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We examine 31,011 PPY23 profiles at the population, metapopulation and world levels. Most haplotypes appear only once but a few have higher counts, including a set of 23 matching profiles in Delhi, India and a set of 16 matching profiles in Burkina Faso with one additional matching American African profile. We estimate F ST values to be used as "theta" (θ) in match probability calculations, following the method we used in our earlier survey of autosomal STR data. Match probability estimates using Fˆ ST or the κ method of Brenner for a previously unseen profile are similar but differ for any profile previously seen., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no competing interests to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) introduced in childhood national immunization programs lowered vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), but replacement with non-vaccine-types persisted throughout the PCV10/13 follow-up period. We assessed PCV10/13 impact on pneumococcal meningitis incidence globally., Methods: The number of cases with serotyped pneumococci detected in cerebrospinal fluid and population denominators were obtained from surveillance sites globally. Site-specific meningitis incidence rate ratios (IRRs) comparing pre-PCV incidence to each year post-PCV10/13 were estimated by age (<5, 5-17 and ≥18 years) using Bayesian multi-level mixed effects Poisson regression, accounting for pre-PCV trends. All-site weighted average IRRs were estimated using linear mixed-effects regression stratified by age, product (PCV10 or PCV13) and prior PCV7 impact (none, moderate, or substantial). Changes in pneumococcal meningitis incidence were estimated overall and for product-specific vaccine-types and non-PCV13-types., Results: Analyses included 10,168 cases <5y from PCV13 sites and 2,849 from PCV10 sites, 3,711 and 1,549 for 5-17y and 29,187 and 5,653 for ≥18y from 42 surveillance sites (30 PCV13, 12 PCV10, 2 PCV10/13) in 30 countries, primarily high-income (84%). Six years after PCV10/PCV13 introduction, pneumococcal meningitis declined 4874% across products and PCV7 impact strata for children <5y, 3562% for 5-17y and 036% for ≥18y. Impact against PCV10-types at PCV10 sites, and PCV13-types at PCV13 sites was high for all age groups (<5y: 96100%; 5-17y: 7785%; ≥18y: 7385%). After switching from PCV7 to PCV10/13, increases in non-PCV13-types were generally low to none for all age groups., Conclusion: Pneumococcal meningitis declined in all age groups following PCV10/PCV13 introduction. Plateaus in non-PCV13-type meningitis suggest less replacement than for all IPD. Data from meningitis belt and high-burden settings were limited., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: KH conducted the study and analyses while working at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health but became an employee at Pfizer, Inc. on 26 October 2020. MDK reports grants from Merck, personal fees from Merck, and grants from Pfizer, outside the submitted work. JAS reports grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, the UK MRC, National Institute of Health Research, outside the submitted work. MCB reports lectures fee from MSD outside from submitted work.ML has been a member of advisory boards and has received speakers honoraria from Pfizer and Merck. German pneumococcal surveillance has been supported by Pfizer and Merck. SD reports grant from Pfizer, outside the submitted work. KA reports a grant from Merck, outside the submitted work. AM reports research support to her institution from Pfizer and Sanofi and personal fees for advisory board membership and webinar presentations from AstraZeneca, GSK, Merck, Moderna, Novavax Pfizer, Seqirus. SNL performs contract research for GSK, Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur on behalf of St. George’s University of London, but receives no personal remuneration. IY stated she was a member of mRNA-1273 study group and has received funding to her institution to conduct clinical research from BioFire, MedImmune, Regeneron, PaxVax, Pfizer, GSK, Merck, Novavax, Sanofi-Pasteur, and Micron. RD has received grants/research support from Pfizer, Merck Sharp & Dohme and Medimmune; has been a scientific consultant for Pfizer, MeMed, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Biondvax and GSK; had served on advisory boards of Pfizer, Merck Sharp & Dohme Biondvax and GXRD has received grants/research support from Pfizer, Merck Sharp & Dohme and Medimmune; has been a scientific consultant for Pfizer, MeMed, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Biondvax and GSK; and has been a speaker for Pfizer, Astra-Zeneca, GSK. LLH reports research grants to her institution from GSK, Pfizer and Merck. JDK has received an unrestricted grant-in-aid from Pfizer Canada that supports, in part, the CASPER invasive pneumococcal disease surveillance project. MH received an educational grant from Pfizer AG for partial support of this project. However, Pfizer AG had no role in the data analysis and content of the manuscript. JCS reports had received assistance from Pfizer for attending to scientific meetings outside the submitted work. JDK has received an unrestricted grant-in-aid from Pfizer Canada that supports, in part, the CASPER invasive pneumococcal disease surveillance project. EV reports grants from French public health agency, during the conduct of the study; grants from Pfizer, grants from Merck, outside the submitted work. KGK reports grants from GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA, outside of the submitted work. KA reports a grant from Merck, outside the submitted work. SCGA received travel grant from Pfizer. All other authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Electrochemical aptamer-based biosensors (E-aptasensors) are emerging platforms for point-of-care (POC) detection of complex biofluids. Human saliva particularly offers a noninvasive matrix and unprecedented convenience for detecting illicit drugs, such as cocaine. However, the sensitivity of cocaine E-aptasensors is significantly compromised in saliva. Herein, we investigated the influence of salivary components on the sensing performance of a methylene blue (MB)-labeled classic cocaine aptamer by square-wave voltammetry (SWV), and in parallel, we report the development and optimization of a disposable E-aptasensor for cocaine detection fabricated by laser ablation. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to study the cleanliness and surface topography of the disposable electrode surface. To enhance the sensing performance of the disposable platform, we developed a co-immobilization strategy by introducing both the target and 6-mercapto-1-hexanol (MCH) into the aptamer immobilization solution, achieving optimal sensing performance at the aptamer-to-MCH ratio of 1:100. In a buffer solution, we revealed that the aptasensor performs best at low ionic strength, the absence of multivalent ions, and neutral pH conditions, while salivary components such as viscosity and mucin have minimal impact. However, upon transition to human saliva, the presence of salivary proteins exerted a profound effect on the sensing performance. To reduce this impact, we discovered that a high NaCl concentration could significantly enhance the sensing response in saliva. This approach circumvents centrifugation and extensive dilution and facilitates cocaine detection in human saliva through a straightforward "mix-and-detect" method. This disposable aptasensor achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.7 μM in 90% saliva, demonstrating immense promise for the application of electrochemical aptasensors in detecting cocaine, especially when administered via smoking.

