Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mohammed Alizzi, Romesh Rathnayake, Pirathaban Sivabalan, Theophilus Emeto, Robert Norton
Summary: This study analyzed the epidemiology of Group B streptococcus (GBS) bacteraemia in North Queensland and found that GBS bacteraemia is no longer primarily a neonatal disease. Invasive GBS disease is emerging in the non-indigenous population, with older non-indigenous patients with greater comorbidities being more affected. Three-month mortality is increased in males and the immunosuppressed.
INTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cameron Do, Yuriy Kuleshov
Summary: This study assessed and mapped the risk from tropical cyclones (TCs) nationwide in Australia, finding that the highest risk was in coastal areas of eastern Queensland and New South Wales, followed by medium risk in the Northern Territory and north-western Western Australia.
Article
Agronomy
Lindsay W. Bell, Andrew T. James, Mary Ann Augustin, Artur Rombenso, David Blyth, Cedric Simon, Thomas J. V. Higgins, Jose M. Barrero
Summary: Pulses play a vital role in rotation cropping systems in Australia, with mungbean being the predominant summer crop option, though its yields are variable and drought-prone. Cowpea is proposed as a potential alternative crop for dryland summer cropping, offering competitive and profitable advantages with better drought tolerance and potential value in emerging markets for plant-based protein and aquaculture.
Article
Infectious Diseases
John Vardanega, Laura K. Smith, Simon Smith, Josh Hanson
Summary: A wide variety of animals cause hospitalizations due to bites in tropical Australia. The antimicrobial regimens recommended in current Australian guidelines cover almost all the microbiologic isolates. Delayed presentation and cat-related injuries increase the risk of infection.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michelle Mahony, Dimitrios Menouhos, Jann Hennessy, Robert W. Baird
Summary: This study reviewed the demographic, clinical, temporal, and microbiological characteristics of Pasteurella species infections over a twenty-year period. The incidence of these infections has been increasing and can cause severe infections, particularly in elderly individuals with comorbidities. Animal contact is an important risk factor for these infections.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Cameron Do, Yuriy Kuleshov
Summary: This study presents the results of a risk assessment and mapping of tropical cyclones in Queensland, Australia, highlighting regions that are most at risk. The developed risk maps can be used to proactively manage TC risk at a subnational scale.
Article
Pathology
R. E. B. E. C. C. A. Sparks, A. R. R. A. N. Painter, J. A. C. K. Callum, C. H. R. I. S. T. O. P. H. E. R. Swan, A. D. A. M. Polkinghorne, W. I. N. K. I. E. Fong, M. A. I. L. I. E. Gall, V. I. T. A. L. I. Sintchenko, J. A. M. E. S. Branley
Summary: Bordetella hinzii has emerged as an unusual pathogen causing infections in immunocompromised patients, with previous links to zoonotic transmission. This study investigates the antimicrobial susceptibility and genetic diversity of B. hinzii isolates from elderly immunocompromised patients in Australia. The study finds that B. hinzii isolates showed high resistance to ampicillin, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin, while showing low resistance to meropenem and piperacillin-tazobactam. Genomic analysis reveals the presence of two distinct phylogenetic groups among the isolates, indicating potential dissemination of genetically different strains.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cameron Do, Georgia Elizabeth Saunders, Yuriy Kuleshov
Summary: This study attempts to expand the methodology of tropical cyclone risk assessment by focusing on coral reefs and to understand the risk to Australia's natural environment. The study found that the northern Ningaloo Reef and southern Great Barrier Reef regions had the highest risk values. However, the limitations in data quality mean that these results are only estimates at best.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Thomas R. Mortlock, Jonathan Nott, Ryan Crompton, Valentina Koschatzky
Summary: Natural hazard risk can be assessed using historical records, but short records may fail to capture the true range of variability. This study combines a 6000-year chronology of intense paleo-cyclones with a catastrophe loss model to reassess tropical cyclone wind risk in Northeast Australia. The findings indicate that the past few decades have been less active than the long-term average, and if conditions return to the long-term mean, insured losses would increase by over 200%.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
