Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Discipline
Institution
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 9241 - 9270 of 73723

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Biom 402.01: Pathogenic Microbes, Michael Minnick Feb 2024

Biom 402.01: Pathogenic Microbes, Michael Minnick

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.


Synthesis Of High-Performance Antibacterial Magnesium Oxide Nanostructures Through Laser Ablation, Sara Abbas, Adawiya Haider, Sharafaldin Al-Musawi, Bakr Taha Feb 2024

Synthesis Of High-Performance Antibacterial Magnesium Oxide Nanostructures Through Laser Ablation, Sara Abbas, Adawiya Haider, Sharafaldin Al-Musawi, Bakr Taha

Journal of Applied Sciences and Nanotechnology

In this study, we synthesized magnesium oxide (MgO) nano flakes (NFs) through pulsed laser ablation of magnesium ribbons, investigating their potent antibacterial properties for potential biomedical applications. Thorough characterization utilizing advanced analytical techniques verified the phase purity and functionality of the fabricated MgO NFs. Results revealed a distinctive flake-like structure with an average diameter of 100-400 nm and a slender wall thickness of 24 nm. The efficiency of the laser ablation method was validated by EDX imaging, showing high purity in the MgO sample. XRD analysis further confirmed the polycrystalline nature of MgO NFs, with dominant peaks at 2θ values …


The Potential Of Ethiopian Medicinal Plants To Treat Emergent Viral Diseases, Mekbib Fekadu, Ermias Lulekal, Solomon Tesfaye, Morgan Ruelle, Nigist Asfaw, Tesfaye Awas, Kebu Balemie, Kaleab Asres, Sebastian Guenther, Zemede Asfaw, Sebsebe Demissew Feb 2024

The Potential Of Ethiopian Medicinal Plants To Treat Emergent Viral Diseases, Mekbib Fekadu, Ermias Lulekal, Solomon Tesfaye, Morgan Ruelle, Nigist Asfaw, Tesfaye Awas, Kebu Balemie, Kaleab Asres, Sebastian Guenther, Zemede Asfaw, Sebsebe Demissew

Sustainability and Social Justice

Ethiopians have deep-rooted traditions of using plants to treat ailments affecting humans and domesticated animals. Approximately 80% of the population continues to rely on traditional medicine, including for the prevention and treatment of viral diseases. Many antiviral plants are available to and widely used by communities in areas where access to conventional healthcare systems is limited. In some cases, pharmacological studies also confirm the potent antiviral properties of Ethiopian plants. Building on traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and testing their antiviral properties may help to expand options to address the global pandemic of COVID-19 including its recently isolated virulent variants …


Diagnostic Accuracy Of Intraoperative Frozen Section For Margin Evaluation Of Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Javaria P. Ali, Bakhtawar Allauddin Mallick, Khushbakht Rashid, Umair Arshad Malik, Atif Ali Hashmi, Shamail Zia, Muhammad Irfan, Amir Khan, Naveen Faridi Feb 2024

Diagnostic Accuracy Of Intraoperative Frozen Section For Margin Evaluation Of Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Javaria P. Ali, Bakhtawar Allauddin Mallick, Khushbakht Rashid, Umair Arshad Malik, Atif Ali Hashmi, Shamail Zia, Muhammad Irfan, Amir Khan, Naveen Faridi

Section of Internal Medicine

Objectives: Intraoperative frozen-section evaluation is a valuable technique for detecting positive margins intraoperatively for oral squamous cell carcinoma. We conducted this study to determine the diagnostic accuracy of frozen section in detecting margin status and the effect of tumor grade and stage on diagnostic accuracy.
Results: A total of 251 biopsy-proven cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma were included in this study. The tissue specimen resected during surgery was sent to the laboratory for frozen section evaluation. The frozen section results were then compared with the permanent section results to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, …