The presence of twenty-four emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) from a range of chemical classes including antimicrobial agents, biocides, industrial chemicals, plastic precursors, preservatives and UV filters in sediment and shellfish samples collected from fifteen sampling sites across Sri Lanka (a tropical developing country) was investigated. Sixteen EOCs were detected in sediments at concentrations ranging from 0.32 to 370.07 ng/g d.w. All target EOCs were detected at least once in shellfish, at concentrations ranging from 0.55 to 247.90 ng/g d.w. Urbanisation, tourism, and industrialisation were identified as potential sources of EOCs based on their spatial correlation with higher contaminant concentrations, the specific types of chemicals detected, and their links to wastewater discharge and human activities at the sampling sites. The limited connectivity with the open ocean was found to further contribute to higher EOC occurrence. In contrast, season was not a determining factor. This study provides important baseline data on coastal EOC pollution and its ecological health and seafood safety risk in Sri Lanka for environmental monitoring and policy planning., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Dynamic oxygen fluctuations in activated sludge were investigated to enhance valuable biochemical production during wastewater treatment. Batch experiments compared constant aeration with rapid cycling between oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor states. Fluctuating oxygen concentrations (0-2 mg/L) significantly increased production of valuable biochemicals compared to constant oxygen concentration (2 mg/L). Continuous oxygen perturbations increased free amino acids by 35.7 ± 7.6 % and free fatty acids by 76.4 ± 13.0 %, while intermittent perturbations with anoxic periods enhanced free amino acids by 42.4 ± 8.1 % and free fatty acids by 39.3 ± 7.7 %. Fourteen standard amino acids showed significant increases, and most fatty acids had carbon chain lengths between C12-C22. Mechanistically, oxygen perturbations activated FNR and ArcA regulons, resulting in lower relative abundances of TCA cycle enzymes and higher abundances of amino acid and fatty acid biosynthetic enzymes. These findings demonstrate that controlled oxygen fluctuations in wastewater treatment can enhance the biochemical value of activated sludge with minimal process modifications, facilitating resource recovery., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the top threats to global public health. While AMR surveillance of human clinical isolates is well-established in many countries, the increasing threat of AMR has intensified efforts to detect antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) accurately and sensitively in environmental samples, wastewater, animals, and food. Using five ARGs and the 16S rRNA gene, we compared quantitative PCR (qPCR) and metagenomic sequencing (MGS), two commonly used methods to uncover the wastewater resistome. We compared both methods by evaluating ARG detection through a municipal wastewater treatment chain., Results: Our results demonstrate that qPCR was more sensitive than MGS, particularly in diluted samples with low ARG concentrations such as oxidation pond water. However, MGS was potentially more specific and has less risk of off-target binding in concentrated samples such as raw sewage. MGS analysis revealed multiple subtypes of each gene which could not be distinguished by qPCR; these subtypes varied across different sample types. Our findings affect the conclusions that can be drawn when comparing different sample types, particularly in terms of inferring removal rates or origins of genes. We conclude that both methods appear suitable to profile the resistome of wastewater and other environmental samples, depending on the research question and type of sample., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: An application to the NZ Health and Disability Ethics Committee (HDEC) indicated that the study research plan using human sewerage was out of the scope of HDEC review. We obtained permission from Christchurch City Council to access the wastewater treatment plant for sampling and to publish the findings in the current manuscript. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Despite being a model in waterborne risk assessment, rotavirus attenuation and transport in sand filtration water treatment remains poorly understood due to a lack of representative surrogates. We investigated the suitability of DNA-labeled chitosan nanoparticles (DCNPs) to mimic rotavirus attenuation and transport in coastal and alluvial sands. Chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized and coupled with a DNA tracer. Compared to rotavirus, DCNPs had similar size (79 ± 7.2 nm vs. 72.5 nm) and buoyant density (1.65 ± 0.07 g/cm³ vs. 1.36-1.40 g/cm³) but a less negative zeta potential (-20.61 ± 1.94 mV vs. -29.77 ± 0.86 mV) and lower hydrophobicity (0% vs. 44%). Filtration experiments (flow rate 1.26-1.27 ml/min, pH 6.0, electrical conductivity 224-226 μs/cm) showed that DCNPs approximated rotavirus attenuation in coastal and alluvial sands (p ≥ 0.07). Repeated dosing of rotavirus and DCNPs caused removal efficiencies to decline in the sand media. Both entities displayed faster and less dispersive transport than a nonreactive solute tracer (NaCl) in sand media. This preliminary study suggested that DCNPs can approximately mimic rotavirus attenuation and transport in coastal and alluvial sands. However, further validation under diverse experimental conditions is necessary. This includes varying flow rates, pH levels, ionic strengths, and the presence of multivalent cations (e.g., Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ) and organic matter. DCNPs, made from a nontoxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable natural biopolymer, hold promise as a safe tool for assessing rotavirus attenuation and transport in sand filtration water treatment and aquifer filtration processes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Y chromosomal haplotype is expected to be identical (or close to, depending on the mutation rate) among a male and many of his paternal relatives. This means that often the same evidential value for the DNA evidence is obtained, whether the true donor or one of his close paternal relatives is compared to a crime sample. Commentators (see for example the UK Forensic Science Regulator or Amorim) have suggested to change the proposition pair to compare the probability of the evidence if the Person of Interest (POI) or one of his close paternal relatives left the DNA to the probability of the evidence if an unrelated male from the population left the DNA. We argue that this is problematic because there is no clear definition of close paternal relatives and truly unrelated males do not exist. Instead, we take a starting point in the traditional proposition pair "The source of the male DNA is the POI" versus "The source of the male DNA is not the POI" and make the latter one operational by suggesting that it is formulated as "The source of the male DNA is a random man from the population". The issue of matching males in the POI's lineage is then addressed either in a comment in the statement or directly through a probability model., (© 2024 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.)

