mosquitoes in multiple storey buildings in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ovitrap surveillance was conducted for 4 continuous weeks in multiple storey buildings in 4 residential areas located in Selangor Kg. Baiduri (KB) and Kuala Lumpur Student Hostel of University of Malaya (UM), Kg. Kerinchi (KK) and Hang Tuah (HT). The results implied that Aedes mosquitoes could be found from ground floor to highest floor of multiple storey buildings and data from different elevation did not show significant difference. Ovitrap index for UM, KB, …

Los Parásitos Y El Estudio De Su Biodiversidad: Un Enfoque Sobre Los Estimadores De La Riqueza De Especies, Christian E. Bautista-Hernández, Scott Monks, Griselda Pulido-Flores

Estudios científicos en el estado de Hidalgo y zonas aledañas

Durante años los parásitos fueron considerados únicamente como agentes patógenos que debían ser eliminados, sin considerar que son un componente importante de la biodiversidad, que son capaces de aportar información de sí mismos y de otros organismos. Existen estimadores de riqueza que predicen el número de especies para una comunidad a partir de la riqueza observada y de la abundancia de las especies o datos de incidencia; pueden ser estimadores paramétricos y no paramétricos. La comparación de la riqueza de especies entre componente de comunidades de parásitos frecuentemente pueden ser difícil de evaluar debido a que los datos no se …

Murine Norovirus Infection Does Not Cause Major Disruptions In The Murine Intestinal Microbiota, Adam M. Nelson, Michael D. Elftman, Amelia K. Pinto, Megan Baldridge, Patrick Hooper, Justin Kuczynski, Joseph F. Petrosino, Vincent B. Young, Christiane E. Wobus

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Calcium Oxalate Crystals Induce Renal Inflammation By Nlrp3-Mediated Il-1Β Secretion, Shrikant R. Mulay, Onkar P. Kulkarni, Khader V. Rupanagudi, Adriana Migliorni, Murthy N. Darispudi, Akosua Vilaysane, Daniel Muruve, Yan Shi, Fay Munro, Helen Liapis, Hans-Joachim Anders

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Novel Resistance Functions Uncovered Using Functional Metagenomic Investigations Of Resistance Reservoirs, Erica C. Pehrsson, Kevin J. Forsberg, Molly K. Gibson, Sara Ahmadi, Gautam Dantas

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Murine Vaginal Colonization Model For Investigating Asymptomatic Mucosal Carriage Of Streptococcus Pyogenes, Michael E. Watson Jr, Hailyn V. Nielsen, Scott J. Hultgren, Michael G. Caparon

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Impact Of High Calcium Intake From Calcium Carbonate Or Dairy On Cardiovascular Function, Coronary Artery Calcification And Coronary Artery Disease Burden In Ossabaw Miniature Swine, Alyssa K. Phillips

Open Access Theses

Recent secondary analyses have associated supplemental calcium use with increased risk for myocardial infarction and cardiovascular-related death in healthy, older adults. Subsequent concern over the safety of calcium supplements has spurred a calcium controversy, because calcium is a shortfall essential nutrient that is critical for bone health and a mainstay of osteoporosis prevention and treatment. The proposed mechanism by which calcium intake may detriment cardiovascular health is through the acceleration of coronary artery calcification (CAC), a clinical indicator of coronary artery disease (CAD) that has been associated with mortality risk. However, causal evidence to support this hypothesis is lacking. Determining …

Dr. William Gorgas And His Management Style In The Eradication Of Yellow Fever During The Panama Canal Construction: A Historical Case Study, Faisal H. Aboul-Enein

2010-2016 Archived Posters

This study describes the style of management of Dr. William Gorgas as he led the public health effort to reduce diseases to a level that permitted the completion of the Panama Canal construction. Initially, Gorgas was skeptical of the mosquito vector theory. He fully accepted this theory after participating in Walter Reed's massive cleanup of Havana, Cuba during the Spanish American War of 1898. During 1905 to 1914, Gorgas was selected to lead the sanitary effort during the construction of the Panama Canal. The lessons learned from this historical case study provide public health administrators with guidance to effectively lead …

2013 Walden University Research Symposium, Walden University

2010-2016 Archived Programs

Welcome to the 2013 Walden University Research Symposium. Again this year we are excited to be able to showcase research projects from our academic community, including work by our recent graduates, in two different formats. Poster presentations provide an opportunity for researchers to engage with all individuals attending the symposium and potentially to network with other interested researchers. Within the roundtable presentation format, a select group of researchers will be available for interactive discussions of their work, with handouts and visual materials available to support the discussion. The topics and approaches are diverse as usual, but this year we see …

Worldwide Trends In Fishing Interest Indicated By Internet Search Volume, G . R. Wilde, Kevin L. Pope