Simultaneous Detection And Quantification Of Multiple Pathogen Targets In Wastewater, Gouthami Rao, Drew Capone, Kevin Zhu, Abigail Knoble, Yarrow Linden, Ryan Clark, Amanda Lai, Juhee Kim, Ching Hua Huang, Aaron Bivins, Joe Brown Feb 2024

Simultaneous Detection And Quantification Of Multiple Pathogen Targets In Wastewater, Gouthami Rao, Drew Capone, Kevin Zhu, Abigail Knoble, Yarrow Linden, Ryan Clark, Amanda Lai, Juhee Kim, Ching Hua Huang, Aaron Bivins, Joe Brown

Faculty Publications

Wastewater-based epidemiology has emerged as a critical tool for public health surveillance, building on decades of environmental surveillance work for pathogens such as poliovirus. Work to date has been limited to monitoring a single pathogen or small numbers of pathogens in targeted studies; however, few studies consider simultaneous quantitative analysis of a wide variety of pathogens, which could greatly increase the utility of wastewater surveillance. We developed a novel quantitative multi-pathogen surveillance approach (35 pathogen targets including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths) using TaqMan Array Cards (TAC) and applied the method on concentrated wastewater samples collected at four wastewater treatment …


Prevalence Of Dengue Virus Among Healthy Blood Donors In Mombasa County, Kenya, Festus Mulakoli, George Gachara, Eric Ndombi, Samoel Khamadi Feb 2024

Prevalence Of Dengue Virus Among Healthy Blood Donors In Mombasa County, Kenya, Festus Mulakoli, George Gachara, Eric Ndombi, Samoel Khamadi

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: Dengue fever (DF) is a viral infection caused by a flavivirus called Dengue virus. The virus has four known serotypes (named DENV 1-4) that circulate between humans and Aedes mosquitoes throughout the tropical region of the world. The virus is transmitted primarily by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti or, to a lesser extent, Aedes albopictus. Current evidence from published case studies shows that blood transfusions can transmit Dengue infection in hyperendemic regions in the tropics. It is important to note that 75% of people infected with DENV show no symptoms. Therefore, an infected individual could …


Biom 460.01: Ecology Of Infectious Diseases, Angela D. Luis Feb 2024

Biom 460.01: Ecology Of Infectious Diseases, Angela D. Luis

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.


Metabolic Syndrome And Obesity Among Marginalised School-Going Adolescents In Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study, Hina Sharif, Sana Sharif Sheikh, Tooba Seemi, Hira Naeem, Unab Khan, Shah Sumaya Jan Feb 2024

Metabolic Syndrome And Obesity Among Marginalised School-Going Adolescents In Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study, Hina Sharif, Sana Sharif Sheikh, Tooba Seemi, Hira Naeem, Unab Khan, Shah Sumaya Jan

Department of Family Medicine

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors which increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MetS among adolescents living in slums aged 11-18 years in Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: Data were collected from 689 adolescents attending five schools in two slum areas of Karachi, Korangi and Baldia, from February 2023 to March 2023. Measurements of weight, height, waist circumference, and blood pressure were obtained from the study participants. Blood samples were collected to assess fasting plasma glucose, High density lipoprotein HDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels as …


Time To Blood Pressure Control And Predictors Among Patients Receiving Integrated Treatment For Hypertension And Hiv Based On An Adapted Who Hearts Implementation Strategy At A Large Urban Hiv Clinic In Uganda, Willington Amutuhaire, Lewis S. Musoke, George A. Yendewa, Lewis S. Musoke, George A. Yendewa Feb 2024

Time To Blood Pressure Control And Predictors Among Patients Receiving Integrated Treatment For Hypertension And Hiv Based On An Adapted Who Hearts Implementation Strategy At A Large Urban Hiv Clinic In Uganda, Willington Amutuhaire, Lewis S. Musoke, George A. Yendewa, Lewis S. Musoke, George A. Yendewa

