•Whole-gene characterization (11 ORFs) for 72 randomly selected, Species A Rotaviruses of common and unusual genotypes collected in Benin from the 2016 to 2018 seasons.•All study strains exhibited ...two genetic constellations designed as Wa-like, G1/G9/G12-P6/P8-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1 and DS-1-like, G2/G3/G12-P4/P6-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2.•Genetic analysis showed identification of 2-13 and 1-17 sub-genotypic alleles for DS-1-like and Wa-like strains, respectively.
Species A rotaviruses (RVA) still play a major role in causing acute diarrhea in children under five years old worldwide. Currently, an 11-gene classification system is used to designate the full genotypic constellations of circulating strains. Viral proteins and non-structural proteins in the order VP7-VP4-VP6-VP1-VP2-VP3-NSP1-NSP2-NSP3-NSP4-NSP5/6 are represented by the genotypes Gx-Px-Ix-Rx-Cx-Mx-Ax-Nx-Tx-Ex-Hx, respectively. In Benin, ROTAVAC® vaccine was introduced into the Expanded Programme on Immunization in December 2019. To monitor circulating RVA strains for changes that may affect vaccine performance, in-depth analysis of strains prior to vaccine introduction are needed. Here we report, the whole-gene characterization (11 ORFs) for 72 randomly selected RVA strains of common and unusual genotypes collected in Benin from the 2016 to 2018 seasons. The sequenced strains were 15 G1P8, 20 G2P4, 5 G9P8, 14 G12P8, 9 G3P6, 2 G1P6, 3 G2P6, 2 G9P4, 1 G12P6, and 1 G1G9P8/P4. The study strains exhibited two genetic constellations designed as Wa-like G1/G9/G12-P6/P8-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1 and DS-1-like G2/G3/G12-P4/P6-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2. Genotype G9P4 strains possessed a DS-1-like genetic constellation with an E6 NSP4 gene, G9-P4-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E6-H2. The mixed genotype showed both Wa-like and DS-1-like profiles with a T6 NSP3 gene G1/G9P8/4-I1/I2-R1/R2-C1/C2-M1/M2-A1/A2-N1/N2-T1/T6-E1/E6-H1/H2. At the allelic level, the analysis of the Benin strains, reference strains (with known alleles), vaccine strains (with known alleles) identified 2–13 and 1–17 alleles for DS-1-like and Wa-like strains, respectively. Most of the study strains clustered into previously defined alleles, but we defined 3 new alleles for the VP7 (G3 = 1 new allele and G12 = 2 new alleles) and VP4 (P4 = 1 new allele and P6 = 2 new alleles) genes which formed the basis of the VP7 and VP4 gene clusters, respectively. For the remaining 9 genes, 0-6 new alleles were identified for both Wa-like and DS-1-like strains. This analysis of whole genome sequences of RVA strains circulating in Benin described genetic point mutations and reassortment events as well as novel alleles. Further detailed studies on these new alleles are needed and these data can also provide a baseline for studies on RVA in the post-vaccination period.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
First results from the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) mission have revealed ubiquitous coherent ion-scale waves in the inner heliosphere, which are signatures of kinetic wave-particle interactions and ...fluid instabilities. However, initial studies of the circularly polarized ion-scale waves observed by PSP have only thoroughly analyzed magnetic field signatures, precluding a determination of solar wind frame propagation direction and intrinsic wave polarization. A comprehensive determination of wave properties requires measurements of both electric and magnetic fields. Here, we use full capabilities of the PSP/FIELDS instrument suite to measure both the electric and magnetic components of circularly polarized waves. Comparing spacecraft frame magnetic field measurements with the Doppler-shifted cold plasma dispersion relation for parallel transverse waves constrains allowable plasma frame polarizations and wavevectors. We demonstrate that the Doppler-shifted cold plasma dispersion has a maximum spacecraft frequency for which intrinsically right-handed fast-magnetosonic waves propagating sunwards can appear left-handed in the spacecraft frame. Observations of left-handed waves with are uniquely explained by intrinsically left-handed, ion-cyclotron waves (ICWs). We demonstrate that electric field measurements for waves with are consistent with ICWs propagating away from the Sun, verifying the measured electric field. Applying the verified electric field measurements to the full distribution of waves suggests that, in the solar wind frame, the vast majority of waves propagate away from the Sun, indicating that the observed population of coherent ion-scale waves contains both intrinsically left- and right-hand polarized modes.
We used the BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card to screen 1,540 asymptomatic college students for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in a low-prevalence setting. Compared with reverse ...transcription PCR, BinaxNOW showed 20% overall sensitivity; among participants with culturable virus, sensitivity was 60%. BinaxNOW provides point-of-care screening but misses many infections.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
AbstractModern communication technology has had a profound influence on the way people work, often resulting in a blurring of the boundaries between work-life and family-life environments through ...after-hours, work-related contact. Previous studies have explored the associations between job autonomy and control, job pressure, work contact, work–family conflict, psychological distress, and sleep problems. These studies used a variety of measurement scales based on items drawn from the extant literature, but limited psychometric evidence surrounding the use and interpretation of scores derived from these scales has been provided. Given the pivotal role that the measurement of occupational health psychology constructs plays in improving the understanding of occupational health and well-being, this study extends their work by employing multidimensional item response theory (IRT), which has been absent in its application within construction management. Thus, IRT was used to gain empirical insights into the psychometric validity of these scales among construction professionals in South Africa (N=864). Importantly, the IRT analyses show that the scales provided the most precision when used with construction professionals with lower levels of job autonomy and control and job pressure, moderate levels of work contact and work–family conflict, and moderate to high levels of psychological distress and sleep problems. The results extend beyond the classical analyses emanating from previous studies by shedding light on specific item- and scale-level properties. In a redesign, especially for job autonomy and control and job pressure, the addition of more items could reduce the level of measurement error across the continuum on each respective scale. Better measurement of these occupational health constructs will enhance understanding of the well-being of employees and organizations and facilitate appropriate interventions to improve the well-being of construction professionals.
