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Lassa fever virus (LASV) is the causative agent of Lassa fever, a disease endemic in West Africa. Exploring the relationships between environmental factors and LASV transmission across ecologically diverse regions can provide crucial information for the design of appropriate interventions and disease monitoring. We investigated LASV exposure in 2 ecologically diverse regions of Guinea. Our results showed that exposure to LASV was heterogenous between and within sites. LASV IgG seropositivity was 11.9% (95% CI 9.7%-14.5%) in a coastal study site in Basse-Guinée, but it was 59.6% (95% CI 55.5%-63.5%) in a forested study site located in Guinée Forestière. Seropositivity increased with age in the coastal site. We also found significant associations between exposure risk for LASV and landscape fragmentation in coastal and forested regions. Our study highlights the potential link between environmental change and LASV emergence and the urgent need for research on land management practices that reduce disease risks.

Background The zoonotic malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi has emerged across Southeast Asia and is now the main cause of malaria in humans in Malaysia. A critical priority for P. knowlesi surveillance and control is understanding whether transmission is entirely zoonotic or is also occurring through human-mosquito-human transmission. Methods A systematic literature review was performed to evaluate existing evidence which refutes or supports the occurrence of sustained human-mosquito-human transmission of P. knowlesi . Possible evidence categories and study types which would support or refute non-zoonotic transmission were identified and ranked. A literature search was conducted on Medline, EMBASE and Web of Science using a broad search strategy to identify any possible published literature. Results were synthesized using the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) framework, using vote counting to combine the evidence within specific categories. Results Of an initial 7,299 studies screened, 131 studies were included within this review: 87 studies of P. knowlesi prevalence in humans, 14 studies in non-human primates, 13 studies in mosquitoes, and 29 studies with direct evidence refuting or supporting non-zoonotic transmission. Overall, the evidence showed that human-mosquito-human transmission is biologically possible, but there is limited evidence of widespread occurrence in endemic areas. Specific areas of research were identified that require further attention, notably quantitative analyses of potential transmission dynamics, epidemiological and entomological surveys, and ecological studies into the sylvatic cycle of the disease. Conclusion There are key questions about P. knowlesi that remain within the areas of research that require more attention. These questions have significant implications for malaria elimination and eradication programs. This paper considers limited but varied research and provides a methodological framework for assessing the likelihood of different transmission patterns for emerging zoonotic diseases.

Bispecific antibodies (BsAb) that engage multiple pathways are a promising therapeutic strategy to improve and prolong the efficacy of biologics in complex diseases. In the early stages of discovery, BsAbs often exhibit a broad range of pharmacokinetic (PK) behavior. Optimization of the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) interactions and removal of undesirable physiochemical properties have been used to improve the ‘pharmacokinetic developability’ for various monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutics, yet there is a sparsity of such information for BsAbs. The present work evaluated the influence of FcRn interactions and inherent physiochemical properties on the PK of two related single chain variable fragment (scFv)-based BsAbs. Despite their close relation, the two BsAbs exhibit disparate PK in cynomolgus monkeys with BsAb-1 having an aberrant clearance of ~2 mL/h/kg and BsAb-2 displaying a an ~10-fold slower clearance (~0.2 mL/h/kg). Evaluation of the physiochemical characteristics of the molecules, including charge, non-specific binding, thermal stability, and hydrophobic properties, as well as FcRn interactions showed some differences. In-depth drug disposition results revealed that a substantial disparity in the complete release from FcRn at a neutral pH is a primary factor contributing to the rapid clearance of the BsAb-1 while other biophysical characteristics were largely comparable between molecules.

  Participants will need to bring their own lunch to this session. n Aug. 27 - Building a Better Breakfast: The second session will focus on a healthy breakfast with specific attention given to fitting fruits and carbohydrates into a healthy eating plan. n Sept. 3 - Looking Forward to Lunch: During session three participants will learn to make smart, healthy lunch choices whether brown bagging or eating out with an emphasis on protein, fat and sodium. n Sept. 10 - Getting Down with Dinner: The focus on session four will be on healthy dinner planning - highlighting vitamins, minerals and fiber and how to feed the entire family healthy and satisfying dinners.

A 2002 Morgan poll in South Australia found majority support from people identifying as Anglican (81 per cent), Methodist (87 per cent), Presbyterian (66 per cent), Roman Catholic (69 per cent), Uniting Church (74 per cent), Lutheran (74 per cent) and Baptist (68 per cent).

DO you remember The Jetsons, that 1960s cartoon series depicting a family in the 21st century living in a flying saucer? They commuted in small jet cars, wore futuristic clothes and dirty work seemed to have disappeared. In Port Lincoln recently, I was told by several people that shovelling pilchards for tuna feed paid better than an apprenticeship. However, shovelling pilchards is a tough option for a working lifetime. I have set up an Apprenticeship Hotline to help attract young people into the trades. This includes those Year 12 graduates who may have just learned that they've missed out on a uni or TAFE place but who have many of the desirable qualities needed for an apprenticeship. It's a good strategic move to start them thinking of the benefits of learning a trade. The dozens of calls that started coming in as soon as the hotline opened bear testimony to the potential there to be tapped.

An advisory committee on foster care, chaired by Peter Bicknell, is advising the Government on ways in which we can improve foster- care arrangements and we will also be considering a major report on child protection in the coming months.

The picture, in a national context, is most clearly illustrated by looking at the rate of jobs growth. Full-time employment in SA has grown by 8.3 per cent since March, 2002, representing an average growth rate of 2.1 per cent per annum, equal to the national growth rate.

Five years ago in SA, most employment growth was in part-time jobs. The very good news for SA is that the trend has now been reversed. with most growth now being in full-time jobs.

IT is important to put in perspective The Advertiser coverage this week of the level of job vacancies in South Australia. Job vacancies are an indication of labour demand, not unfilled jobs, and both demand for labour and participation in our workforce are very healthy.