Background: Increases in childhood invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) have been reported in several countries following the easing of COVID-19 pandemic mitigations. In Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ), a surge in IPD is occurring in young children concurrent with changes in pneumococcal vaccines and declining immunization coverage. We sought to examine epidemiologic and clinical features of IPD among children under 5 years in a large urban region of AoNZ in the 3 years post-COVID-19., Methods: Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collated from children under 5 years with Streptococcus pneumoniae identified from normally sterile sites between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2023, in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, AoNZ., Results: We identified 93 episodes of IPD (annual incidence of 18-40 cases per 100,000 population per year). Serotype was identified in 68 episodes and 46 (68%) were serotype 19A. Incidence was higher in Pacific children compared with non-Māori, non-Pacific children (incidence rate ratio: 2.3; 95% confidence interval: 1.4-3.7). Bacteremia occurred in 65 (70%) episodes, empyema in 47 (51%), meningitis in 11 (12%) and hemolytic uremic syndrome in 7 (7.5%). All cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome and empyema were only among children with serotype 19A. Two children died, both had serotype 19A, and 13/91 survivors (14%) experienced serious sequelae., Conclusions: The use of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine with lower valency and easing of COVID-19 containment measures each may have contributed to an increase in IPD in AoNZ. Serotype 19A is associated with empyema and causes severe disease in young children. Urgent efforts are required to improve PCV13 coverage in AoNZ., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

While often necessary in sexual assault cases, confirmatory identification of body fluids can be a lengthy and/or costly process. In particular, the detection of vaginal fluid and menstrual fluid in forensic casework is limited to endpoint reverse-transcription PCR to detect fluid-specific messenger RNA (mRNA) markers as there are no robust chemical or enzymatic techniques available for these fluids. Similarly, testing for rectal mucosa is not possible with standard methods, the presence of which would provide probative value in cases of alleged anal penetration, although mRNA-based markers have recently been described. Reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) is an alternative technique that enables detection of mRNA at a single temperature (usually 60-65℃) for 10-30 minutes and has comparable sensitivity to PCR. We describe the coupling of RT-LAMP amplification (60℃ for 30 minutes) with CRISPR-mediated fluorescent detection of the body fluid specific mRNA markers MMP3 (menstrual fluid), CYP2B7P (vaginal material), TNP1 (spermatozoa), KLK2 (semen), and MUC12 (rectal mucosa). Following temperature optimization and final selection of RT-LAMP-CRISPR assays, their specificity across circulatory blood, buccal, menstrual fluid, vaginal material, semen, and rectal mucosa was assessed. Most assays were specific for their intended target body fluid, although MMP3 and CYP2B7P were detected in some rectal mucosa samples, the latter of which has been observed previously in the literature. A preliminary sensitivity assessment in target fluids was determined by a dilution series over six logs of RNA input. A range of assay approaches were investigated to develop a protocol suitable for use in a forensic screening laboratory. This included the determination of fluorescent assay results by eye, use of lyophilised reagents, and RT-LAMP and CRISPR reactions undertaken in one-tube in a lower resource setting., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Microbiology reference laboratories perform a crucial role within public health systems. This role was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Viewpoint, we emphasise the importance of microbiology reference laboratories and highlight the types of digital data and expertise they provide, which benefit national and international public health. We also highlight the value of surveillance initiatives among collaborative international partners, who work together to share, analyse, and interpret data, and then disseminate their findings in a timely manner. Microbiology reference laboratories have substantial impact at regional, national, and international levels, and sustained support for these laboratories is essential for public health in both pandemic and non-pandemic times., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests EV has received research grants from the French Public Health Agency, Pfizer, and MSD (paid to Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil). SD has received a research grant from Pfizer; and advisory board and speaker fees from Merck-MSD (paid to University Hospitals Leuven). MH and CC have received funding from the Federal Office of Public Health (paid to The Swiss National Reference Center for Invasive Pneumococci). MH has participated on a data safety monitoring board or advisory board for both Pfizer and MSD. MH also holds investigator-initiated grants from Pfizer and MSD paid to his institution. However, the sponsors had no role in the data analysis and content of this manuscript. AS and AKu have received funding from the National Science Centre, MSD, and Pfizer; and equipment from The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation and the Clinical Microbiology Center Foundation (paid and sent to The National Medicines Institute, Warsaw). AKu has received payments from Sandoz, and Pfizer for lectures. AS has received payments from MSD and Pfizer for lectures; and from MSD, Pfizer, and Sanofi Pasteur for participation on advisory boards. LL and MT have received research funding from Pfizer (paid to The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare). ABB has received funding from MSD for IRIS pneumococcal genome sequencing. ABB is an unpaid advisor to WHO, providing expertise related to vaccines and antimicrobial resistance. ABB is also an unpaid General Assembly member (from 2022 onwards); and was a board member from 2016 to 2022, and Secretary from 2018 to 2022 for the International Society of Pneumonia and Pneumococcal Diseases. MD has received financial support from Pfizer to attend national scientific meetings. HH has received a grant from Pfizer to investigate Irish pneumococcal serotypes with whole genome sequencing. HH has received consulting fees from Bons Secours Hospital Group (Ireland). HH has received payment from the Scottish Hospitals Enquiry for expert testimony. KAJ has received personal royalties from GSK; and personal honoraria from the Wellcome Trust. T-TL has received consulting fees from the Trond Mohn Foundation. T-TL is an unpaid board member for the European Society for Meningococcal and Haemophilus influenzae disease, and the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (committee for microbial systematics, population genetics and infection epidemiology). H-CS has received funding from Pfizer for a pneumococcal carriage project. H-CS has received funding for consultations on a data safety monitoring board or advisory board for MSD. MPGvdL has received research funding from Pfizer and Merck (paid to the Reference Laboratory for Streptococci in Aachen, Germany); has received consulting fees from Pfizer, Merck, and GSK; payment or honoraria from Pfizer and Merck; and support for attending meetings or travel from Pfizer. AvG is the chairperson for the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (National Advisory Group on Immunization) for South Africa. NMvS has received fees for services and consulting fees from MSD and GSK; consulting fees from Pfizer; and research funding from the Dutch Health Counsel, Argenx, Leducq Foundation, and Amsterdam UMC (all paid to their institution). NMvS holds a patent (WO 2013/020090 A3) on vaccine development against Streptococcus pyogenes. NMvS is an unpaid scientific advisor to the ItsME foundation, and a scientific advisor to Rapua te me ngaro ka tau (fees are paid to the University of Amsterdam). NMvS holds personal stock in Genmab and the Bank of America. JY has received payments for lectures given at scientific meetings organised by MSD and Pfizer; has received support from MSD and Pfizer to attend national and international scientific meetings; and has participated on MSD and Pfizer advisory boards. JS has participated on advisory boards for MSD. HC has received payment from Sanofi-Aventis Germany for a lecture; and is an unpaid external advisor to the German Standing Committee on Vaccination. SM is an