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Henipaviruses, such as Hendra and Nipah viruses, are major zoonotic pathogens that cause encephalitis and respiratory infections in humans and animals. The recent emergence of Langya virus in China highlights the need to understand henipavirus host diversity and geographic spread to prevent future outbreaks. Our analysis of the National Center for Biotechnology Information Virus and VIRION databases revealed ≈1,117 henipavirus sequences and 142 complete genomes. Bats (64.7%) and shrews (11.7%) dominated the host species record, and the genera Pteropus and Crocidura contained key henipavirus hosts in Asia, Australia, and Africa. Henipaviruses found in the Eidolon bat genus exhibited the highest within-host genetic distance. Phylogenetic analysis revealed batborne and rodent- or shrew-derived henipaviruses diverged ≈11,000 years ago and the first known lineage originating in Eidolon genus bats ≈9,900 years ago. Pathogenic henipaviruses diverged from their ancestors 2,800-1,200 years ago. Including atypical hosts and regions in future investigations is necessary to control future outbreaks.

Background The genus Verbascum L. (Scrophulariaceae) is distributed in Africa, Europe, and parts of Asia, with the Mediterranean having the most species variety. Several researchers have already worked on the phylogenetic and taxonomic analysis of Verbascum by using ITS data and chloroplast genome fragments and have produced different conclusions. The taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of this genus are unclear. Results The complete plastomes (cp) lengths for V. chaixii , V. songaricum , V. phoeniceum , V. blattaria , V. sinaiticum , V. thapsus, and V. brevipedicellatum ranged from 153,014 to 153,481 bp. The cp coded 114 unique genes comprising of 80 protein-coding genes, four ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and 30 tRNA genes. We detected variations in the repeat structures, gene expansion on the inverted repeat, and single copy (IR/SC) boundary regions. The substitution rate analysis indicated that some genes were under purifying selection pressure. Phylogenetic analysis supported the sister relationship of (Lentibulariaceae + Acanthaceae + Bignoniaceae + Verbenaceae + Pedaliaceae) and (Lamiaceae + Phyrymaceae + Orobanchaceae + Paulowniaceae + Mazaceae) in Lamiales. Within Scrophulariaceae, Verbascum was sister to Scrophularia, while Buddleja formed a monophyletic clade from ( Scrophularia  +  Verbascum ) with high bootstrap support values. The relationship of the nine species within Verbascum was highly supported. Conclusion Based on the phylogenetic results, we proposed to reinstate the species status of V. brevipedicellatum (Engl.) Hub.-Mor. Additionally, three genera ( Mazus , Lancea, and Dodartia ) placed in the Phyrymaceae family formed a separate clade within Lamiaceae. The classification of the three genera was supported by previous studies. Thus, the current study also suggests the circumscription of these genera as documented previously to be reinstated. The divergence time of Lamiales was approximated to be 86.28 million years ago (Ma) (95% highest posterior density (HPD), 85.12–89.91 Ma). The complete plastomes sequence data of the Verbascum species will be important for understanding the Verbascu m phylogenetic relationships and evolution in order Lamiales.

Rumen fermentation, which depends on feed components and rumen microbes, plays a crucial role in feed conversion and the production of various metabolites important for the physiological functions, health, and environmental smartness of ruminant livestock, in addition to providing food for humans. However, given the complexity and variation of the rumen ecosystem and feed of these various livestock species, combined with inter-individual differences between gut microbial communities, how they influence the rumen secondary metabolites remains elusive. Using metagenomics and metabolomics approaches, we show that each livestock species has a signature microbe(s) and secondary metabolites. These findings may contribute toward understanding the rumen ecosystem, microbiome and metabolite networks, which may provide a gateway to manipulating rumen ecosystem pathways toward making livestock production efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.