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

There is a growing body of literature that shows internet search volume on a topic, such as fishing, is a viable measure of salience. Herein, internet search volume for ‘fishing’ and ‘angling’ is used as a measure of public interest in fishing, in particular, recreational fishing. An online tool, Google Insights for Search, which allows one to study internet search terms and their volume since 2004, is used to examine trends in interest in fishing for 50 countries. Trends in normalised fishing search volume, during 2004 through 2011, varied from a 72.6% decrease (Russian Federation) to a 133.7% increase (Hungary). …

Transmission Potential Of Influenza A/H7n9, February To May 2013, China, Gerardo Chowell, Lone Simonsen, Sherry Towers, Mark A. Miller, Cecile G. Viboud

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

Background

On 31 March 2013, the first human infections with the novel influenza A/H7N9 virus were reported in Eastern China. The outbreak expanded rapidly in geographic scope and size, with a total of 132 laboratory-confirmed cases reported by 3 June 2013, in 10 Chinese provinces and Taiwan. The incidence of A/H7N9 cases has stalled in recent weeks, presumably as a consequence of live bird market closures in the most heavily affected areas. Here we compare the transmission potential of influenza A/H7N9 with that of other emerging pathogens and evaluate the impact of intervention measures in an effort to guide pandemic …

Alloreactivity-Based Medical Conditions, Stanislav Vukmanovic, Margaret G. Petroff, Anne M. Stevens, Daniel Rukavina

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Not In Our Blood The "Othering" Of Hiv/Aids In South Carolina, Kortney Lapeyrolerie

Theses & ETDs

This thesis posits that stigma and othering, secured and fortified by structural violence, surround the community of people living with HIV/AIDS in South Carolina. This thesis is largely based on ethnographic research carried out at an HIV/AIDS prevention and HIV/AIDS-related services center, which I call the Agency. The following chapters are a combination of data from the field site with historical research. A brief national and local historical account look into how the roles of stigma, othering, and structural violence played a role in reporting about HIV/AIDS and the care of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Data from fieldwork explores …

Genetic Analysis Of Drb And Dqb From The Major Histocompatibility Complex In Narwhal And Humpback Whales, Jessica Brosch

Theses & ETDs

As the region of the genome coding for immunity against foreign pathogens, analysis of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II loci DRB and DQB allow us to make predictions about the adaptive potential of the narwhal in its effort to evolve under pathogenic pressure. To assess potential vulnerability of species to pathogen exposure, I examined genetic variation in the MHC from two species, the narwhal and the Arabian Sea (Region X) Oman humpback whale. In the narwhal, at DQB, seven new alleles were identified, while at DRB eight new alleles were discovered. The DQB locus showed evidence of gene …

Mortuus Non Mordet Michael Ranfft's Influence In The Eighteenth-Century Vampire Debate, Derek Black

Theses & ETDs

This thesis analyzes the influence that Michael Ranfft's original 1728 vampire treatise had on the central figures in the German 1732–33 vampire debate. This focus aims to demonstrate how these figures introduced contemporary scientific, theological, and philosophical arguments to the novel debate, largely following Ranfft's intellectual model. The first chapter analyzes the procedures of Austrian military medics who produced reports of vampire stories in occupied Serbia. The second chapter examines in what form Ranfft's ideas appeared within the German academic discussion that exploded in Leipzig in 1732–3. The third chapter explores how a Catholic archbishop, Giuseppe Davanzati (1665–1755), answered Ranfft's …

"I'M Not One That Likes To Be Told What To Do" A Comparative Study Of Control And Empowerment Between Hospital And Out-Of-Hospital Births, Lauren Brenzel

Theses & ETDs

According to the 2011 National Vital Statistic Report 98.9% of births take place in hospitals. However, the number of out-of-hospital births has grown in past decade. While perspectives are debated among birthing professionals, theorists, and activists on which setting is the "best" to give birth, there is not a good understanding of women's experiences while giving birth, due to lack of research. This study examines the experiences of individuals who have recently given birth, with a focus on their care provider and birth setting, and assess personal understandings of empowerment and control. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals who …

Spatial Distribution Of G6pd Deficiency Variants Across Malaria-Endemic Regions, Rosalind E. Howes, Mewahyu Dewi, Frederic B. Piel, Wuelton M. Monteiro, Katherine E. Battle, Jane P. Messina, Anavaj Sakuntabhai, Thomas N. Williams, J. Kevin Baird, Simon I. Hay

United States Public Health Resources

Background: Primaquine is essential for malaria control and elimination since it is the only available drug preventing multiple clinical attacks by relapses of Plasmodium vivax. It is also the only therapy against the sexual stages of Plasmodium falciparum infectious to mosquitoes, and is thus useful in preventing malaria transmission. However, the difficulties of diagnosing glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd) greatly hinder primaquine’s widespread use, as this common genetic disorder makes patients susceptible to potentially severe and fatal primaquine-induced haemolysis. The risk of such an outcome varies widely among G6PD gene variants.

Methods: A literature review was conducted to identify surveys of …