Faculty Scholarship

In this cohort study, we determined time to blood pressure (BP) control and its predictors among hypertensive PLHIV enrolled in integrated hypertension-HIV care based on the World Health Organization (WHO) HEARTS strategy at Mulago Immunosuppression Clinic in Uganda. From August 2019 to March 2020, we enrolled hypertensive PLHIV aged ≥18 years and initiated Amlodipine 5 mg mono-therapy for BP (140–159)/(90–99) mmHg or Amlodipine 5 mg/Valsartan 80 mg duo-therapy for BP ≥ 160/90 mmHg. Patients were followed with a treatment escalation plan until BP control, defined as BP < 140/90 mmHg. We used Cox proportional hazards models to identify predictors of time to BP control. Of 877 PLHIV enrolled (mean age 50.4 years, 62.1% female), 30% received mono-therapy and 70% received duo-therapy. In the monotherapy group, 66%, 88% and 96% attained BP control in the first, second and third months, respectively. For patients on duo-therapy, 56%, 83%, 88% and 90% achieved BP control in the first, second, third, and fourth months, respectively. In adjusted Cox proportional hazard analysis, higher systolic BP (aHR 0.995, 95% CI 0.989-0.999) and baseline ART tenofovir/lamivudine/efavirenz (aHR 0.764, 95% CI 0.637–0.917) were associated with longer time to BP control, while being on ART for >10 years was associated with a shorter time to BP control (aHR 1.456, …


Ahrc 231.01: Respiratory Critical Care, Paul J. Crockford Feb 2024

Ahrc 231.01: Respiratory Critical Care, Paul J. Crockford

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.


Nasx 105h.X02: Introduction To Native American Studies, Laura K. Ferguson Feb 2024

Nasx 105h.X02: Introduction To Native American Studies, Laura K. Ferguson

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.


Collaboration And Growth In A Large Research Cooperative: A Network Analytic Approach, Lori J Ducharme, Kayo Fujimoto, Jacky Kuo, Jonathan Stewart, Bruce Taylor, John Schneider Feb 2024

Collaboration And Growth In A Large Research Cooperative: A Network Analytic Approach, Lori J Ducharme, Kayo Fujimoto, Jacky Kuo, Jonathan Stewart, Bruce Taylor, John Schneider

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Research networks encourage team science and facilitate collaboration within and across research teams. While many analyses have examined the output of these collaborative networks (e.g., authorship networks, publications, grant applications), less attention has been paid to the formative phases of these initiatives. This article presents analyses of a whole-network survey of investigators participating in a new research initiative, and examines the development of collaborative ties over the network's first year. In particular, we examine the influence of research center affiliation, seniority, and prior network experience on the number and structure of collaborative ties, including participants' bridging and broker roles. Such …


The Trucking Industry, Working From Home, Covid-19, And Positive Social Change Effects, Martin Lulgjuraj Feb 2024

The Trucking Industry, Working From Home, Covid-19, And Positive Social Change Effects, Martin Lulgjuraj

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.


Effectiveness Of Antibiotic Stewardship For Healthcare Providers At Urgent Care Clinics, Helen T. Adewole Feb 2024

Effectiveness Of Antibiotic Stewardship For Healthcare Providers At Urgent Care Clinics, Helen T. Adewole

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine; however, the overuse in urgent care and primary care significantly contributes to the global burden of infections resistant to available antimicrobial medicines. Approximately 30% of the antimicrobials prescribed in acute care settings are unnecessary. Patient demand for antibiotics has seemingly skyrocketed following the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Practitioners must be knowledgeable about antibiotic stewardship initiatives, such as the wait-and-see approach, to reduce antibiotic overuse and improve the trajectory of antibiotic resistance and patient health outcomes. The gap in practice was the limited awareness of scientific evidence-based tools to partner with patients and improve antibiotic prescription patterns. …


Improving Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Education In Undergraduate Nursing Programs, Robin E. Roberts Feb 2024

Improving Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Education In Undergraduate Nursing Programs, Robin E. Roberts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ongoing competency validation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills is not a routine practice in nursing school. Basic Life Support training and certification is obtained before or during nursing school with little opportunity for practice. Poor quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills can affect the confidence level of the performer and the patient outcome. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of training nursing faculty on the adoption of cardiopulmonary resuscitation technology into nursing school curriculum to provide improved cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills to nursing students. Using a pretest-posttest, this study followed the Kirkpatrick model of evaluation of continuing education, which …


Sepsis, Children's Mercy Kansas City Feb 2024

Sepsis, Children's Mercy Kansas City

Clinical Pathways

No abstract provided.