Rhipsalis baccifera is the only cactus that naturally occurs in both the New World and the Old World, and has thus drawn the attention of most researchers. The complete chloroplast (cp) genome of R. baccifera is reported here for the first time. The cp genome of R. baccifera has 122, 333 base pairs (bp), with a large single-copy (LSC) region (81,459 bp), SSC (23,531 bp) and two inverted repeat (IR) regions each 8530 bp. The genome contains 110 genes, with 73 protein-coding genes, 31 tRNAs, 4 rRNAs and 2 pseudogenes. Twelve genes have introns, with loss of introns being observed in, rpoc1clpP and rps12 genes. 49 repeat sequences and 62 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were found in the genome. Comparative analysis with eight species of the ACPT (Anacampserotaceae, Cactaceae, Portulacaceae, and Talinaceae) clade of the suborder Portulacineae species, showed that R. baccifera genome has higher number of rearrangements, with a 19 gene inversion in its LSC region representing the most significant structural change in terms of its size. Inversion of the SSC region seems common in subfamily Cactoideae, and another 6 kb gene inversion between rbcL- trnM was observed in R. baccifera and Carnegiea gigantea. The IRs of R. baccifera are contracted. The phylogenetic analysis among 36 complete chloroplast genomes of Caryophyllales species and two outgroup species supported monophyly of the families of the ACPT clade. R. baccifera occupied a basal position of the family Cactaceae clade in the tree. A high number of rearrangements in this cp genome suggests a larger number mutation events in the history of evolution of R. baccifera. These results provide important tools for future work on R. baccifera and in the evolutionary studies of the suborder Portulacineae.

Kenya and Uganda have reported different Human African Trypanosomiasis incidences in the past more than three decades, with the latter recording more cases. This cross-sectional study assessed the demographic characteristics, tsetse and trypanosomiasis control practices, socio-economic and cultural risk factors influencing Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (T.b.r.) infection in Teso and Busia Districts, Western Kenya and Tororo and Busia Districts, Southeast Uganda. A conceptual framework was postulated to explain interactions of various socio-economic, cultural and tsetse control factors that predispose individuals and populations to HAT. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted between April and October 2008. Four administrative districts reporting T.b.r and lying adjacent to each other at the international boundary of Kenya and Uganda were purposely selected. Household data collection was carried out in two villages that had experienced HAT and one other village that had no reported HAT case from 1977 to 2008 in each district. A structured questionnaire was administered to 384 randomly selected household heads or their representatives in each country. The percent of respondents giving a specific answer was reported. Secondary data was also obtained on socio-economic and political issues in both countries. Inadequate knowledge on the disease cycle and intervention measures contributed considerable barriers to HAT, and more so in Uganda than in Kenya. Gender-associated socio-cultural practices greatly predisposed individuals to HAT. Pesticides-based crop husbandry in the 1970's reportedly reduced vector population while vegetation of coffee and banana's and livestock husbandry directly increased occurrence of HAT. Livestock husbandry practices in the villages were strong predictors of HAT incidence. The residents in Kenya (6.7%) applied chemoprophylaxis and chemotherapeutic controls against trypanosomiasis to a larger extent than Uganda (2.1%). Knowledge on tsetse and its control methods, culture, farming practice, demographic and socio-economic variables explained occurrence of HAT better than landscape features.

Ruminant livestock like cattle, sheep, goat, and camel, have a unique digestive system with complex microbiota communities that facilitate feed conversion and production of various secondary metabolites including greenhouse gases, which are significant in livestock-vector and livestock environment interactions. However, there is limited understanding of the diversity of rumen microbes and secondary metabolites that have advantageous traits to livestock physiology, productivity, climate, and defense across different ruminant species. In this study using metagenomics and metabolomics data from four evolutionary distinct livestock species, we show that there are signature microbes and secondary metabolites for each species. For instance, camels host a unique anaerobic fungus(F) called Oontomyces, cattle harbor more unique microbes like Psychrobacter (F) and three unique bacteria genera Anaeromyces, Cyllamyces, and Orpinomyces. Goats have Cleistothelebolus (F), while sheep host Liebetanzomyces (F). This phenomenon may indicate that there are species-specific microbes that requires host rumen-microbes’ environment balance. Additionally, there are conserved core bacterial microbes present and in equal abundance regardless of the host genetics, indicating their essential role in maintaining crucial functions. The studied livestock fed on diverse plant materials, including grass, shrubs to acacia trees. Regarding secondary metabolites camel rumen is rich in organic acids, goat with alcohols, and hydrocarbons, sheep with indoles and cattle with sesquiterpenes. These results have implications for manipulating the rumen environment to target specific microbes and secondary metabolite networks, thereby enhancing livestock productivity, resilience, reducing susceptibility to vectors, and environmentally preferred livestock husbandry. Rumen fermentation that depends on feed component and rumen microbes plays a crucial role in feed conversion and production of various metabolites, important for physiological functions, health and environmental smartness of ruminant livestock, in addition to providing food for humans. However, given the complexity and variation of the rumen ecosystem and feed of these various livestock species combined with inter-individual differences between gut microbial communities, how they influence the rumen secondary metabolites remains elusive. Using metagenomics and metabolomics approaches, we show that each livestock species has signature microbe(s) and secondary metabolites. These findings may contribute towards understanding rumen ecosystem, microbiome and metabolite networks, that mayprovide a gateway to manipulate rumen ecosystem pathways towards making livestock production, efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Coronaviruses (CoVs) pose a threat to human health globally, as highlighted by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and the COVID-19 pandemic. Bats from the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) are an important natural reservoir for CoVs. Here we report the differential prevalence of CoVs in bats across biological and ecological factors within Yunnan Province. We also show the coexistence of CoVs in individual bats and identify an additional putative host for SARS-related CoV, with higher dispersal capacity than other known hosts. Notably, 11 SARS-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoVs) were discovered in horseshoe bats and a Chinese water myotis bat by pan-CoV detection and Illumina sequencing. Our findings facilitate an understanding of the fundamental features of the distribution and circulation of CoVs in nature as well as zoonotic spillover risk in the One health framework.

