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Academic integrity is important, not just in the university setting but beyond, as students graduate and move into professional fields. Discrepancies in the understanding of what constitutes academic dishonesty exist between institutional policies, discipline areas and individual educators, which creates challenges for students trying to uphold academic integrity. We examined the student perspective and understanding of academic integrity in the context of subject-specific assessment. Three sequential online academic integrity modules were presented in a large first-year biology subject (n = 631). Modules consisted of scenarios describing academic dishonesty in subject-specific assessment. Students received feedback which also highlighted the importance of academic integrity in future professions and were surveyed at the end of the semester. Students clearly identified examples of cheating, fraud and contract cheating. However, they did not recognise collusion when it happened with close and social contacts. Most students felt confident that they could apply their newly acquired knowledge of academic integrity in their future studies and professions. This study showed that the use of contextual and carefully curated subject-specific scenarios can create more knowledgeable and confident students who can successfully approach assessment with integrity. Additionally, it is important to make explicit to students what is deemed collusion in subject-specific contexts. more...

Recent genomic characterisation of translocating Escherichia coli HMLN-1 isolated from mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and blood of a patient with a fatal case of pancreatitis revealed the presence of a type 6 secretion system (T6SS) that was not present in non-translocating E. coli strains. This strain was also genomically similar to adherent-invasive E. coli (AIEC) LF82 pathotype. We aimed to identify the role of T6SS-1 in the pathogenesis of this strain and other pathogenic E. coli. The HMLN-1 strain was initially tested for the presence of six virulence genes (VGs) associated with AIEC strains and an iron sequestering system. Additionally, HMLN-1's interaction with a co-culture of Caco-2:HT29-MTX cells and its intra-macrophagic survival was evaluated. We subsequently screened a collection of 319 pathogenic E. coli strains isolated from patients with urinary tract infection (UTI), diarrhoea, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and septicaemia for the presence of T6SS-1 and its expression related to adhesion, invasion and translocation via the above co-culture of the intestinal cell lines. The results showed that HMLN-1 harboured four of the AIEC-associated VGs (dsbA, htrA, ompC and afaC). Screening of the pathogenic E. coli collection detected the presence of the T6SS-1 genes in septicaemic and UTI E. coli strains at a significantly higher level than diarrhoea and IBD strains (p < 0.0001). The high expression of T6SS-1 in E. coli HMLN-1 upon adhesion and invasion, as well as its high prevalence among extra-intestinal E. coli strains, suggests a role for T6SS-1 in the pathogenesis of translocating E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

We investigated Escherichia coli populations in a metropolitan river after an extreme flood event. Between nine and 15 of the 23 selected sites along the river were sampled fortnightly over three rounds. In all, 307 E. coli were typed using the PhP typing method and were grouped into common (C) or single (S) biochemical phenotypes (BPTs). A representative from each of the 31 identified C-BPTs was tested for 58 virulence genes (VGs) associated with intestinal and extra-intestinal E. coli, resistance to 22 antibiotics, production of biofilm and cytotoxicity to Vero cells. The number of E. coli in the first sampling round was significantly (P< 0.01) higher than subsequent rounds, whereas the number of VGs was significantly (P< 0.05) higher in isolates from the last sampling round when compared to previous rounds. Comparison of the C-BPTs with an existing database from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the same catchment showed that 40.6% of the river isolates were identical to the WWTP isolates. The relatively high number of VGs and antibiotic resistance among the C-BPTs suggests possessing and retaining these genes may provide niche advantages for those naturalised and/or persistent E. coli populations which may pose a health risk to the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

We investigated the changes in the faecal microbial population of the hindgut of farmed Atlantic salmon fed two commercial diets (A and B) over a 10-month period. At each sampling round, hindgut contents of 40 fish (20 per diet) were pooled according to diet and cultivated on selective agar. The functional status of all microbiota was assessed against 48 substrates using the PhPlate generalized microplate, which also yielded a metabolic capacity ( MC) value for each microbiota. Virulence gene profiles of each microbiota were also investigated. The number of different bacterial groups between two diets varied slightly and increased as water temperature peaked at 18.5°C during summer. This however, was associated with an increase in Vibrio numbers and a decrease in lactic acid bacterial numbers. A shift in the functional status of gut microbiota was observed as temperature increased, which was coupled with a decrease in the MC-value of the microbiota in both diets. Of the 35 virulence genes tested from total DNA extract of the microbiota, only cdt and east1 were detected. Results indicate that temperature is the main driver of changes to the gut microbiota in farmed Tasmanian Atlantic salmon receiving these two diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...