Seizures, First Nonfebrile Seizure, Children's Mercy Kansas City Feb 2024

Seizures, First Nonfebrile Seizure, Children's Mercy Kansas City

Clinical Pathways (Formally Known As Clinical Practice Guidelines)

No abstract provided.


Pharyngitis, Children's Mercy Kansas City Feb 2024

Pharyngitis, Children's Mercy Kansas City

Clinical Pathways (Formally Known As Clinical Practice Guidelines)

No abstract provided.


A Role For Affect In The Future Of Mathematics Education (With Thoughts On Intelligence), Marcelo Almora Rios Feb 2024

A Role For Affect In The Future Of Mathematics Education (With Thoughts On Intelligence), Marcelo Almora Rios

The Mathematics Enthusiast

A Review of:

1. Alan Schoenfeld, Heather Fink, Alyssa Sayavedra, Anna Weltman, & Sandra Zuñiga-Ruiz’s (2023) Mathematics Teaching on Target, Routledge, 164pp. ISBN (HB): 978-1-0324-4167-2;

2. Alan Schoenfeld, Heather Fink, Sandra Zuñiga-Ruiz, Siqi Huang, Xinyu Wei, & Brantina Chirinda’s (2023) Helping Students Become Powerful Mathematics Thinkers, Routledge, 272pp. ISBN (HB): 978-1-0324-4168-9.


Burden Of Dog Bite Injuries And Wound Management Practices To Prevent Rabies Among Dog Owners, Dhawani Julka, Amir M Khan, Nitu Kumari, Ujjwal Soni Feb 2024

Burden Of Dog Bite Injuries And Wound Management Practices To Prevent Rabies Among Dog Owners, Dhawani Julka, Amir M Khan, Nitu Kumari, Ujjwal Soni

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Despite members of dog-owning families being at a higher risk of dog bites owing to their proximity to dogs in their household, there are hardly any studies from India which focus on the burden of dog bites among them and their rabies control and prevention practices. This study aimed to estimate the burden of dog bites among dog owners and their wound management practices to prevent rabies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among pet dog owners in a high-end housing society of National Capital Region of Delhi. A pre-tested and pre-validated schedule was used to collect …


Bloodstream Infections After Solid Organ Transplantation: Clinical Epidemiology And Antimicrobial Resistance (2016–21), Max W Adelman, Ashton A Connor, Enshuo Hsu, Ashish Saharia, Constance M Mobley, David W Victor, Mark J Hobeika, Jiejian Lin, Kevin A Grimes, Elizabeth Ramos, Claudia Pedroza, Elizabeth W Brombosz, R Mark Ghobrial, Cesar A Arias Feb 2024

Bloodstream Infections After Solid Organ Transplantation: Clinical Epidemiology And Antimicrobial Resistance (2016–21), Max W Adelman, Ashton A Connor, Enshuo Hsu, Ashish Saharia, Constance M Mobley, David W Victor, Mark J Hobeika, Jiejian Lin, Kevin A Grimes, Elizabeth Ramos, Claudia Pedroza, Elizabeth W Brombosz, R Mark Ghobrial, Cesar A Arias

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are at risk of bloodstream infections (BSIs) with MDR organisms (MDROs).

Objectives: To describe the epidemiology of BSI in the year after several types of SOT, as well as the prevalence of MDRO infections in this population.