S. S. Bell, A. J. Dowdy, H. A. Ramsay, S. S. Chand, C-H Su, H. Ye
Summary: The study compares the estimates of extreme winds, specifically from tropical cyclones, using different datasets and analyzes the trends in TC wind strength affecting coastal Australia. The findings suggest that using climate model products can provide useful information on wind load standards, although there may be some limitations and uncertainties in the analysis. The study also highlights the potential regional changes in TC frequency and track direction, indicating the need for further research and longer-term evaluation using climate models.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
S. Safarova, J. van Hoof, L. Law, K. K. Zander, S. T. Garnett
Summary: By analyzing the energy and thermal comfort performance of houses in Darwin, Australia, it was found that people have different perceptions of thermal comfort in higher temperature and humidity conditions and adapt accordingly.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emad Kavehei, Syezlin Hasan, Carla Wegscheidl, Matthew Griffiths, James C. R. Smart, Carlos Bueno, Liz Owen, Kambez Akrami, Mel Shepherd, Scott Lowe, Maria Fernanda Adame
Summary: Treatment wetlands can effectively reduce nitrogen pollution in tropical and subtropical Australia, showing cost-effectiveness when properly located, designed, and managed. High-performing wetlands can remove nitrogen at a lower cost than the benchmark for the Great Barrier Reef, making them a viable option for reducing nitrogen pollution in the region.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Beatrice Z. Sim, Luke Conway, Laura K. Smith, Lee Fairhead, Yi Shan Der, Lara Payne, Enzo Binotto, Simon Smith, Josh Hanson
Summary: Cryptococcal infections in tropical Australia are a significant cause of illness and death. This retrospective study aimed to analyze the characteristics, temporospatial epidemiology, and clinical course of 49 cryptococcal infections in Far North Queensland between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2019. Cryptococcus gattii was the predominant strain, often found in patients living in rural areas, Indigenous Australians, and during the dry season. Compared to Cryptococcus neoformans infections, patients with C. gattii were less likely to be immunocompromised, but there was no significant difference in the need for neurosurgery. Overall, patient outcomes were generally good, likely due to standardized treatment guidelines, low comorbidity rates in C. gattii cases, and access to appropriate healthcare resources.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rokeya Akter, Wenbiao Hu, Michelle Gatton, Hilary Bambrick, Jian Cheng, Shilu Tong
Summary: This study examined the spatial variation of dengue notifications in relation to climate variability and socio-ecological factors in tropical Queensland, Australia. The results indicated that climate and socio-ecological factors explained much of the heterogeneity in dengue transmission dynamics in the tropical climate zone of Queensland, providing valuable insights for designing effective local dengue control programs in high-risk areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel Natusch, Jessica Lyons, Richard Shine
Summary: Although giant snakes are common in tropical forests, their ecology is less known. Through radio-tracking, we found that giant snakes are primarily active at night, with larger snakes being less active during the day. Hunting behavior is more common during the wet season, and their movements are limited despite their large size.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Harindra D. Sathkumara, Karyna Hansen, Socorro Miranda-Hernandez, Brenda Govan, Catherine M. Rush, Lars Henning, Natkunam Ketheesan, Andreas Kupz
Summary: There is a difference in the efficacy of MET against tuberculosis in diabetic and nondiabetic individuals, which warrants further investigation.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jodie L. Morris, Brenda L. Govan, Catherine M. Rush, Natkunam Ketheesan
Summary: Patients with type 2 diabetes are 10 times more likely to develop bacterial infections, specifically melioidosis caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, due to dysregulated early immune responses making them more susceptible to the infection.