unpaid external expert for an advisory board for enquiry into the landscape for a MenB vaccine in South Africa. JVM performs contract work for the Institute of Health Carlos III funded by GSK and Pfizer; and receives consulting fees from Pfizer and Sanofi Pasteur. MC has received an Investigator Initiated Research grant from Pfizer (W1243730; paid to their institution, Children's Health Ireland). MC is part of a working group for The National Immunisation Advisory Committee in Ireland. KGK has received funding from the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) to attend the ESCMID global meeting in Barcelona as a member of the Professional Affairs Subcommittee. CM-A has received payments for invited lectures given at scientific meetings for MSD, Sanofi-Pasteur, and Pfizer. CM-A has received support from MSD and Pfizer to attend national and international scientific meetings. All other authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Over the last decade metagenomic sequencing has facilitated an increasing number of virome-scale studies, leading to an exponential expansion in understanding of virus diversity. This is partially driven by the decreasing costs of metagenomic sequencing, improvements in computational tools for revealing novel viruses, and an increased understanding of the key role that viruses play in human and animal health. A central concern associated with this remarkable increase in the number of virome-scale studies is the lack of broadly accepted "gold standards" for reporting the data and results generated. This is of particular importance for animal virome studies as there are a multitude of nuanced approaches for both data presentation and analysis, all of which impact the resulting outcomes. As such, the results of published studies can be difficult to contextualise and may be of reduced utility due to reporting deficiencies. Herein, we aim to address these reporting issues by outlining recommendations for the presentation of virome data, encouraging a transparent communication of findings that can be interpreted in evolutionary and ecological contexts., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Inclusion and ethics: All those who contributed to this manuscript are listed as authors., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) that are ten-valent (PCV10) and 13-valent (PCV13) became available in 2010. We evaluated their global impact on invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) incidence in all ages., Methods: Serotype-specific IPD cases and population denominators were obtained directly from surveillance sites using PCV10 or PCV13 in their national immunisation programmes and with a primary series uptake of at least 50%. Annual incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated comparing the incidence before any PCV with each year post-PCV10 or post-PCV13 introduction using Bayesian multi-level, mixed-effects Poisson regressions, by site and age group. All site-weighted average IRRs were estimated using linear mixed-effects regression, stratified by product and previous seven-valent PCV (PCV7) effect (none, moderate, or substantial)., Findings: Analyses included 32 PCV13 sites (488 758 cases) and 15 PCV10 sites (46 386 cases) in 30 countries, primarily high income (39 sites), using booster dose schedules (41 sites). By 6 years after PCV10 or PCV13 introduction, IPD due to PCV10-type serotypes and PCV10-related serotype 6A declined substantially for both products (age <5 years: 83-99% decline; ≥65 years: 54-96% decline). PCV7-related serotype 19A increases before PCV10 or PCV13 introduction were reversed at PCV13 sites (age <5 years: 61-79% decline relative to before any PCV; age ≥65 years: 7-26% decline) but increased at PCV10 sites (age <5 years: 1·6-2·3-fold; age ≥65 years: 3·6-4·9-fold). Serotype 3 IRRs had no consistent trends for either product or age group. Non-PCV13-type IPD increased similarly for both products (age <5 years: 2·3-3·3-fold; age ≥65 years: 1·7-2·3-fold). Despite different serotype 19A trends, all-serotype IPD declined similarly between products among children younger than 5 years (58-74%); among adults aged 65 years or older, declines were greater at PCV13 (25-29%) than PCV10 (4-14%) sites, but other differences between sites precluded attribution to product., Interpretation: Long-term use of PCV10 or PCV13 reduced IPD substantially in young children and more moderately in older ages. Non-vaccine-type serotypes increased approximately two-fold to three-fold by 6 years after introduction of PCV10 or PCV13. Continuing serotype 19A increases at PCV10 sites and declines at PCV13 sites suggest that PCV13 use would further reduce IPD at PCV10 sites., Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as part of the WHO Pneumococcal Vaccines Technical Coordination Project., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests KH reports employment at Pfizer from Oct 26, 2020. MDK reports grants from Merck and Pfizer, and personal fees from Merck. JAS reports grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, the UK Medical Research Council, and the National Institute of Health Research. M-CCB reports lecture fees from MSD. ASk reports grants and personal fees from MSD and Pfizer. MvdL reports support from, membership on advisory boards for, and speakers honoraria from Pfizer and Merck. SD reports a grant from Pfizer. KA reports a grant from Merck. AvG reports research funding from Pfizer, and attendance at advisory board meetings for Pfizer and Merck. AM reports research support to her institution from Pfizer and Merck, and honoraria for advisory board membership from GSK, Merck, and Pfizer. SNL performs contract research for GSK, Pfizer, and Sanofi Pasteur on behalf of St George's University of London, with no personal remuneration. IY reports membership of an mRNA-1273 study group, and funding to her institution to conduct clinical research from BioFire, MedImmune, Regeneron, PaxVax, Pfizer, GSK, Merck, Novavax, Sanofi Pasteur, and Micron. RD reports grants or research support from Pfizer, MSD, and Medimmune; scientific consultancy for Pfizer, MeMed, MSD, and BiondVax; participation on advisory boards of Pfizer, MSD, and BiondVax; and being a speaker for Pfizer. LLH reports research grants to her institution from GSK, Pfizer, and Merck. JK reports an unrestricted grant-in-aid from Pfizer Canada. MHi reports reimbursement for advisory boards from MSD; and an investigator-initiated research grant from Pfizer paid to his institution. JCS reports assistance from Pfizer for attending scientific meetings. NPK reports research support from Pfizer, GSK, Sanofi Pasteur, Merck, and Protein Sciences (now Sanofi Pasteur). CC reports research support to her institution from Sanofi Pasteur. KGK reports grants from GSK. All other authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) has reduced vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). We describe the serotype distribution of IPD after extensive use of ten-valent PCV (PCV10; Synflorix, GSK) and 13-valent PCV (PCV13; Prevenar 13, Pfizer) globally., Methods: IPD data were obtained from surveillance sites participating in the WHO-commissioned Pneumococcal Serotype Replacement and Distribution Estimation (PSERENADE) project that exclusively used PCV10 or PCV13 (hereafter PCV10 and PCV13 sites, respectively) in their national immunisation programmes and had primary series uptake of at least 70%. Serotype distribution was estimated for IPD cases occurring 5 years or more after PCV10 or PCV13 introduction (ie, the mature period when the serotype distribution had stabilised) using multinomial Dirichlet regression, stratified by PCV product and age group (<5 years, 5-17 years, 18-49 years, and ≥50 years)., Findings: The analysis included cases occurring primarily between 2015 and 2018 from 42 PCV13 sites (63 362 cases) and 12 PCV10 sites (6806 cases) in 41 countries. Sites were mostly high income (36 [67%] of 54) and used three-dose or four-dose booster schedules (44 [81%]). At PCV10 sites, PCV10 serotypes caused 10·0% (95% CI 6·3-12·9) of IPD cases in children younger than 5 years and 15·5% (13·4-19·3) of cases in adults aged 50 years or older, while PCV13 serotypes caused 52·1% (49·2-65·4) and 45·6% (40·0-50·0), respectively. At PCV13 sites, PCV13 serotypes caused 26·4% (21·3-30·0) of IPD cases in children younger than 5 years and 29·5% (27·5-33·0) of cases in adults aged 50 years or older. The leading serotype at PCV10 sites was 19A in children younger than 5 years (30·6% [95% CI 18·2-43·1]) and adults aged 50 years or older (14·8% [11·9-17·8]). Serotype 3 was a top-ranked serotype, causing about 9% of cases in children younger than 5 years and 14% in adults aged 50 years or older at both PCV10 and PCV13 sites. Across