Methods: We conducted a single-centre, retrospective study of kidney, liver, heart, and multi-organ transplantation patients. We examined BSIs ≤1 year from SOT and classified MDRO phenotypes for Staphylococcus aureus, enterococci, Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida spp. We compared BSI characteristics between SOT types and determined risk factors for 90 day mortality.

Results: We included 2293 patients …


Knowledge And Attitudes On Contraception And Reproductive Health In Women With Hiv, Anna Henricks, Samantha Singal, Dana Hughes, Sean Kelly, Jessica L Castilho, Jamison Norwood Feb 2024

Knowledge And Attitudes On Contraception And Reproductive Health In Women With Hiv, Anna Henricks, Samantha Singal, Dana Hughes, Sean Kelly, Jessica L Castilho, Jamison Norwood

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: For reasons not fully explained to date, contraception usage among women with HIV remains low. The aim of our study was to understand attitudes toward and lifetime use of contraception among women with HIV.

METHODS: We administered an anonymous, community-informed, voluntary survey to cisgender, English-speaking women with HIV (≥18 years of age) at a Southern urban HIV clinic. It included multiple choice and Likert-scale questions on reproductive health. Participants reported contraception use, recollection of provider conversations about contraception, and perceived empowerment and knowledge regarding reproductive health. We used chi-square and Fisher exact tests to compare attitudes and prior conversations …


Who Has The Authority? Opportunities For Reform In Global Health Governance, Luka VujašKović Feb 2024

Who Has The Authority? Opportunities For Reform In Global Health Governance, Luka VujašKović

North Carolina Journal of International Law

No abstract provided.


Integrative Analysis Of Pathogenic Variants In Glucose-6-Phosphatase Based On An Alphafold2 Model, Matt Sinclair, Richard A Stein, Jonathan H Sheehan, Emily M Hawes, Richard M O'Brien, Emad Tajkhorshid, Derek P Claxton Feb 2024

Integrative Analysis Of Pathogenic Variants In Glucose-6-Phosphatase Based On An Alphafold2 Model, Matt Sinclair, Richard A Stein, Jonathan H Sheehan, Emily M Hawes, Richard M O'Brien, Emad Tajkhorshid, Derek P Claxton

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Mediating the terminal reaction of gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, the integral membrane protein glucose-6-phosphate catalytic subunit 1 (G6PC1) regulates hepatic glucose production by catalyzing hydrolysis of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. Consistent with its vital contribution to glucose homeostasis, inactivating mutations in G6PC1 causes glycogen storage disease (GSD) type 1a characterized by hepatomegaly and severe hypoglycemia. Despite its physiological importance, the structural basis of G6P binding to G6PC1 and the molecular disruptions induced by missense mutations within the active site that give rise to GSD type 1a are unknown. In this study, we determine the atomic interactions …


Acute Gastroenteritis: Emergency Department/Urgent Care Centers, Children's Mercy Kansas City Feb 2024

Acute Gastroenteritis: Emergency Department/Urgent Care Centers, Children's Mercy Kansas City

Clinical Pathways (Formally Known As Care Process Models)

No abstract provided.


The Curious Case Of A Painful Leg Ulcer, Jay R Patel, Rubi Montejano, Christina Hopkins, Hanna Siatecka, Theodore Rosen Feb 2024

The Curious Case Of A Painful Leg Ulcer, Jay R Patel, Rubi Montejano, Christina Hopkins, Hanna Siatecka, Theodore Rosen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Sickle cell disease is a condition that can involve numerous organ systems secondary to vascular occlusion. Herein, we present a case of a 21-year-old male with sickle cell disease requiring long-term hydroxyurea therapy. Upon migrating to the United States from Yemen, the patient developed a rapidly progressive, exquisitely painful ulcer on his right lower extremity. Given his country of origin, a broad differential, including select infectious diseases, was essential. Moreover, establishing the unequivocally correct diagnosis was crucial to determine proper and safe therapy. Ultimately, a lesional biopsy demonstrated numerous sickled red blood cells occluding blood vessels, leading to the diagnosis …


