Efficient preprocessing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for single-cell RNA-Sequencing (scRNA-seq) is crucial to ensure high sample throughput while maintaining sample integrity. In particular, when enrichment of rare immune cell populations is necessary to enable their representative profiling among more common PBMCs, sample preprocessing may become a detrimental bottleneck. Here, we present an optimized […]
Fragment end motif analysis to distinguish pathogens from contaminants in enriched plasma microbial DNA
Introduction: Despite its promise, accuracy of microbial cell-free DNA (mDNA) in plasma as a diagnostic tool is hindered by its low abundance and process contaminants. We have previously shown that combining size selection with single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) library preparation increased mDNA yield by 200-fold but also decreased sensitivity for pathogen detection due to higher background […]
On the mechanism of calcium permeability and magnesium block in NMDA receptors – a central molecular paradigm in neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is a fundamental cellular mechanism underlying learning and memory formation and is primed by the coincidental detection of neurotransmitter release from the presynapse and the subsequent calcium influx upon voltage change in the postsynaptic membrane (Bliss and Collingridge, 1993). Molecular assemblies that achieve these events are N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), which bind the neurotransmitter glutamate […]
Using Genomic and Traditional Epidemiologic Approaches to Define Complex Transmission Pathways of Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection in a Neonatal Unit in Botswana, 2022-2023
Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kpn) is a major cause of infant mortality worldwide, with most transmission occurring among hospitalized neonates in low- and middle-income countries where infections caused by multidrug-resistant Kpn (MDR-Kpn) are increasingly common. We hypothesized that integrating laboratory surveillance for neonatal colonization and infection, real-time epidemiologic investigations, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) could identify transmission […]
Post-admixture selection favours Duffy negativity in the Lower Okavango Basin
The FY*BES allele in the human Duffy blood group is nearly fixed across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Individuals homozygous for this allele (Duffy-negative) were considered resistant to red blood cell invasion by the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax, restricting its distribution across the continent. However, as recent studies have demonstrated that P. vivax can infect Duffy-negative […]
Strain sharing and persistence of microbial pathogens colonizing the skin of residents in a regional nursing home network
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including nursing home (NH) residents. Surveillance and control in NHs are resource-limited and typically restricted to perirectal cultures, overlooking both skin colonization and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) not recovered by selective media. Here we show, within the cluster-randomized Project PROTECT trial (NCT03118232), […]
Exploring the importance and preference of sugar feeding behaviour of malaria vectors in sugar plantations of southern Malawi
Background Reliable tools are needed to control opportunistic outdoor biting and resting malaria vectors that remain beyond the reach of indoor targeted interventions. The attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) have demonstrated effectiveness in some settings but have shown limited impact in other areas, likely due to differences in mosquito species preferences and the presence of […]
Patterns of Long-term Ambulatory Care Utilization Following Exposure to Physical and Non-physical Intimate Partner Violence: A Cohort Study
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant determinant of women’s health that can shape care needs and care-seeking over time. Evidence on long-term patterns of ambulatory care use among survivors, however, remains limited. This study examines whether exposure to physical and non-physical IPV is associated with long-term ambulatory care utilization among women in Toronto, Canada. […]
Peripheral transcriptomic signature of chronic antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplantation: a dual effect for MMP9 over time
BACKGROUND: Chronic antibody-mediated rejection (CAMR) is the main cause of late kidney allograft loss, and no specific effective treatment has been identified so far. Here, we proposed to explore the non-invasive peripheral blood transcriptome signature of CAMR. METHODS: First, we compared PBMC gene expression from bulk RNA-seq between 35 patients experiencing late CAMR (mean=7.1 years) […]
Validity of the HEART Score as an Early Assessment Tool in Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Sri Lankan Population: A Single Centre Pilot Study
Objectives The HEART score is a clinical tool used for early risk stratification in patients presenting with chest pain in emergency settings, which facilitates prognostication. Although limited, it has been validated in several countries throughout the world. This study aimed to assess the validity of HEART score, in a Sri Lankan population, as an early […]