MICROBES AND INFECTION
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Ferris Satyaputra, Stephanie Hendry, Maxwell Braddick, Pirathaban Sivabalan, Robert Norton
Summary: Syphilis is a multisystem infection caused by Treponema pallidum. In Australia, there has been a resurgence of syphilis diagnoses, particularly in isolated communities. The challenges posed by the remoteness of these locations and the sociocultural characteristics of the population highlight the importance of utilizing pathology testing for diagnosing the various facets of syphilis.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Nuzhat Z. Surve, Prafulla G. Kerkar, Chandrahas T. Deshmukh, Milind Y. Nadkar, Preeti R. Mehta, Natkunam Ketheesan, Kadaba S. Sriprakash, Mohan G. Karmarkar
Summary: The study revealed elevated antibody responses against host tissue proteins in ARF/RHD patients, with different kinetics of antibody responses against S2 peptides between patient groups, indicating their potential use as markers for monitoring cardiac damage in patients with ARF/RHD.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yun Heacock-Kang, Ian A. McMillan, Michael H. Norris, Zhenxin Sun, Jan Zarzycki-Siek, Andrew P. Bluhm, Darlene Cabanas, Robert E. Norton, Natkunam Ketheesan, Jeff F. Miller, Herbert P. Schweizer, Tung T. Hoang
Summary: Prokaryotic cell transcriptomics has been limited to mixed or sub-population dynamics and individual cells within heterogeneous populations. The authors develop a 'TRANSITomic' approach to profile transcriptomes of single Burkholderia pseudomallei cells as they transit through host cell infection, revealing dynamic gene-expression flux during transit in host cells and identifying genes that are required for pathogenesis. The 'TRANSITome' approach enables high-resolution understanding of host-pathogen interactions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
David J. McMillan, Rukshan A. M. Rafeek, Robert E. Norton, Michael F. Good, Kadaba S. Sriprakash, Natkunam Ketheesan
Summary: The current diagnosis of ARF/RHD relies on clinical observations and non-specific laboratory tests, but advancements in technology have allowed for the potential identification of pathogen associated peptides specific to ARF/RHD. Collaboration and sharing of patient samples could facilitate the development of specific tests, and appropriate animal models may help determine the pathognomonic nature of these peptides. Identification of such peptides could aid in testing potential vaccines and developing affordable point of care devices.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Rukshan A. M. Rafeek, Suchandan Sikder, Adam S. Hamlin, Nicholas M. Andronicos, David J. McMillan, Kadaba S. Sriprakash, Natkunam Ketheesan
Summary: The pathogenesis of ARF/RHD and associated neurobehavioral complications is complex, and robust animal models are required to understand the disease mechanisms. Though challenging, rodent models have significantly contributed to this area, with the Lewis rat autoimmune valvulitis model showing similarities to ARF/RHD.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Ian Gassiep, Michelle J. Bauer, Patrick N. A. Harris, Robert Norton
Summary: This study assessed the safety and sensitivity of the Vitek mass spectrometer in identifying B. pseudomallei directly from positive blood culture samples. The results showed a high identification rate using this method, and using a standard matrix solution to inactivate the bacteria was effective.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Megan J. Hobbs, Natkunam Ketheesan, Keith Eastwood, Peter Massey, Geetha Ranmuthugala, Robert Norton, Frances H. Quirk
Summary: This study assessed the awareness and risk of Q fever among agricultural show attendees. The results showed relatively high awareness of Q fever among participants, but a significant proportion of them had a moderate to high risk of exposure and had not been vaccinated.
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Delaney M. Burnard, Michelle Bauer, Caitlin M. Falconer, Ian Gassiep, Robert M. Norton, David Paterson, Patrick N. A. M. Harris
Summary: The prevalence of the bimA(Bm) variant and antimicrobial resistance mutations were assessed in Burkholderia pseudomallei isolates from Queensland. The bimA(Bm) variant was associated with central nervous system (CNS) disease and novel sequence types were identified. The findings suggest that the bimA(Bm) variant may be a potential therapeutic target for CNS complications.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Pathology
Stephanie Athan, David Athan, Michael Wong, Nurul Hussain, Venkat Vangaveti, Vinay Gangathimmaiah, Robert Norton
Summary: This study investigates the value of C-reactive protein (CRP) in decision-making for emergency department patients with suspected sepsis. The results show that CRP values are not significantly associated with antibiotic use, hospital admission, mortality, etc. Therefore, avoiding CRP testing in these patients can contribute to pathology stewardship and optimal use of healthcare resources.
