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Westworld is a science fiction series that proposes a theme park of the future where ‘guests’ can live a Wild West experience without restrictions or reprisals, thanks to reallooking android ‘hosts’ who grant all their wishes. Due to the topic covered, this science fiction series allows its use as a common thread for an article that considers the concept of hospitality, the host-guest relationship and its consequence for the management of tourist destinations. This is achieved through an exegesis of Westworld and an analysis of academic bibliography. First, different concepts of hospitality and what they imply for the host-guest relationship are identified. Subsequently, how different theoretical developments on the resident-tourist relationship are proposed entailing different interpretations and reactions to the same objective reality. In conclusion, it should be noted that when tourism is perceived as subordinating the host to the wishes of the guest (as in Westworld), the appearance of anti-tourism attitudes among residents is only a matter of time, generating conflicts. Furthermore, the importance of dominant interpretive theories in determining the reaction of the local population to events that occur should be highlighted.

The potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for tissue repair and regeneration has garnered great attention. While MSCs are likely to interact with microbes at sites of tissue damage and inflammation, like in the gastrointestinal system, the consequences of pathogenic association on MSC activities have yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the effects of pathogenic interaction on MSC trilineage differentiation paths and mechanisms using model intracellular pathogen Salmonella enterica ssp enterica serotype Typhimurium. The examination of key markers of differentiation, apoptosis, and immunomodulation demonstrated that Salmonella altered osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation pathways in human and goat adipose-derived MSCs. Anti-apoptotic and pro-proliferative responses were also significantly upregulated (p < 0.05) in MSCs during Salmonella challenge. These results together indicate that Salmonella, and potentially other pathogenic bacteria, can induce pathways that influence both apoptotic response and functional differentiation trajectories in MSCs, highlighting that microbes have a potentially significant role as influencers of MSC physiology and immune activity.

Golf ball sponges are small, sometimes inconspicuous, sponges. They can be found across a range of habitats varying from perturbed and pristine coral reefs to harbours and marine lakes and from the deep sea to shallow waters. They can be difficult to distinguish in the field and have presented some problems with taxonomists lumping and splitting species due to the difficulty in defining clear species boundaries. In the present study, we sampled golf ball sponges from Indo‐Pacific and Caribbean locations and used 16S gene amplicon sequencing to study their prokaryotic communities. We show that golf ball sponges harbour a wide variety of prokaryotic communities. Among the most prevalent operational taxonomic units (OTUs), several belonged to a range of taxa, including the bacterial AqS1 and EC94 groups, which have been associated with genes known to facilitate interactions between hosts and microbes. Certain host taxa were enriched with OTUs classified to the SAR202 clade of Chloroflexi. Our findings show that prokaryotic dissimilarity varied as a function of space (geographical distance) and host dissimilitude. The importance of space and host dissimilitude, however, varied depending on the data transformation with host dissimilitude a more important predictor of untransformed data whereas space was a more important predictor of log‐transformed data. Given that log‐transformation downscales the influence of abundant taxa, we interpret these results by the tendency of closely related host organisms to host similar sets of abundant symbiotic microorganisms; distantly sampled specimens, in contrast, tend to harbour less abundant prokaryotic microorganisms found in the surrounding environment (e.g., seawater or sediment). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, infectious disease diagnosis has increasingly turned to host-centered approaches as a complement to pathogen-directed ones. The former, however, typically requires the interpretation of complex multiple biomarker datasets to arrive at an informative diagnostic outcome. This report describes a machine learning (ML)-based classification workflow that is intended as a template for researchers seeking to apply ML approaches for developing host-based infectious disease biomarker classifiers. As an example, we built a classification model that could accurately distinguish between three disease etiology classes: bacterial, viral, and normal in human sera using host protein biomarkers of known diagnostic utility. After collecting protein data from known disease samples, we trained a series of increasingly complex Auto-ML models until arriving at an optimized classifier that could differentiate viral, bacterial, and non-disease samples. Even when limited to a relatively small training set size, the model had robust diagnostic characteristics and performed well when faced with a blinded sample set. We present here a flexible approach for applying an Auto-ML-based workflow for the identification of host biomarker classifiers with diagnostic utility for infectious disease, and which can readily be adapted for multiple biomarker classes and disease states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hosts can evolve a variety of defences against parasitism, including resistance (which prevents or reduces the spread of infection) and tolerance (which protects against virulence). Some organisms have evolved different levels of tolerance at different life-stages, which is likely to be the result of coevolution with pathogens, and yet it is currently unclear how coevolution drives patterns of age-specific tolerance. Here, we use a model of tolerance-virulence coevolution to investigate how age structure influences coevolutionary dynamics. Specifically, we explore how coevolution unfolds when tolerance and virulence (disease-induced mortality) are age-specific compared to when these traits are uniform across the host lifespan. We find that coevolutionary cycling is relatively common when host tolerance is age-specific, but cycling does not occur when tolerance is the same across all ages. We also find that age-structured tolerance can lead to selection for higher virulence in shorter-lived than in longer-lived hosts, whereas non-age-structured tolerance always leads virulence to increase with host lifespan. Our findings therefore suggest that age structure can have substantial qualitative impacts on host–pathogen coevolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mermithid parasitoids are well known to infect spiders; however, their impact on hosts and their taxonomic identity are still poorly analyzed. We present the first record of a mermithid nematode infection in the spider genera Piratula (Lycosidae) and Coelotes (Agelenidae), and in the species Alopecosa pulverulenta and Pardosa paludicola (Lycosidae). We describe the maldevelopment of the spiders' female genitalia induced by the parasitoid and summarize data on the impact of nematode parasitoids on spider development and behaviour. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the 18S rDNA, showed that spider parasitoidism arose independently in different branches of the phylogenetic tree of the family Mermithidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In the southeastern United States of America, shifts in the environment such as climate change and host availability are pushing tick populations to spread into new areas. It is hypothesized that, as they migrate, tick populations have developed a behavior known as incomplete feeding. With this, ticks feed on more than one host at each life stage, increasing the chance of pathogen transmission. In South Carolina, we found evidence of ticks displaying this behavior. We collected engorged female ticks from stray dogs at animal shelters across the state in 2022. Testing showed that about a third of these ticks had fed on humans. The patterns varied depending on the tick species, where they were found, and the time of collection. This pilot study reflects the growing trend of tick-borne diseases in the southeastern USA. It is crucial to dig deeper into how factors like the season, location, and species are linked to incomplete feeding behavior in South Carolina's tick populations. Dynamic environmental conditions, such as climate change and host availability, have greatly influenced the expansion of medically relevant tick vectors into new regions throughout the southeastern United States of America. As tick populations migrate into new areas, it has been suggested they can exhibit a phenomenon known as incomplete feeding. With this phenomenon, tick vectors feed on more than one host at each life stage, thus increasing the likelihood of pathogen transmission. Although this behavior is not well understood, it presents an important threat to human health. Here we present evidence of incomplete feeding behaviors in multiple tick species in South Carolina. Engorged, blood-fed female ticks were collected from feral dogs at animal shelters across South Carolina in 2022. All ticks were tested for human blood meals using rapid stain identification blood tests. Approximately one third (33.78%) of all ticks tested positive for a human blood meal, with various patterns seen across species, geographic location, and collection month. The results of this pilot study follow the current national trend of increasing rates of tick-borne disease incidence in the southeastern United States of America and warrant further investigation into the relationship between seasonality, geographic distribution, species, and incomplete feeding among tick populations in South Carolina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Urban green spaces are locations of maximal human activity, forming areas of enhanced risk for tick‐borne disease (TBD) transmission. Being also limited in spatial scale, green spaces form prime targets for control schemes aiming to reduce TBD risk. However, for effective control, the key species maintaining local tick and tick‐borne pathogen (TBP) populations must be identified. To determine how patterns of host utilization vary spatially, we utilized blood meal analysis to study the contributions of voles, shrews, squirrels, leporids and cervids towards blood meals and the acquisition of TBPs of juvenile Ixodes ricinus in urban and sylvatic areas in Finland. Methods and Results: A total of 1084 nymphs were collected from the capital city of Finland, Helsinki and from a sylvatic island in southwestern Finland, and subjected to qPCR analysis to identify DNA remnants of the previous host. We found significant differences in host contributions between urban and sylvatic environments. Specifically, squirrels and leporids were more common hosts in urban habitats, whereas cervids and voles were more common in sylvatic habitats. In addition to providing 18.4% of larval blood meals in urban habitats, red squirrels were identified as the source of 28.6% (n = 48) of Borrelia afzelii detections and 58.1% (n = 18) of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto detections, indicating an important role for local enzootic cycles. Conclusions: Our study highlights that the key hosts maintaining tick and TBP populations may be different in urban and sylvatic habitats. Likewise, hosts generally perceived as important for upkeep may have limited importance in urban environments. Consequently, targeting control schemes based on off‐site data of host importance may lead to suboptimal results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amblyomma multipunctum is a poorly known Neotropical tick (Acari, Ixodidae) described in 1899. It has been found associated with large mammals such as tapirs (Tapirus), and the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus). Males, females and nymphs have been described; however, the larvae of the species remain unknown. Valid records for A. multipunctum are few and limited to three countries in northwestern South America: Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. In the present work, two partially engorged nymphs of A. multipunctum parasitizing the northern pudu, Pudu (Pudella) mephistophiles, were collected near to the Puracé National Natural Park, Department of Cauca, Colombia. Ticks were identified by morphology, with diagnostic characters such as scutum with multiple punctuations, two separate spurs in coxa I (the external being longer than the internal), a small triangular spur in coxae II–IV, spiracular plate triangular with rounded angles and a vestigial prolongation in article I of the palps. In addition, the taxonomical identity was validated using molecular evidence by PCR amplification of a fragment of the 16S rDNA gene, showing an identity percentage of 100% comparing with sequences in GenBank for A. multipunctum. This study reports the first association of A. multipunctum with P. mephistophiles, the extension of geographical distribution in Colombia, extending its elevational range by 644 m in the country, and contributing to the knowledge of the intraspecific variation of the tick nymph. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central to the volunteer tourism experience is the encounter with the host community. Much of the existing literature privileges the voices of volunteers and organizations, with the perspectives of the local communities poorly represented. This study on the host???guest relationships of orphanage volunteer tourism in Nepal challenges the understanding of the stable and hierarchical configuration of power. It reflects on the multiplicity and particularity of political action and how this action is not only found in the grand narratives of historical social change, but often unfolds in the small, fragile, and repetitive actions of touristic daily lives. By focusing on the acts of performing volunteer tourism, this article questions the victimization of those who are at the edges of traditional power structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microviridae is a family of phages with circular ssDNA genomes and they are widely found in various environments and organisms. In this study, virome techniques were employed to explore potential members of Microviridae in a poultry slaughterhouse, leading to the identification of 98 novel and complete microvirus genomes. Using a similarity clustering network classification approach, these viruses were found to belong to at least 6 new subfamilies within Microviridae and 3 higher-level taxonomic units. Genome size, GC content and genome structure of these new taxa showed evident regularities, validating the rationality of our classification method. Our method can divide microviruses into about 45 additional detailed clusters, which may serve as a new standard for classifying Microviridae members. Furthermore, by addressing the scarcity of host information for microviruses, the current study significantly broadened their host range and discovered over 20 possible new hosts, including important pathogenic bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori and Vibrio cholerae, as well as different taxa demonstrated different host specificities. The findings of this study effectively expand the diversity of the Microviridae family, providing new insights for their classification and identification. Additionally, it offers a novel perspective for monitoring and controlling pathogenic microorganisms in poultry slaughterhouse environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing new host materials is crucial to enhance the performance of blue organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs), but achieving long operational lifetimes for OLEDs has been challenging. In this study, boron‐ and silane‐based electron transport–type (n‐type) host materials, 5,9‐dioxa‐13b‐boranaphtho[3,2,1‐de]anthracen‐7‐yltriphenylsilane (BO‐pSi) and 2,12‐bis(triphenylsilyl)‐5,9‐dioxa‐13b‐boranaphtho[3,2,1‐de]anthracene (BO‐2mSi), derived from boron‐ and oxygen‐based 5,9‐dioxa‐13b‐boranaphtho[3,2,1‐de]anthracene (DOBNA) are developed. The DOBNA derivatives are modified with a triphenylsilyl blocking group to alleviate intermolecular interactions arising from the planar structure of DOBNA. The DOBNA derivatives maintain high triplet energy even in the solid state and show thermally activated delayed fluorescence features with electron transport properties. BO‐pSi is used as an n‐type host and exhibits a long operational lifetime of ≈5000 h up to 50% of the initial luminance of blue phosphorescent OLEDs. Furthermore, BO‐2mSi demonstrates a high external quantum efficiency of 7.1%, a small full width at half maximum of 33 nm, and a pure‐violet color coordinate of (0.16, 0.02) while maintaining color purity even at high doping concentrations up to 50 wt%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out in 3 types of biotopes where vegetable crops are not grown to highlight their contribution to the dynamics of vegetable-infesting flies. To this end, a trapping system based on a sexual attractant, the Cuelure associated with an insecticide was set up in 18 biotopes (6 natural areas, 6 mango orchards, and 6 agroforestry parks) in the regions of Hauts Bassins and Cascades in the South-West of Burkina Faso. During the trapping monitoring, which was done every 2 wk to collect insects captured, fruits present in 3 types of biotopes were sampled and incubated for insect emergence. Ten Dacus (Fabricius) [Diptera: Tephritidae] species and Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) [Diptera: Tephritidae] were trapped in the study area. The predominant species captured was Z. cucurbitae (52.93%) followed by Dacus punctatifrons (Karsch) [Diptera: Tephritidae] (29.89%) and Dacus humeralis (Bezzi) (12.71%). Six tephritid species were emerged from 6 wild fruit species belonging to Cucurbitaceae, Apocynaceae, and Passifloraceae families. Fruit flies were more abundant from Jul to Nov with peaks observed in Aug or Oct depending on the species. Citrullus colocynthis L. (Cucurbitaceae) , Lagenaria sp. (Cucurbitaceae), Passiflora foetida L. (Passifloraceae), and Passiflora sp. acted as reservoir host plants of Dacus ciliatus (Loew), Dacus bivittatus (Bigot), Dacus vertebratus (Bezzi) [Diptera: Tephritidae], D. punctatifrons , and Z. cucurbitae , the major vegetable insect pests in West Africa. The 3 types of biotopes acted as suitable refuge areas of vegetable crop-infesting fruit flies either for the favorable microclimate or for the alternative host plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, with Italy as a case-study, provides a general overview on the ecology of lichenicolous lichens, i.e. those which start their life-cycle on the thallus of other lichens. It aims at testing whether some ecological factors do exert a positive selective pressure on the lichenicolous lifestyle. The incidence of some biological traits (photobionts, growth-forms and reproductive strategies) in lichenicolous and non-lichenicolous lichens was compared, on a set of 3005 infrageneric taxa potentially occurring in Italy, 189 of which are lichenicolous. Lichenicolous lichens have a much higher incidence of coccoid (non-trentepohlioid) green algae, crustose growth-forms and sexual reproduction. A matrix of the 2762 species with phycobionts and some main ecological descriptors was subjected to ordination. Lichenicolous lichens occupy a well-defined portion of the ecological space, tending to grow on rocks in dry, well-lit habitats where a germinating spore is likely to have a short life-span, at all altitudes. This corroborates the hypothesis that at least some of them are not true "parasites", as they are often called, but gather the photobionts - which have already adapted to local ecological conditions - from their hosts, eventually developing an independent thallus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mosquito-borne orthobunyaviruses in Canada are a growing public health concern. Orthobunyaviral diseases are commonly underdiagnosed and in Canada, likely underreported as surveillance is passive. No vaccines or specific treatments exist for these disease agents. Further, climate change is facilitating habitat expansion for relevant reservoirs and vectors, and it is likely that the majority of the Canadian population is susceptible to these viruses. Methods: A scoping review was conducted to describe the current state of knowledge on orthobunyavirus epidemiology in Canada. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guideline was used. Literature searches were conducted in six databases and in gray literature. The epidemiology of orthobunyaviruses was characterized for studies focusing on host species, including spatiotemporal patterns, risk factors, and climate change impact. Results: A total of 172 relevant studies were identified from 1734 citations from which 95 addressed host species, including humans, wildlife, and domestic animals including livestock. The orthobunyaviruses—Cache Valley virus (CVV), Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV), Snowshoe Hare virus (SHV), and La Crosse virus (LACV)—were identified, and prevalence was widespread across vertebrate species. CVV, JCV, and SHV were detected across Canada and the United States. LACV was reported only in the United States, predominantly the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachian regions. Disease varied by orthobunyavirus and was associated with age, environment, preexisting compromised immune systems, or livestock breeding schedule. Conclusion: Knowledge gaps included seroprevalence data in Canada, risk factor analyses, particularly for livestock, and disease projections in the context of climate change. Additional surveillance and mitigation strategies, especially accounting for climate change, are needed to guide future public health efforts to prevent orthobunyavirus exposure and disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the features of acquiring artistic and creative competence, as a child's elementary awareness of the specifics of art forms (artistic and productive, musical, theatrical); valuable attitude to art and artistic activity, the desire to perceive folklore art. Folkloric forms of the heritage of Ukrainian culture are considered. Teaching and methodical material and practical recommendations are offered, which in music classes will be useful both to experienced teachers of preschool institutions and to those workers who are starting to work with the smallest brains. Normative documents in the field of preschool education were studied and play competence was considered as a child's ability to free, emotionally saturated, spontaneous activity on his/her own initiative, in which the possibility of applying existing and assimilating new knowledge and personal development is realized due to the child's desire to participate in the life of adults through the realization of interests in game and role-playing actions in a generalized form. The necessity of using folk games for the formation of artistic and creative competence in preschool children is substantiated. Peculiarities of knowledge of the surrounding world of preschool children and themselves in it are determined. The work proposes to create a basis for the natural formation and development of musical abilities in preschoolers through a folk game by encouraging children to play folk games. It has been emphasized that raising children is based on love and respect for Ukrainian musical folklore. The secrets of conducting music classes using folk games and working with preschoolers are recommended to teachers of primary schools, music teachers, teachers of children's vocal ensembles of extracurricular and club institutions, scientists, graduate students, students of pedagogical and art educational institutions, parents and the general public [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The milk added to the semen extender media acts by binding to seminal plasma proteins, which may protect the sperm cell from undergoing the capacitation process or acrosomal reaction in advance. Among these proteins, sodium caseinate stands out, which represents 80% of all proteins present in milk. Caseins are also able to protect the sperm cell by decreasing the loss of lipids through the plasma membrane, decreasing the binding of seminal plasma proteins to the plasma membrane. The objective of this study was to determine whether the addition of sodium caseinate in different concentrations to the freezing extender medium favors sperm viability after a long period of refrigeration. For this, three concentrations of sodium caseinate were used, 0.0, 1.0, and 2.0%, in the cryopreservation medium. In addition to caseinate concentrations, three refrigeration times were tested at 5 ºC, 12 and 24 hours. So, the ejaculates were divided into nine groups 0H/0%, 0H/1%, 0H/2%, 12H/0%, 12H/1%, 12H/2%, 24H/0%, 24H/1% and 24H/2%. Ten stallions underwent reproductive evaluation, being included only those with sperm motility ≥ 70%. Fluorescent probes, hypoosmotic (HOST), and thermoresistance (TTR) tests were used to evaluate the functionality of the plasma membrane and the longevity of sperm cells, respectively. There was no stat. difference (p>0.05) between groups for membrane integrity. However, for the TTR, it was possible to observe a stat. difference (p<0.05) for the 24H/2% group with a lower response. The integrity of the plasma membrane, compared to the refrigeration time and the concentration of sodium caseinate, did not change. Therefore, it was concluded that sperm longevity was impaired with the use of a 2% concentration of sodium caseinate, and its use is not recommended for sending refrigerated semen, for insemination or freezing, that exceeds 12 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apicomplexan parasites are aetiological agents of numerous diseases in humans and livestock. Functional genomics studies in these parasites enable the identification of biological mechanisms and protein functions that can be targeted for therapeutic intervention. Recent improvements in forward genetics and whole‐genome screens utilising CRISPR/Cas technology have revolutionised the functional analysis of genes during Apicomplexan infection of host cells. Here, we highlight key discoveries from CRISPR/Cas9 screens in Apicomplexa or their infected host cells and discuss remaining challenges to maximise this technology that may help answer fundamental questions about parasite–host interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epiphytic species are ecologically important and a significant component of biodiversity. To ensure their efficient conservation, we need to understand their ecology and host plant associations. It is also important to investigate how the predicted temperature change will affect their future distribution. Here, we use data collected in Nepal to investigate how epiphytic orchids are associated with host species, their distribution patterns, and how they may be threatened by the predicted increase in temperature towards the end of the 21st century. We used the phi coefficient (Φ) of association to calculate the associations of epiphytic orchid species with plants and rarefaction to describe the diversity of orchids associated with a particular host species. We used interpolation to estimate the distribution of epiphytic orchids and their host species along altitudinal gradients. The phi (Φ) coefficient of association revealed that 30 species of host plants showed more association with different orchid species than expected. The number of epiphytic orchids increased with the number of host individuals. We predict that an increase in temperature by ~3 °C, which is a more moderate value of temperature increase by the end of the 21st century, will affect at least 52 narrow-ranged species of orchids and 58 narrow-ranged species of host plants. Therefore, we should make