all age and PCV10 or PCV13 strata, the proportion of IPD targeted by higher-valency PCVs beyond PCV13 was 4·1-9·7% for PCV15, 13·5-36·0% for PCV20, 29·9-53·8% for PCV21, 15·6-42·0% for PCV24, and 31·5-50·1% for PCV25. All top-ten ranked non-PCV13 serotypes are included in at least one higher-valency PCV., Interpretation: The proportion of IPD due to serotypes included in PCVs in use was low in mature PCV10 and PCV13 settings. Serotype distribution differed between PCV10 and PCV13 sites and age groups. Higher-valency PCVs target most remaining IPD and are expected to extend impact., Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as part of the WHO Pneumococcal Vaccines Technical Coordination Project., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests MDK reports grants from Merck and Pfizer and personal fees from Merck. KH reports employment at Pfizer from Oct 26, 2020. AvG reports funding from Pfizer and attendance at advisory board meetings for Pfizer and Merck. MvdL reports support, membership of advisory boards, and speakers honoraria from Pfizer and Merck. NMvS reports speaker and service fees from MSD and GSK, and holding a patent (WO 2013/020090 A3) with royalties paid to herself and to the University of California San Diego (inventors: Nina van Sorge and Victor Nizet). IY reports membership of an mRNA-1273 study group, and funding to her institution from BioFire, MedImmune, Regeneron, PaxVax, Pfizer, GSK, Merck, Novavax, Sanofi Pasteur, and Micron. EV reports grants from the French Public Health Agency, Pfizer, and Merck. JAS reports grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, the UK Medical Research Council, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research. CM-A reports grants from Pfizer and speaker fees from Pfizer and MSD. AM reports research support to her institution from Pfizer and Merck, and honoraria for advisory board membership from GSK, Merck, and Pfizer. SNL reports contract research for GSK, Pfizer, and Sanofi Pasteur on behalf of St George's University of London, with no personal remuneration. NPK reports research support from Pfizer, GSK, Sanofi Pasteur, Merck, and Protein Sciences (now Sanofi Pasteur). JDK reports an unrestricted grant-in-aid from Pfizer Canada. MH reports reimbursement for advisory boards from MSD; and an investigator-initiated research grant paid to his institution from Pfizer. LLH reports research grants to her institution from GSK, Pfizer, and Merck. SD reports a grant from Pfizer. RD reports grants and research support from Pfizer, MSD, and MedImmune; consultancy for Pfizer, MeMed, MSD, BiondVax, and GSK; participation on advisory boards for Pfizer, MSD, BiondVax, and GXRD; and having been a speaker for Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and GSK. MC reports a professional fee, an unrestricted research grant, and an Investigator Initiated Reward (W1243730) from Pfizer Ireland. KA reports a grant from Merck. SCGA reports a travel grant from Pfizer. KGK reports grants from GSK. All other authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The ability of viruses to emerge in new species is influenced by aspects of host biology and ecology, with some taxa harbouring a high diversity and abundance of viruses. However, how these factors shape virus diversity at the ecosystem scale is often unclear. To better understand the pattern and determinants of viral diversity within an ecosystem, and to describe the novel avian viruses infecting an individual avian community, we performed a metagenomic snapshot of the virome from the entire avian community on remote Pukenui/Anchor Island in Aotearoa New Zealand. Through total RNA sequencing of 18 bird species, we identified 50 avian viruses from 9 viral families, of which 96% were novel. Of note, passerines (perching birds) exhibited high viral abundance and diversity, with viruses found across all nine viral families identified. We also identified numerous viruses infecting seabirds on the Island, including megriviruses, hepaciviruses, and hepatoviruses, while parrots exhibited an extremely low diversity of avian viruses. Within passerines, closely related astroviruses and hepatoviruses, and multiple identical hepe-like viruses, were shared among host species. Phylogenetic reconciliation analysis of these viral groups revealed a mixture of co-divergence and cross-species transmission, with virus host-jumping relatively frequent among passerines. In contrast, there was no evidence for recent cross-species virus transmission in parrots or seabirds. The novel pegiviruses and a flavivirus identified here also pose intriguing questions regarding their origins, pathogenicity, and potential impact on vertebrate hosts. Overall, these results highlight the importance of understudied remote island ecosystems as refugia for novel viruses, as well as the intricate interplay between host ecology and behaviour in shaping viral communities., Competing Interests: None declared., (© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Understanding hydrogeochemical heterogeneity, associated with natural nitrate attenuation, is an integral part of implementing integrated land and water management on a regional or national scale. Redox conditions are a key indicator of naturally occurring denitrification in the groundwater environment, and often used to inform spatial planning and targeted regulation. This work describes the development of a statistical redox condition model for the groundwater environment at a national scale, using spatially variable physiochemical descriptors as predictors. The proposed approach builds on previous work, by complementing the available data with expert knowledge, in the form of synthetic data. Special care is given so that the synthetic data do not overfit and create further imbalances to the training dataset. The predictor dataset is further complemented by the results of a data driven model of the water table developed for this study, which is used both as a predictive parameter and a reference level for groundwater redox condition predictions at different depths. The developed model predicted the redox class for 84% of the samples in the out-of-bag datasets. We also propose an alternative approach for the communication of prediction uncertainty. We use the concept of a discriminate function to identify model classifications that may be ambiguous. Our results show a marked reduction in prediction uncertainty at shallow depths, with uncertainty in reduced environments decreasing from 76 to 12%, and overall uncertainty reduced by approximately 20%, though improvements at greater depths are less pronounced. We conclude that this approach can highlight robust model predictions that are defendable for decision making and can identify areas where monitoring or sampling efforts can be focused for improved outcomes., Competing Interests: Compliance with Ethical Standards. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Zoonotic pathogen transmission is of growing concern globally, with agricultural intensification facilitating interactions between humans, livestock and wild animals. Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen, but it also causes mastitis in dairy cattle, leading to an economic burden on the dairy industry. Here, we investigated transmission within and between cattle and humans, including potential zoonotic transmission of S. aureus isolated from cattle and humans from three dairy farms and an associated primary school in New Zealand. Nasal swabs ( N =170) were taken from healthy humans. Inguinal and combined nasal/inguinal swabs were taken from healthy cattle ( N =1163). Whole-genome sequencing was performed for 96  S . aureus isolates (44 human and 52 cattle). Multilocus sequence typing and assessments of antimicrobial resistance and virulence were carried out. Potential within- and across-species transmission events were determined based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Thirteen potential transmission clusters were detected, with 12 clusters restricted to within-species and one potential zoonotic transmission cluster (ST5). Potential transmission among cattle was mostly limited to single age groups, likely because different age groups are managed separately on farms. While the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was low among both bovine and human isolates, the discovery of an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase gene ( bla ) in a bovine isolate was concerning. This study provides evidence around frequency and patterns of potential transmission of TEM-116 on dairy farms and highlights the AMR and virulence profile of asymptomatic carriage S. aureus on dairy farms and highlights the AMR and virulence profile of asymptomatic carriage S. aureus isolates.