Article
Microbiology
Mark Armstrong, Justin Morgan, Olena Kazey, Kevin Freeman, Robert Norton
Summary: This study discovered that there were significant differences in the results of the melioidosis indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) between three Australian centers, even though they were testing the same samples. It was revealed that the IHA is an unstandardized test with different source antigens in each laboratory. Melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is a serious disease in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. The gold standard for diagnosis is culture, but serology and antigen detection tests can be used if culture is not possible. However, serologic diagnosis presents challenges due to limited standardization across different assays.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Patricia Redden, Kaitland Parker, Sinead Henderson, Phillip Fourie, Linda Agnew, John Stenos, Stephen Graves, Brenda Govan, Robert Norton, Natkunam Ketheesan
Summary: Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. Vaccination is the most effective method to prevent Q fever. Chronic sequelae may occur in some symptomatic individuals.
FUTURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rukshan A. M. Rafeek, Catherine M. Lobbe, Ethan C. Wilkinson, Adam S. Hamlin, Nicholas M. Andronicos, David J. McMillan, Kadaba S. Sriprakash, Natkunam Ketheesan
Summary: The study identified a new animal model that can simultaneously investigate the neurobehavioral and cardiac abnormalities associated with post-streptococcal complications. Among different strains and genders of rats, Lewis rats exhibited behavioral and cardiac pathology changes more consistent with clinical presentations, making them an important tool for future research.
ANIMAL MODELS AND EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Harindra D. Sathkumara, Janet L. Eaton, Matt A. Field, Brenda L. Govan, Natkunam Ketheesan, Andreas Kupz
Summary: Tuberculosis is one of the deadliest infectious diseases globally, and type 2 diabetes significantly increases the risk of developing active TB. Recent evidence shows that the microbiota plays a significant role in host response to infection, injury, and neoplastic changes. Animal models are crucial for assessing new treatments and understanding immunological defects in comorbid patients with increased TB susceptibility.
ANIMAL MODELS AND EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Syed Iqbal Haider, Naeem Akhtar, Muhammad Saleem, Sheraz Ahmed, Shiza Nadeem, Maham Amjad, Faiz Ul Haq
Summary: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic potential of Raman spectroscopy with rapid urease test and histopathology in diagnosing H. pylori infection. The results showed that Raman spectroscopy had higher sensitivity, accuracy, and specificity compared to the rapid urease test and histopathology. This study demonstrates the applicability of Raman spectroscopy as an innovative detection tool for molecular diagnosis of H. pylori infection in gastritis.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
Editorial Material
Infectious Diseases
Arati Mane, Reshu Agarwal, Meenu Bajpai, Suvarna Sane, Pallavi Vidhate, Partha Rakshit, Preeti Madan, Hema Gogia, Priya Abraham, Sandhya Kabra, Ekta Gupta
Summary: The present study aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of dried blood spot (DBS) for HBsAg and anti-HCV detection using CLIA in three different laboratories across India. DBS can be a simple and convenient alternative to plasma or serum for HBsAg detection, but site-specific validation of the assay is necessary for anti-HCV detection.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Somayeh Yazdanpanah, Maryam Rahbarmah, Marjan Motamedi, Hossein Khodadadi
Summary: This study compared the clinical characteristics of Fungitell and Dynamiker Fungus assays for diagnosing candidemia. The results showed that the DFA assay performed excellently, with high consistency with the FA assay and superior diagnostic performance.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Or Kriger, Natasha Belausov, Shiraz Gefen-Halevi, Nadezda Savieva, Sharon Amit
Summary: This study demonstrates that the usage of preservative-containing urine tubes may inhibit pathogens in low-volume pediatric urine samples, resulting in false-negative results. We advocate for large-scale validations by regulators to ensure result consistency.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Merve Zerey Albayrak, Sureyya Gul Yurtsever, Bilal Olcay Peker, Tuba Muderris, Selcuk Kaya
Summary: This study evaluated the antibody and T cell responses of homologous and heterologous booster doses for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The results showed that individuals who received heterologous boosters had higher antibody levels and higher levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2, and IL-13.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sibra R. M. Shihab, Bushran N. Iqbal, Shiyamalee Arunasalam, Faseeha Noordeen