Proteome Analysis For Inflammation Related To Acute And Convalescent Infection, Tara K Sigdel, Swastika Sur, Patrick Boada, Suzanne M Mcdermott, Cecilia S Lindestam Arlehamn, Kristy O Murray, Linda K Bockenstedt, Maggie Kerwin, Elaine F Reed, Eva Harris, Ken Stuart, Bjoern Peters, Ana Sesma, Ruth R Montgomery, Minnie M Sarwal Feb 2024

Proteome Analysis For Inflammation Related To Acute And Convalescent Infection, Tara K Sigdel, Swastika Sur, Patrick Boada, Suzanne M Mcdermott, Cecilia S Lindestam Arlehamn, Kristy O Murray, Linda K Bockenstedt, Maggie Kerwin, Elaine F Reed, Eva Harris, Ken Stuart, Bjoern Peters, Ana Sesma, Ruth R Montgomery, Minnie M Sarwal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Infectious diseases are a significant burden in global healthcare. Pathogens engage with different host defense mechanisms. However, it is currently unknown if there are disease-specific immune signatures and/or if different pathogens elicit common immune-associated molecular entities to common therapeutic interventions. We studied patients enrolled through the Human Immunology Project Consortium (HIPC), which focuses on immune responses to various infections. Blood samples were collected and analyzed from patients during infection and follow-up time points at the convalescent stage. The study included samples from patients with Lyme disease (LD), tuberculosis (TB), malaria (MLA), dengue virus (DENV), and West Nile virus (WNV), as …


Evolving Concepts In Helicobacter Pylori Management, Steven F Moss, Shailja C Shah, Mimi C Tan, Hashem B El-Serag Feb 2024

Evolving Concepts In Helicobacter Pylori Management, Steven F Moss, Shailja C Shah, Mimi C Tan, Hashem B El-Serag

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Helicobacter pylori is the most common chronic bacterial infection worldwide and the most significant risk factor for gastric cancer, which remains a leading cause of cancer-related death globally. H pylori and gastric cancer continue to disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minority and immigrant groups in the United States. The approach to H pylori case-finding thus far has relied on opportunistic testing based on symptoms or high-risk indicators, such as racial or ethnic background and family history. However, this approach misses a substantial proportion of individuals infected with H pylori who remain at risk for gastric cancer because most infections remain …


A Municipal Modernity: Women, Architecture, And Public Health In Working-Class New York, 1913–1950, Jessica Fletcher Feb 2024

A Municipal Modernity: Women, Architecture, And Public Health In Working-Class New York, 1913–1950, Jessica Fletcher

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

“A Municipal Modernity” is the first study to analyze the architectural history of the district health centers in New York City that women reformers and their allies founded to address poor health in working-class communities. It reveals that women’s philanthropic adaptive re-use was foundational to the architecture of the public health care in New York and led to a program of municipal district health centers. Philanthropic reformers adapted buildings in the 1910s and 1920s to provide affordable health care for low-income women and children in European immigrant and Black neighborhoods. During the New Deal, municipal officials followed the example set …


Adaptive Evolution Of Surface Proteins In Microbial Pathogens: Lyme Disease Pathogens (Borreliella Sp.) And Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (Hiv-1), Li Li Feb 2024

Adaptive Evolution Of Surface Proteins In Microbial Pathogens: Lyme Disease Pathogens (Borreliella Sp.) And Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (Hiv-1), Li Li

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Cell and virion surface proteins are key to the survival and adaptation of microbial pathogens by enabling them to evade host immune responses and to persist in diverse environments. Pathogens respond to host immune pressures with genetic changes in surface proteins through mechanisms including point mutations, recombination, gene duplication and loss, and lateral gene transfer, resulting in novel antigenic variants and antigenic diversity. This continuous adaptation helps pathogens evade host immunity, leading to chronic infections and recurrent disease outbreaks. Understanding these mechanisms is vital for developing effective strategies to combat infectious diseases.

This dissertation comprises three chapters exploring the adaptive …