Source protection zone delineation has evolved over the past decades from fixed radius or analytical and numerical methods which do not consider uncertainty, to more complex stochastic numerical approaches. In this paper we explore options for delineating a source protection zone, while considering the inherent uncertainty involved in characterizing hydraulic conductivity. We consider a representative pumping well in an unconfined alluvial aquifer under steady-state flow conditions, with the hydraulic conductivity distribution inferred from borehole lithology data in the West Melton area near Christchurch, New Zealand. Lithologies are categorized according to their inferred hydraulic flow and transport properties, using two to four hydrofacies groupings. Probabilistic source protection zones are determined for alternative lithology categorization scheme and hydrofacies conductivity parameterization methods. Results show that the choice of calibration method significantly impacts the delineated source protection zone. In heterogeneous aquifers, the degree of protection offered by deeper pumping wells may be overstated, and forward particle tracking proved more comprehensive than backward tracking due to the complexity of flow paths near the well screen. Simple models, such as homogeneous models, require upscaled parameters to effectively represent aquifer heterogeneity, providing insights into how simplified source protection zone delineation could be made more robust in highly heterogeneous contexts., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study examined the prevalence of the use of prescription medicines and other drugs by a selected subgroup of New Zealand drivers. The use of potentially impairing prescription drugs by the driving population is largely unknown. The population studied was drivers who were stopped by police, failed a breath alcohol test, elected to provide a blood sample for laboratory analysis, and had blood alcohol levels exceeding the legal limit., Method: Blood samples taken from 3,050 drivers during the period 2011 to 2015 were analyzed for the presence of alcohol (ethanol) and a range of both prescription and illicit drugs using liquid chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection (LC-TOFMS) and an immunoassay screen for cannabis use., Results: One thousand two hundred thirty-five of these drivers had used alcohol in combination with potentially impairing drugs (41%) and alcohol only was detected in 1,815 of the samples (59%). Five hundred of the drivers had used prescription medication (16%), 816 had used cannabis (27%), and 81drivers had used other illicit recreational drugs (2.7%), all in combination with alcohol. The top 7 prescription medicines used in combination with alcohol were citalopram, fluoxetine, and venlafaxine (antidepressants); quetiapine (antipsychotic); diazepam (sedative); and tramadol (opioid)., Conclusions: Drug use did not correlate with the amount of alcohol consumed, and the use of multiple drugs in combination with alcohol was prevalent. Although this is a biased population sample, the results indicate the possible use of impairing prescription medication in the wider driving population and the need for more awareness of the potential impairment by all types of prescription medication.

Knowledge of the number of people present in a catchment is fundamental for the assessment of spatio-temporal trends in wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE). Accurately estimating the number of people connected to wastewater catchments is challenging however, because populations are dynamic. Methods used to estimate population size can significantly influence the calculation and interpretation of population-normalised wastewater data (PNWD). This paper systematically reviews the reporting of population data in 339 WBE studies. Studies were evaluated based on their reporting of population size, the source of population data, the population calculation methods, and the uncertainties in population estimates. Most papers reported population size (96 %) and the source of population data (60 %). Fewer studies reported the uncertainties in their population data (50 %) and the methods used to calculate these estimates (28 %). This is relevant because different methods have unique strengths and limitations which can affect the accuracy of PNWD. Only 64 studies (19 %) reported all four components of population data. The reporting of population data has remained consistent in the past decade. Based on the findings, we recommend generalised reporting criteria for population data in WBE. As WBE is further mainstreamed and applied, the clear and comprehensive reporting of population data will only become increasingly important., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Climate change is raising global temperatures, leading to more extreme heat events, even in temperate climates like Aotearoa|New Zealand (A|NZ). The impact of rising temperatures and the adequacy of planning measures remain underexplored. This paper highlights A|NZ's anticipated heat-health challenges by analyzing vulnerable populations and assessing current response systems, thereby reinforcing the need for system-level redress, mitigation and adaptation., Content: A scoping review examined the impact of heat and existing mitigation and adaptation responses for vulnerable populations in temperate regions, with a focus on A|NZ. Additionally, temperature trend analysis was conducted for current and projected trends using Climate CHIP for six major heat-affected cities in A|NZ to assess the recognition of heat as a societal concern., Summary and Outlook: The review identified mitigation and adaptation strategies for existing vulnerable groups and discovered other potential vulnerable groups in A|NZ, including Indigenous people (Māori), Pacific communities, low-income groups, migrants, and visitors. Temperature trends show an increasing pattern, suggesting heightened future heat-related impacts on these populations. This review reveals A|NZ's growing vulnerability to rising temperatures, particularly among high-risk groups, and calls for stronger mitigation and adaptation strategies to address future heat-health risks., (© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

The aims of this study were to evaluate the performance and workflow characteristics of a laboratory-developed test to detect Treponema pallidum on the Hologic Panther Fusion system compared with an existing commercial assay. A Hologic Panther Fusion-based real-time polymerase chain reaction assay was optimised for T. pallidum (TP RT-PCR) using previously published primer and probe sequences and validated with a simplified preprocessing protocol. A total of 124 clinical and external quality assurance (EQA) samples were tested in parallel by the new method and the Viasure T. pallidum RT-PCR (Certest Biotech). Cross reactivity, limit of detection, PCR efficiency and coefficient of variation (CV) were measured. Simplified preprocessing methods involving either concentration or vortexing were compared with the existing overnight chemical/enzymatic preprocessing method for a subset of positive samples. Workflow impacts were assessed before and after implementation. The Panther Fusion T. pallidum assay correctly detected 65 of 65 (100%) positive clinical and EQA samples and 33 of 33 (100%) negative samples. No cross reactivity was observed for 45 of 45 (100%) samples. The limit of detection was 15 copies/reaction, and intrarun CV was <1.66%. The simplest preprocessing protocol detected 34 of 34 (100%) positive samples with an average Δ cycle threshold (Ct) <0.82 compared with the Viasure workflow. The new workflow reduced median turnaround time from 3.83 to 1.73 days (p<0.001) and estimated costs from US$35,004.96 to US$19,390.15 in the 3 months post-implementation. The laboratory-developed Panther Fusion T. pallidum assay is a sensitive and specific method for detection of syphilis and a cost-effective option to help improve workflow and turnaround time in a diagnostic laboratory., (Copyright © 2024 Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Unsustainable globalisation of economic activities, lifestyles and social structures has contributed to environmental degradation, posing major threats to human health at the local and global levels. All these problems including climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss represent challenges that are unlikely to be met with existing approaches, capabilities and tools. This article acknowledges the need for well-prepared practitioners from many walks of life to contribute to environmental public health (EPH) functions thus strengthening society's capacity and capability to respond effectively and in a timely manner to such complex situations and multiple challenges. It envisions a new EPH practice addressing questions on: Why do this? What needs to be addressed? Who will do it? How can it be implemented? This article focuses on the main challenging EPH issues worldwide and how they could be addressed using a conceptual framework for training. A companion article shows how they have been tackled in practice, providing ideas and experiences., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. PL declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Leonardi, Zeka, Ashworth, Bouland, Crabbe, Duarte-Davidson, Etzel, Giuashvili, Gökdemir, Hanke, van den Hazel, Jagals,Khan, Martin-Olmedo, Pett, Ruadze, Santamaria, Semenza, Sorensen, Vardoulakis, Yip and Lauriola.)