efforts to prevent many plant species from becoming extinct, as an increase in temperature is likely to affect their existence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of ixodid ticks display host-specificity to varying extents. Feeding on different hosts affects their development and reproduction. Consequences can be analyzed at the level of the egg, as it is the initial stage of tick development. Tick egg proteins are abundant and diverse, providing nutrients for embryonic development. However, studies on tick egg profiles are scarce. In this study, we aimed to analyze whether feeding Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis ticks on the yaks (Bos grunniens) and domestic sheep (Ovis aries) has an impact on the variety and variability of the egg proteome. Detached engorged females were used to lay eggs, which were then collected, dewaxed, and subjected to protein extraction. The extracted egg proteins were enzymatically digested using Filter-Aided Sample Preparation (FASP), and the unique peptides were separated and detected by Liquid Chromatography-tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The MS data were searched against the previously constructed whole tick transcriptome library of H. qinghaiensis, and the UniProt database for the identification of tick-derived egg proteins. The analysis revealed 49 and 53 high-confidence proteins identified in eggs collected from B. grunniens (EggBg) and O. aries (EggOa), respectively. Of these, 46 high-confidence proteins were common to both egg types, while three were unique to EggBg and seven to EggOa. All the identified proteins mainly belonged to enzymes, enzyme inhibitors, transporters, and proteins with unknown functions. The differential abundance analysis showed that nine proteins were significantly more present in EggBg, while six were significantly more present in EggOa. Overall, enzymes were the most diverse group, while vitellogenin (Vg) was the most abundant. Blood meal uptake on different hosts has a certain effect on the egg proteome composition and the abundance of some proteins, but it may also lead to compensation of protein roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hyperparasitism of tetracotyle metacercariae (Cotylurus sp.; Strigeidae) in trematode asexually multiplicating larval stages (sporocysts and/or rediae) within snail intermediate hosts have been perceived for years as a highly evolved mode of life strategy within trematodes, enhancing their development and transmission success. Here, we verified these data and the potential implications for the co-evolution of life strategies within the host–parasite–hyperparasite system. During complex research on the taxonomy and life cycles of trematodes of the family Strigeidae, the results showed that the phenomenon of metacercariae hyperparasitism on sporocysts/rediae within snail hosts is not uncommon in natural conditions in central Europe. However, the relatively low rate of cases of hyperparasitism within the population of snails and the lack of visible trends favouring such a life strategy suggest the accidental nature of this phenomenon. Simultaneously, we found a significantly higher prevalence and mean intensity of tetracotyles in snails without sporocysts/rediae than in snails co-infected by these larval stages and tetracotyles. These distinctions suggest negative relationships between tetracotyles and trematode asexually multiplicating larval stages within snails, with a potential impact on the structure and functioning of trematode larval infracommunities in snail intermediate hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Li-S batteries (LSBs) have been considering as new and promising energy storage systems because of the high theoretical energy density and low price. Nevertheless, their practical application is inhibited by several factors, including poor electrical conductivity of electrode materials, greatly volumetric variation, as well as the polysulfide formation upon the cycling. To address these problems, it is imperative to develop and design effective and suitable sulfur host anode materials. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs)-based cathode materials, possessing their good conductivity and easy morphology design, have been extensively studied and exhibited enormously potential in LSBs. In this review, a comprehensive overview of MOFs-based sulfur host materials is provided, including their electrochemical reaction mechanisms, related evaluation parameters, and their performances used in LSBs in the past few years. In particular, the recent advances using in-situ characterization technologies for investigating the electrochemical reaction mechanism in LSBs are presented and highlighted. Additionally, the challenges and prospects associated with future research on MOF-related sulfur host materials are discussed. It is anticipated to offer the guidance for the identification of suitable MOFs-based sulfur cathode materials for high-performance LSBs, thereby contributing for the achievement of a sustainable and renewable society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Widely regarded as one of the chief causes of diseases in cattle population, bovine herpesvirus‐1 (BoHV‐1) has the potential to infect sheep and goat, making them potential reservoirs or hosts for this virus. Thus, preventive measures against BoHV‐1 in cattle should not overlook the ability of this virus to infect other animals. Aims Therefore, the focal point of this study was to ascertain the seroprevalence of BoHV‐1 in 300 healthy goats, the relationship between host and the environmental determinants of infection, and the contributing role of goats in the epidemiology of the BoHV‐1. Materials & Methods In order to pinpoint the existing antibodies to BoHV‐1, the obtained sera were analyzed by Virus Neutralization test. Results According to this test, the seroprevalence of BoHV‐1 appeared to be 64.33% in southwestern Iran. What logistic regression disclosed was that the odds ratio between age and infection with BoHV‐1 was 0.83 (p = 0.01), representing a decrease of 17% as goats grew one year older. In addition, females manifested a higher relative frequency of infection compared to males, with the odds of infection in female goats being registered at 1.88, compared to those in males (p = 0.2). Moreover, contrasted with goats lacking any history of abortion, those with a history of abortion featured 1.1 as the odds ratio (p = 0.87). The seroprevalence in Hendijan, Ahvaz, Shushtar and Dasht e Azadegan was detected to stand at 73.24, 71.30, 55.56 and 47.06 percent, respectively, with 6% of fluctuation in the infection rates being attributed to various geographical locations under the scrutiny of this study (p = 0.003). Discussion and Conclusion Having attested the marked seroprevalence of BoHV‐1, the definitive role of goats in the epidemiology of this virus as a secondary host or reservoir was confirmed by the present study, necessitating the strict monitoring of BoHV‐1 in goats by animal health authorities in areas where BoHV‐1 abounds in cattle.