The grandmothers are old and do not have any income to take care of the children. Because these children run greater risks of being malnourished and having stunted growth than children with capable parents, the organization also grows vegetables and fruits while applying permaculture techniques, and teaches the local communities about permaculture principles and ethics.

Prevalence of Prevalence of malaria in pregnancy (MiP) in Kenya ranges from 9% to 18%. We estimated the prevalence and factors associated with MiP and anemia in pregnancy (AiP) among asymptomatic women attending antenatal care (ANC) visits. We performed a cross-sectional study among pregnant women attending ANC at Msambweni Hospital, between September 2018 and February 2019. Data was collected and analyzed in Epi Info 7. Descriptive statistics were calculated and we compared MiP and AiP in asymptomatic cases to those without either condition. Adjusted prevalence Odds odds ratios (aPOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to identify factors associated with asymptomatic MiP and AiP. We interviewed 308 study participants; their mean age was 26.6 years (± 5.8 years), mean gestational age was 21.8 weeks (± 6.0 weeks), 173 (56.2%) were in the second trimester of pregnancy, 12.9% (40/308) had MiP and 62.7% had AiP. Women who were aged [less than or equal to] 20 years had three times likelihood of developing MiP (aPOR = 3.1 Cl: 1.3-7.35) compared to those aged >20 years old. The likelihood of AiP was higher among women with gestational age [greater than or equal to] 16 weeks (aPOR = 3.9, CI: 1.96-7.75), those with parasitemia (aPOR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.31-8.18), those in third trimester of pregnancy (aPOR = 2.6, 95% CI:1.40-4.96) and those who reported eating soil as a craving during pregnancy (aPOR = 1.9, 95%CI:1.15-3.29). Majority of the women had asymptomatic MiP and AiP. MiP was observed in one tenth of all study participants. Asymptomatic MiP was associated with younger age while AiP was associated with gestational age parasitemia, and soil consumption as a craving during pregnancy.

Humoral responses to COVID-19 vaccines in people living with HIV (PLWH) remain incompletely characterized. We measured circulating antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD), ACE2 displacement and viral neutralization activities one month following the first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses, and again 3 months following the second dose, in 100 adult PLWH and 152 controls. All PLWH were receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy, with median CD4+ T-cell counts of 710 (IQR 525–935) cells/mm 3 , though nadir CD4+ T-cell counts ranged as low as <10 cells/mm 3 . After adjustment for sociodemographic, health and vaccine-related variables, HIV infection was associated with lower anti-RBD antibody concentrations and ACE2 displacement activity after one vaccine dose. Following two doses however, HIV was not significantly associated with the magnitude of any humoral response after multivariable adjustment. Rather, older age, a higher burden of chronic health conditions, and dual ChAdOx1 vaccination were associated with lower responses after two vaccine doses. No significant correlation was observed between recent or nadir CD4+ T-cell counts and responses to two vaccine doses in PLWH. These results indicate that PLWH with well-controlled viral loads and CD4+ T-cell counts in a healthy range generally mount strong initial humoral responses to dual COVID-19 vaccination. Factors including age, co-morbidities, vaccine brand, response durability and the rise of new SARS-CoV-2 variants will influence when PLWH will benefit from additional doses. Further studies of PLWH who are not receiving antiretroviral treatment or who have low CD4+ T-cell counts are needed, as are longer-term assessments of response durability.