Summary: This study investigated the effect of sample-based RNA quality on COVID-19 real-time RT-PCR results. The purity of the extracts and concentration of RNA were found to impact test interpretations. The presence of impurities led to inconclusive test results.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ellen Vancutsem, Florence Crombe, Oriane Soetens, Magali Wautier, Corinna Dordelmann, Denis Pierard, Ingrid Wybo, Thomas Demuyser
Summary: Quantification of EBV DNA is crucial in transplantation settings for post-transplantation diagnosis. This study evaluated the performance of the AltoStar (R) EBV PCR Kit 1.5 on whole blood samples and found it to be reliable and accurate, with good sensitivity and linear range for EBV viral load determination.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nouf K. Almaghlouth, Panagiotis Arvanitis, Kendra Vieira, Abby London, Dimitrios Farmakiotis
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of the Viracor CMV-T-cell immunity Panel (TCIP) in predicting CMV events. The results showed that CMV-specific CD4+ and CD8(+)T-cells were significantly lower in those with CMV events, and the TCIP could be a useful adjunct tool in individualized management of CMV infection.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Linzhen Zhu, Haoting Zhang, Haibo Gu, Jianying Zhou
Summary: This case report describes a 70-year-old male patient with previously unknown immunodeficiency. Multiple pulmonary nodular shadows were observed on radiography. Fungal infection was detected in various samples, and the patient was ultimately diagnosed with disseminated Talaromyces marneffei infection and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The main significance of this study is to emphasize the importance for clinicians to obtain comprehensive specimens from patients presenting with multiple masses in order to ensure accurate clinical diagnosis.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ming Chang, Sambasivan Venkatasubramanian, Holly Barrett, Kevin B. Urdahl, Kris M. Weigel, Gerard A. Cangelosi, Javeed A. Shah, Aparajita Saha, Libing Feng, Kristin N. Adams, David R. Sherman, Nahum Smith, Chetan Seshadri, Sean C. Murphy, James G. Kublin
Summary: Efforts are being made globally to develop vaccines and drugs against M. tuberculosis. This study developed a real-time RT-PCR assay to detect pre-rRNA as a biomarker for bacterial viability. The assay showed promising results in mouse models, indicating its potential in future clinical studies for tuberculosis drugs and vaccines.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
Letter
Infectious Diseases
Temi Lampejo, Fadia Alsheikh, Declan Crilly, Martin Brown
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Yao Li, Pengfei Shi, Rong Zhu
Summary: This study successfully diagnosed a case of lung abscess caused by Porphyromonas endodontalis using mNGS technology, highlighting the importance of considering inhalation diseases caused by oral pathogens in patients with periodontal diseases and respiratory symptoms.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mariana Quaresma de Souza, Dienefer Venske Bierhals, Ana Julia Reis, Erica Chimara, Julia Silveira Vianna, Andrea von Groll, Pedro Almeida da Silva, Ivy Bastos Ramis
Summary: This study proposed and evaluated a drug susceptibility testing method using 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) as a colorimetric indicator for the clinical relevant non-tuberculous mycobacteria (Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABC), M. avium complex (MAC), and M. kansasii). The results showed high agreement between TTC assay and the recommended broth microdilution method, indicating the potential of TTC as a promising indicator in drug susceptibility testing for NTM.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Shanshan Zhang, Mingyuan Duan, Shuang Li, Jie Hou, Ting Qin, Zhanwei Teng, Jianhe Hu, Huihui Zhang, Xiaojing Xia
Summary: Rapid detection of pathogenic microorganisms is crucial for epidemiologic identification, prevention, and control in public health. PCR-based methods have limitations in resource-limited areas due to the need for precise temperature control. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) is a new nucleic acid amplification technology that can amplify DNA or RNA at a constant temperature, offering simplicity, high specificity and sensitivity, and short detection time. Microfluidic technology combined with RPA enables rapid detection of pathogenic microorganisms by integrating nucleic acid extraction, amplification, and detection.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Piyush Agrawal, Aditya Upadhyay, Awanish Kumar
Summary: Tuberculosis is a lethal infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. During infection, the expression of host microRNAs changes, which could be potential biomarkers for early detection of tuberculosis. Further research is needed to identify potential microRNA biomarkers, but momentum is gaining in this field and microRNAs are expected to become routine approaches for reliable diagnosis and specific therapeutic interventions.
DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2024)