Among cattle, Bos taurus breeds and their crosses are more sensitive to tick infestations than Bos indicus breeds that are more resistant to infestation and more adaptable to tropical climates. The presence of susceptible individuals in herds and inadequate tick control lead to direct and indirect losses in the meat production chain, in addition to increased mortality due to cattle tick fever. The objective of this study was to describe, compare and rank the sensitivity of different breeds of stabled cattle to the tick Rhipicephalus microplus and to present, as an innovative result, a scale called the Tick Ruler. Secondary data on the number of retrieved engorged females, engorged female ticks’ weight, egg mass weight and number of larvae were extracted from research reports of experiments conducted over 18 years with eight breeds to describe and report the sensitivity of the breeds to artificial infestation by R. microplus larvae. For analyses, the recovery rate of engorged female ticks and the percentile of dispersion of individuals in their respective races were calculated, and comparison of these percentiles between races was performed. The ranking of the percentiles resulted in the organization of the breeds by their susceptibility to R. microplus; we call this scale the “Tick Ruler.” The ruler is a simple, easy-to-understand tool that can be used by technicians and producers to evaluate the tick sensitivity of a breed of interest and can assist producers in decision-making to find a balance between increased production gains and the risk of economic losses depending on the breed composition in a cattle herd.

ABSTRACT Host-microbe biology (HMB) stands on the cusp of redefinition, challenging conventional paradigms to instead embrace a more holistic understanding of the microbial sciences. The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Council on Microbial Sciences hosted a virtual retreat in 2023 to identify the future of the HMB field and innovations needed to advance the microbial sciences. The retreat presentations and discussions collectively emphasized the interconnectedness of microbes and their profound influence on humans, animals, and environmental health, as well as the need to broaden perspectives to fully embrace the complexity of these interactions. To advance HMB research, microbial scientists would benefit from enhancing interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research to utilize expertise in diverse fields, integrate different disciplines, and promote equity and accessibility within HMB. Data integration will be pivotal in shaping the future of HMB research by bringing together varied scientific perspectives, new and innovative techniques, and ’omics approaches. ASM can empower under-resourced groups with the goal of ensuring that the benefits of cutting-edge research reach every corner of the scientific community. Thus, ASM will be poised to steer HMB toward a future that champions inclusivity, innovation, and accessible scientific progress.

Abstract Background Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a congenital disease with an incidence of 4 out of 10,000 live births, therefore proper education of its treatment is essential. Understanding the disease and the wide array of treatment options is often difficult. Additive manufacturing technology can be used to produce 3D printed hands-on surgical training tools (HOSTT), which can be used for the education and practical training of CoA. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a 3D printable HOSTT for the simulation of coarctation surgery, and it’ possible role in practical education. Methods Participants were medical students of Semmelweis University between the second and sixth academic year. A virtual 3D model of an aorta with CoA was generated from a computed tomography angiography scan. Each participant received a 3D-printed aorta phantom and performed either one of four surgical treatment modalities. The simulated surgeries included end-to-end anastomosis, end-to-side anastomosis, prosthetic patch, and subclavian flap aortoplasty. Participants provided feedback, evaluating their understanding of the disease and its treatment by the four surgical reconstruction modalities on a seven-point Likert scale before and after the sessions. Results 21 medical students participated in this study. Participants’ average rating of their understanding of CoA disease and it treatment options before practical training was 4.62 ± 1.07. After training, their average rating increased to 6.19 ± 1.08, showing statistically significant difference. Conclusions Within this study’s limitations, the applied HOSTT, manufactured using 3D printing, was effective for the practical training of CoA’s surgical treatment methods for medical students.

Disrupting effects of pollutants on symbiotic microbiota have been regarded as an important mechanism of host toxicity, with most current research focusing on the intestinal microbiota. In fact, the epidermal microbiota, which participates in the nutrient exchange between hosts and environments, could play a crucial role in host toxicity via community changes. To compare the contributions of intestinal and epidermal symbiotic microorganisms to host toxicity, this study designed single and combined scenarios of soil contamination [nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) and tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP)], and revealed the coupling mechanisms between intestinal/epidermal symbiotic bacterial communities and earthworm toxicological endpoints. Microbiome analysis showed that 15% of intestinal microbes were highly correlated with host endpoints, compared to 45% of epidermal microbes showing a similar correlation. Functional comparisons revealed that key species on the epidermis were mainly heterotrophic microbes with genetic abilities to utilize metal elements and carbohydrate nutrients. Further verifications demonstrated that when facing the co-contamination of nZVI and TCEP, certain symbiotic microorganisms became dominant and consumed zinc, copper, and manganese along with saccharides and amino acids, which may be responsible for the nutritional deficiencies in the host earthworms. The findings can enrich the understanding of the coupling relationship between symbiotic microorganisms and host toxicity, highlighting the importance of epidermal microorganisms in host resistance to environmental pollution.