Inter-genogroup reassortant group A rotavirus (RVA) strains possessing a G3 VP7 gene of putative equine origin (EQL-G3) have been detected in humans since 2013. Here we report detection of EQL-G3P8 ...RVA strains from the Dominican Republic collected in 2014–16. Whole-gene analysis of RVA in stool specimens revealed 16 EQL-G3P8 strains, 3 of which appear to have acquired an N1 NSP1 gene from locally-circulating G9P8 strains and a novel G2P8 reassortant possessing 7 EQL-G3-associated genes and 3 genes from a locally-circulating G2P4 strain. Phylogenetic/genetic analyses of VP7 gene sequences revealed nine G3 lineages (I–IX) with newly-assigned lineage IX encompassing all reported human EQL-G3 strains along with the ancestral equine strain. VP1 and NSP2 gene phylogenies suggest that EQL-G3P8 strains were introduced into the Dominican Republic from Thailand. The emergence of EQL-G3P8 strains in the Dominican Republic and their reassortment with locally-circulating RVA could have implications for current vaccination strategies.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
IMPORTANCE: A genetic polymorphism affecting FUT2 secretor status in approximately one-quarter of humans of European descent affects the expression of histo-blood group antigens on the mucosal ...epithelia of human respiratory, genitourinary, and digestive tracts. These histo-blood group antigens serve as host receptor sites necessary for attachment and infection of some pathogens, including norovirus. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether an association exists between FUT2 secretor status and laboratory-confirmed rotavirus infections in US children. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Multicenter case-control observational study involving active surveillance at 6 US pediatric medical institutions in the inpatient and emergency department clinical settings. We enrolled 1564 children younger than 5 years with acute gastroenteritis (diarrhea and/or vomiting) and 818 healthy controls frequency matched by age and month, from December 1, 2011, through March 31, 2013. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Paired fecal-saliva specimens were tested for rotavirus and for secretor status. Comparisons were made between rotavirus test–positive cases and healthy controls stratified by ethnicity and vaccination status. Adjusted multivariable analyses assessed the preventive association of secretor status against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis. RESULTS: One (0.5%) of 189 rotavirus test–positive cases was a nonsecretor, compared with 188 (23%) of 818 healthy control participants (P < .001). Healthy control participants of Hispanic ethnicity were significantly less likely to be nonsecretors (13%) compared with healthy children who were not of Hispanic ethnicity (25%) (P < .001). After controlling for vaccination and other factors, children with the nonsecretor FUT2 polymorphism appeared statistically protected (98% 95% CI, 84%-100%) against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Severe rotavirus gastroenteritis was virtually absent among US children who had a genetic polymorphism that inactivates FUT2 expression on the intestinal epithelium. We observed a strong epidemiologic association among children with rotavirus gastroenteritis compared with healthy control participants. The exact cellular mechanism behind this epidemiologic association remains unclear, but evidence suggests that it may be rotavirus genotype specific. The lower prevalence of nonsecretors among Hispanic children may translate to an enhanced burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis among this group. Our findings may have bearing on our full understanding of rotavirus infections and the effects of vaccination in diverse populations.
Background. Botswana introduced monovalent G1P8 rotavirus vaccine (RV1) in July 2012, providing one of the first opportunities to assess the effectiveness of routine RV1 vaccination in a high-burden ...setting in Africa. We sought to determine the effectiveness of RV1 against rotavirus diarrhea hospitalization using a case-control evaluation. Methods. Vaccine age-eligible children <5 years of age admitted with diarrhea at 4 hospitals in Botswana were enrolled from June 2013 to April 2015. Card-confirmed vaccine history was compared between case patients (children with laboratory-confirmed rotavirus diarrhea) and nonrotavirus "test-negative" diarrhea controls. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was computed using unconditional logistic regression models adjusting for age, birth month/year, and hospital. Sequence-based genotyping was performed on antigen-positive samples. Results. Among 242 case patients and 368 controls, 82% (199/242) and 92% (339/368), respectively, had received ≥1 doses of RV1. Effectiveness of a full series (2 doses) of RV1 against rotavirus diarrhea requiring hospitalization was 54% (95% confidence interval CI, 23%–73%); 1 dose of RV1 was 48% (95% CI, 1%–72%) effective. Effectiveness was 59% (95% CI, 4%–83%) against rotavirus caused by G2P4, the most common (37%) circulating genotype. However, the effectiveness of 2 RV1 doses was significantly higher in children with no undernutrition (VE, 75% 95% CI, 41%–89%), compared to those with moderate or severe undernutrition (VE, −28% 95% CI, −309% to 60%) (P = .02). Conclusions. Routine RV1 vaccination in Botswana showed effectiveness similar to that in clinical trials in Africa, including against a serotype fully heterotypic to the vaccine. Undernutrition may in part explain the lower rotavirus VE in low-income settings.
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