Abstract Introduction Uganda currently hosts an estimated 1.5 million refugees. The refugees have challenges in accessing family planning (FP) services in the host country. The study aimed to investigate factors associated with FP use among host and refugee populations in Adjumani district, Uganda. Methods A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2021 in three refugee settlements and their host communities in Adjumani district. A total of 1,310 respondents, (664 refugees and 646 host) were randomly selected using multistage cluster sampling and interviewed. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using STATA V.15. Descriptive and Multivariate analysis performed. Results We found that modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (mCPR) was 30.2% (32.2% for host and 28.2% for refugees). Multivariate analysis showed that women who live singly (AOR = 2.25, 95%, CI: 1.56 -3.84), completed primary education [AOR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.27–2.16], acquired skills [AOR = 2.28, 95% CI: 2.11–2.47], have the desire for another child [AOR = 3.73, 95% CI: 1.45- 9.60], have stayed in the study area between 3–5 years [AOR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.46–3.42] were statistically significantly associated with FP use among both refugee and host populations. The key barrier to FP use by host was harassment of women and separation/divorce for not consulting the family members. Whereas amongst the refugees, they do not want to use FP methods. Conclusion Our findings revealed low FP use amongst both populations in Adjumani district. The main factors associated with FP use amongst refugee populations included marital status, level of education, type of occupation, and duration of stay in the study area whereas amongst the host is the marital status. Main reasons for not using FP methods included fear of side effects by hosts and not wanting to use FP by refugees. There is need to sensitize both communities about the benefits of FP at community level.

In the present study, we aim to provide an inventory of digenetic trematodes (Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea) from Georgia including records from the freshwater, marine and terrestrial realms. The checklist is based on a critical review of data from 109 papers, 11 monographs and four Ph.D. theses published between 1935 and 2019 and our new records. The checklist includes information on synonymy, the host species, site of infection, geographical distribution and bibliographical references. The present data will serve as a baseline for further studies on trematodes from Georgia focused on integrative taxonomy, life-cycle elucidation, parasite ecology and epidemiology.We compiled data on the digenean trematode fauna of Georgia, which is represented by 186 species (of these 173 identified to species level) belonging to 108 genera, 47 families and 17 superfamilies. This is the first checklist of the digeneans of Georgia. The majority of digenean species were recorded as adults (160 species), only a small fraction being found as cercariae (33 species) or metacercariae (24 species), in their first or second intermediate hosts, respectively. Predominantly, records of trematodes (62 species) from birds were found, followed by those parasitising fish (50 species, i.e. 32 species as adults and 18 as metacercariae), mammals (33 species) and amphibians (25 species, i.e. 23 species as adults and 2 as metacercariae), with the least number of species reported from reptiles (12 species, i.e. 9 species as adults and 3 as metacercariae). Adult digeneans recorded together with another life-cycle stage (metacercariae and/or cercariae) comprised 28 species, i.e. for 15% of the total trematode species number, a part of their life-cycle is known.

Mermithid parasitoids are well known to infect spiders; however, their impact on hosts and their taxonomic identity are still poorly analyzed. We present the first record of a mermithid nematode infection in the spider genera Piratula (Lycosidae) and Coelotes (Agelenidae), and in the species Alopecosa pulverulenta and Pardosa paludicola (Lycosidae). We describe the maldevelopment of the spiders’ female genitalia induced by the parasitoid and summarize data on the impact of nematode parasitoids on spider development and behaviour. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the 18S rDNA, showed that spider parasitoidism arose independently in different branches of the phylogenetic tree of the family Mermithidae.

Schistosomiasis affects over 250 million people worldwide, with the highest prevalence at the age of 10–14 years. The influence of the host’s age on the severity of liver damage is unclear. We infected male 8, 14, and 20-week-old mice with S. mansoni. Hepatic damage, inflammation, fibrosis, and metabolism were analyzed by RT-qPCR, Western blotting, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and mechanistic transwell chamber experiments using S. mansoni eggs and human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) or primary mouse hepatocytes. Major results were validated in human biopsies. We found that hepatosplenomegaly, granuloma size, egg load, inflammation, fibrosis, and glycogen stores all improved with the increasing age of the host. However, serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were lowest in young mice infected with S. mansoni. Hepatic carbohydrate exploitation was characterized by a shift towards Warburg-like glycolysis in S. mansoni-infected animals. Notably, S. mansoni eggs stimulated hepatic stellate cells to an alternatively activated phenotype (GFAP+/desmin+/αSMA−) that secretes IL-6 and MCP-1. The reduction of fibrosis in older age likely depends on the fine-tuning of regulatory and inflammatory cytokines, alternative HSC activation, and the age-dependent preservation of hepatic energy stores. The current results emphasize the significance of investigations on the clinical relevance of host age-dependent liver damage in patients with schistosomiasis.

Obligate brood parasites depend entirely on other species to raise their offspring. Most avian obligate brood parasites have altricial offspring that require enormous amounts of posthatching parental care, and the large fecundity boost that comes with complete emancipation from parental care likely played a role in the independent evolution of obligate parasitism in several altricial lineages. The evolution of obligate parasitism in the black-headed duck, however, is puzzling because its self-feeding precocial offspring should not constrain parental fecundity of a potential brood parasite in the way that altricial offspring do. We used an experimental nest predation study to test the idea that high nest predation rates played a role in the evolution of brood parasitism in this enigmatic duck. Experimental duck eggs in untended nests suffered massive rapid predation, while eggs in tended nests of the three main hosts, all aggressive nest defenders, had very high success, illustrating the benefits of parasitizing these 'bodyguard' hosts.

Since the discovery of the organic light‐emitting diode (OLED), scientists worldwide have dedicated extensive efforts to enhance the efficiency and reliability of devices, striving for superior performance. Various molecular structures have undergone structural modifications to assess their suitability in achieving the desired outcomes. This review focuses on indolo[3,2,1‐jk]carbazole (ICz), a building block that has garnered considerable attention within the OLED community. The rigid and fused ICz core induces a multiresonance effect through an alternating distribution of frontier molecular orbitals. Notably, ICz‐based thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters exhibit a full width at half maximum below 20 nm, ensuring high color purity, and boast an external quantum efficiency above 30%, comparable to state‐of‐the‐art narrow‐emitting boron–nitrogen‐type materials. Furthermore, the ICz core is a building block in host and metal complexes, enhancing stability, efficiency, and color purity. Consequently, the ICz core is promising as a central component in host and emitters, improving OLED device performance. This review aims to succinctly summarize studies on ICz‐based organic materials within the OLED field, offering insights into future perspectives regarding developing and applying ICz‐derived organic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parvoviruses are a group of non-enveloped DNA viruses that have a broad spectrum of natural infections, making them important in public health. NS1 is the largest and most complex non-structural protein in the parvovirus genome, which is indispensable in the life cycle of parvovirus and is closely related to viral replication, induction of host cell apoptosis, cycle arrest, DNA damage response (DDR), and other processes. Parvovirus activates and utilizes the DDR pathway to promote viral replication through NS1, thereby increasing pathogenicity to the host cells. Here, we review the latest progress of parvovirus in regulating host cell DDR during the parvovirus lifecycle and discuss the potential of cellular consequences of regulating the DDR pathway, targeting to provide the theoretical basis for further elucidation of the pathogenesis of parvovirus and development of new antiviral drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root-knot nematodes(Meloidogyne spp.)are obligate endoparasitic nematodes with features of wide distribution, various hosts, and serious harm. It causes huge economic losses to crops annually, and is one of the most harmful nematodes on crops. When infecting plant root systems, root-knot nematodes induce the re-differentiation of vascular cells at the root tips into multinucleate giant cells, which serve as feeding sites and sole source of nutrients for the nematodes. These cells become the sole source of nutrients for the growth and development of the nematodes. Forming and maintaining ning giant cells are crucial for the growth and reproduction of the nematode. Based on forming of the giant cells and their regulatory mechanisms induced by root-knot nematodes, this paper focuses on the structure of giant cells, cell cycle changes during giant cell formation, nutrient transport, hormone regulation, and the recognition, defense and expression patterns of host plants, and discuses the functions of root-knot nematode effector proteins in the process of giant cell formation. Through the review of the multi-level research progress on the formation and regulation mechanism of giant cells and the molecular mechanism of nematode-plant interaction, it sheds light on the pathogenic mechanisms of root-knot nematodes, aiming to inspire innovative strategies for future research and control of these nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbiomes are foundational components of the environment that provide essential services relating to food security, carbon sequestration, human health, and the overall well-being of ecosystems. Microbiota exert their effects primarily through complex interactions at interfaces with their plant, animal, and human hosts, as well as within the soil environment. This review aims to explore the ecological, evolutionary, and molecular processes governing the establishment and function of microbiome–host relationships, specifically at interfaces critical to One Health—a transdisciplinary framework that recognizes that the health outcomes of people, animals, plants, and the environment are tightly interconnected. Within the context of One Health, the core principles underpinning microbiome assembly will be discussed in detail, including biofilm formation, microbial recruitment strategies, mechanisms of microbial attachment, community succession, and the effect these processes have on host function and health. Finally, this review will catalogue recent advances in microbiology and microbial ecology methods that can be used to profile microbial interfaces, with particular attention to multi-omic, advanced imaging, and modelling approaches. These technologies are essential for delineating the general and specific principles governing microbiome assembly and functions, mapping microbial interconnectivity across varying spatial and temporal scales, and for the establishment of predictive frameworks that will guide the development of targeted microbiome-interventions to deliver One Health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii , is an important pathogen of numerous crops, including the so-called pulses. Hence, it is necessary to identify genetic resistance, as it is the most efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sound way to manage nematodes in the field. The objective of this study was to screen a Brazilian germplasm collection of pulse crops (peas, chickpeas, and lentils) comprising accessions from the Embrapa Germplasm Bank and commercial cultivars against M. enterolobii under glasshouse conditions. The experiment was conducted with 23 treatments (genotypes), i.e., 14 pea, six chickpea and one lentil genotype, and two tomato cultivars, 'Rutgers' (susceptible) and 'Nemadoro' (resistant). Each plant (replication) was inoculated with 5000 eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2) of M. enterolobii and evaluated 65 days after inoculation, considering the following variables: gall index, egg mass index, number of eggs per g of roots, and reproduction factor. The experiments were conducted at two independent time points (summer and autumn/winter). Results showed that all 23 plant genotypes were susceptible to the nematode, with pea genotype 'Itapuã' being intolerant to infection. Cultivation of pulse crops has been steadily increasing both in Brazil and worldwide. Our research findings make a valuable contribution to the ongoing efforts to identify genetic resistance to nematode pathogens that can significantly affect the productivity of these crops. By identifying and developing resistant genotypes, pulse crop yields can be safeguarded, and sustainable agricultural practices can be supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]