The global landscape of professional training in environmental health, encompassing ecological public health or environmental public health, lacks consistent global implementation for training programs for public health practitioners, clinical professionals, and individuals across various disciplines, as well as standardized curricula for undergraduates. This training gap is related to the overall lack of capacity in addressing the population impacts of the triple challenge of pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change, impeding the worldwide transition to and development of ecological sustainability. This paper reviews existing approaches and their potential to address implementation challenges within the necessarily tight timescale. Spreading of best practice appears feasible even without substantial additional resources, through the reorientation of current practices via comprehensive multi-disciplinary training programs. By adopting international best practices of training in environmental health, the focus in training and education can shift from future decision-makers to enhancing the competencies of current professionals and their institutions., Competing Interests: MA was employed by Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited (ESR). The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. PL declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Leonardi, Zeka, Ashworth, Bouland, Crabbe, Duarte-Davidson, Etzel, Giuashvili, Gökdemir, Hanke, Jagals, Khan, Martin Olmedo, Pett, van den Hazel, Ruadze, Santamaria, Semenza, Sorensen, Vardoulakis, Yip and Lauriola.)

Background Increased mammographic density (MD) is a known breast cancer (BC) risk factor, but its influencing factors are unclear in Asian populations. This study examined the links between known BC risk factors and quantitatively measured MD in 7,351 Chinese women with non-malignant mammographic findings. Methods VolparaDensity software quantified volumetric MD measures: total breast (TBV), absolute dense (ADV), percent dense (PDV= ADV/TBV), and non-dense volumes (NDV= TBV-ADV). Multivariable linear regression models assessed associations between these MD metrics and BC risk factors. Results The mean age of the population was 50.1 (SD=8.3) years. The mean ADV, NDV, and PDV were 58.4 (SD=32.1), 382.8 (SD=202.0) cm³ and 14.8 (SD=7.1) %, respectively. PDV was inversely associated with age, weight, body mass index (BMI), parity, breastfeeding duration, and postmenopausal status, but positively linked to height and age at menopause. NDV showed opposite associations. ADV had similar associations to PDV, except for height, weight, and BMI, which differed for women with the lowest NDV. PDV associations with age at menarche, age at first birth, and breastfeeding duration varied by BMI and menopausal status. Conclusions MD may influence the relationship between reproductive factors and BC risk, depending on MD measure, menopausal status, and BMI. Impact This study examines how quantitative MD measures relate to known BC risk factors in an East Asian population, factoring in menopausal status and BMI. The results underscore the complex role of MD and confounding factors in BC risk, highlighting the need for tailored insights for future research and screening.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of acute respiratory infection. In 2020, RSV was eliminated from New Zealand due to non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) used to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. However, in 2021, following a brief quarantine-free travel agreement with Australia, there was a large-scale nationwide outbreak of RSV that led to reported cases more than five-times higher than typical seasonal patterns. We generated 1470 viral genomes of both RSV-A and RSV-B sampled between 2015-2022 from across New Zealand. Using a phylodynamics approach, we used these data to better understand RSV transmission patterns in New Zealand prior to 2020, and how RSV became re-established in the community following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions. We found that in 2021, there was a large epidemic of RSV due to an increase in importations, leading to several large genomic clusters of both RSV-A ON1 and RSV-B BA9 genotypes. However, while a number of viral importations were detected, there was also a major reduction in RSV genetic diversity compared to pre-pandemic years. These data reveal the impact of NPI used during the COVID-19 pandemic on other respiratory infections and highlight the important insights that can be gained from viral genomes., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Polymers are present in many different products, such as paints, plastics, and rubbers, which are routinely encountered in forensic casework. Comparison of such samples involves an initial visual examination followed by comparison of the chemical compositions of the exhibits. Techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and pyrolysis gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (PyGC-MS) have been reported for determining the chemical compositions of polymers in forensic samples. Double-shot pyrolysis gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (DS-PyGC-MS) is an extension of single-shot pyrolysis gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (SS-PyGC-MS) which is the current PyGC-MS method used in most forensic laboratories. DS-PyGC-MS involves a preliminary thermal desorption GC-MS step, followed by the pyrolysis GC-MS step, with this second step being analogous to SS-PyGC-MS. The pyrolyser furnace operates at a lower temperature during the thermal desorption step, allowing low volatility compounds, such as additives, to be thermally desorbed and detected, minimising interference from the polymeric component of the sample. This pilot study analysed four different polymeric substrates, commonly encountered in forensic casework, by DS-PyGC-MS. The substrates chosen were tyre rubber, road cones, cling film, and shotgun wads. The aim was to investigate whether more chemical information was generated by DS-PyGC-MS compared to SS-PyGC-MS, potentially providing increased discrimination of such samples. Qualitative results showed that tyre rubber and road cones were ideal substrates for DS-PyGC-MS. A wide range of additives were detected in these samples in the thermal desorption step, which were not detected using SS-PyGC-MS. All of the rubber tyres (n=5) and road cones (n=6) were able to be uniquely distinguished using DS-PyGC-MS. Some additional compounds were detected in the thermal desorption analysis of shotgun wads (n=4), providing increased discrimination compared to SS-PyGC-MS. For the cling film samples analysed (n=7) the polyethylene-based cling films (n=6) could not be distinguished from each other, with no compounds detected in the thermal desorption step. The other cling film sample contained a mixture of polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and could easily be distinguished from the polyethylene-based cling films using either SS- or DS-PyGC-MS, or other common analytical methods such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). This pilot study has demonstrated that DS-PyGC-MS has the potential to provide more comprehensive chemical composition information for some polymeric substrates and is a promising method for the forensic comparison of polymer evidence., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Plastics have become an essential part of modern society. Their properties can be easily manipulated by incorporating additives to impart desirable attributes, such as colour, flexibility, or stability. However, many additives are classified as hazardous substances. To better understand the risk of plastic pollution within marine ecosystems, the type and concentration of additives in plastic debris needs to be established. We report the quantification of thirty-one common plastic additives (including plasticisers, antioxidants, and UV stabilisers) in beached plastic debris collected across Aotearoa New Zealand. Additives were isolated from the plastic debris by solvent extraction and quantified using high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Twenty-five of the target additives were detected across 200 items of debris, with plasticisers detected at the highest frequency (99 % detection frequency). Additives were detected in all samples, with a median of four additives per debris item. A significantly higher number of additives were detected per debris item for polyvinyl chloride (median = 7) than polyethylene or polypropylene (median = 4). The additives bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, and antioxidant 702 were detected at the highest concentrations (up to 196,930 μg/g). The sum concentration of additives per debris item (up to 320,325 μg/g) was significantly higher in polyvinyl chloride plastics (median 94,716 μg/g) compared to other plastic types, primarily due to the presence of phthalate plasticisers. Non-target analysis was consistent with the targeted analysis, indicating a higher number and concentration of additives in polyvinyl chloride debris items compared to all other polymer types. Feature identification indicated the presence of more additives than previously detected in the targeted analysis, including plasticisers (phthalate and non-phthalate), processing aids, and nucleating agents. This study highlights phthalates and polyvinyl chloride as key targets for consideration in ecotoxicology and risk assessments, and the development of policies to reduce the impacts of plastic pollution., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Since October 2022, multiple high-income countries have reported an increase in invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections. This study describes trends in iGAS infections in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) between 2017 and 2023, and examines associations of iGAS incidence, COVID-19 eras, and acute respiratory infections (ARI)., Methods: Analyses include national-level surveillance data on iGAS and ARI. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to examine relationships between COVID-19 era and iGAS incidence, and Pearson pairwise correlations were calculated to examine trends between ARI and iGAS., Findings: A sharp increase in iGAS was observed in 2023, with notable increases among children aged under ten years. Indigenous Māori and Pacific peoples were disproportionately affected. emm1 and emm12 were commonly reported in 2022-2023. Compared to pre-pandemic, iGAS decreased significantly during the COVID-19 restrictions era and increased once COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed, after adjusting for ethnicity, sex, and age. ARI was moderately correlated with iGAS (r = 0∙55) in 2022-2023., Interpretation: Though delayed, NZ's recent iGAS trends mirror those seen in the 2022/2023 multi-country iGAS surge. These findings expand existing research, suggesting a link between the easing of COVID-19 measures, increased ARI circulation, and the rise in iGAS. Continued and improved iGAS surveillance, is needed to better understand iGAS epidemiology and support public health response. iGAS in NZ will become notifiable in late 2024, which should help improve iGAS monitoring and support public health response., Funding: This research received no specific funding, though iGAS surveillance and typing in NZ is funded by the Ministry of Health, which was not involved in the analysis, interpretation, design, or any aspect of this study. No authors were paid to write this manuscript., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no competing interests to declare., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Influenza reemerged after a 2020-2021 hiatus in 2022, but understanding the resurgence needs pre-COVID era surveillance. We compared age- and ethnicity-specific incidence of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) from a hospital network in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2022 against a baseline, 2012-2019., Methods: Annual and monthly influenza SARI incidence per 1000 persons by age and ethnic group between 2012 and 2022 was calculated using resident population as the denominator. The hospitals capture most severe illness of the resident population., Results: Influenza SARI incidence was highest among <1 year olds (2.62; 95% CI: 1.84-3.61) during 2012-2019, lowest at 6-14 years, and did not significantly increase until 50-64 years (0.35; 95% CI: 0.27-0.45), reaching 1.19 (95% CI: 0.57-1.55) in those ≥75 years. In all age groups, incidence was at least threefold higher in Māori and Pacific Peoples. No influenza SARI was identified in 2020-2021. In 2022, despite an early peak, annual incidence (<65 years) was lower than baseline in all ethnic groups, but incidence (≥65 years) in Māori (2.06; 95% CI: 1.22-3.26) and Pacific (3.94; 95% CI: 2.97-5.13) peoples was higher in 2022 than most baseline years, whereas incidence in NMNP (0.22; 95% CI: 0.14-0.32) was lower than any baseline year., Conclusion: After no influenza 2020-2021, Auckland had an early, high, narrow peak in 2022. Stratification by age and ethnicity revealed striking discrepancies in incidence among Māori and Pacific adults over 65 years compared with NMNP adults, with implications for targeted vaccination strategies., (© 2024 The Author(s). Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Pangenome graphs can represent all variation between multiple reference genomes, but current approaches to build them exclude complex sequences or are based upon a single reference. In response, we developed the PanGenome Graph Builder, a pipeline for constructing pangenome graphs without bias or exclusion. The PanGenome Graph Builder uses all-to-all alignments to build a variation graph in which we can identify variation, measure conservation, detect recombination events and infer phylogenetic relationships., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)

Norovirus is the predominant cause of viral gastroenteritis globally with foodborne outbreaks commonly reported. Filter-feeding bivalve molluscan shellfish can become contaminated with norovirus when grown in waters impacted by inadequately treated effluent wastewater, overflows, or other human fecal sources. Contaminated shellfish pose a significant risk to consumers, because combined with a low norovirus infectious dose, oysters and mussels are often eaten raw or lightly cooked resulting in no or minimal virus inactivation, respectively. In addition, shellfish contamination has significant economic impacts on the seafood industry. To improve risk assessments, reverse transcription (RT)-digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) was used to determine the precise norovirus concentrations in 20 shellfish samples, all positive for norovirus genogroup I and/or II (GI or GII) by RT-quantitative PCR (qPCR), and associated with reported norovirus illness in New Zealand. Using RT-ddPCR, total norovirus GI and/or GII concentrations in shellfish ranged between 44 and 4,630 genome copies (GC)/g digestive tissue. Importantly, 40% (8/20) of shellfish samples contained a total norovirus concentration less than 200 GC/g digestive tissue. In parallel, RNase treatment was applied, prior to viral extraction to remove free viral RNA, which subsequently led to average reductions in norovirus GC/g concentration of 37.1% and 19.4% for GI and GII, respectively. These RT-ddPCR data provide valuable evidence for risk assessment of contaminated shellfish and evaluation of safety guidelines and highlight issues associated with setting a safe threshold of norovirus in shellfish., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Wastewater treatment facilities can filter out some plastics before they reach the open environment, yet microplastics often persist throughout these systems. As they age, microplastics in wastewater may both leach and sorb pollutants and fragment to provide an increased surface area for bacterial attachment and conjugation, possibly impacting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) traits. Despite this, little is known about the effects of persistent plastic pollution on microbial functioning. To address this knowledge gap, we deployed five different artificially weathered plastic types and a glass control into the final maturation pond of a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Ōtautahi-Christchurch, Aotearoa/New Zealand. We sampled the plastic-associated biofilms (plastisphere) at 2, 6, 26, and 52 weeks, along with the ambient pond water, at three different depths (20, 40, and 60 cm from the pond water surface). We investigated the changes in plastisphere microbial diversity and functional potential through metagenomic sequencing. Bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA genes composition did not vary among plastic types and glass controls ( P = 0.997) but varied among sampling times [permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA), P = 0.001] and depths (PERMANOVA, P = 0.011). Overall, there was no polymer-substrate specificity evident in the total composition of genes (PERMANOVA, P = 0.67), but sampling time (PERMANOVA, P = 0.002) and depth were significant factors (PERMANOVA, P = 0.001). The plastisphere housed diverse AMR gene families, potentially influenced by biofilm-meditated conjugation. The plastisphere also harbored an increased abundance of genes associated with the biodegradation of nylon, or nylon-associated substances, including nylon oligomer-degrading enzymes and hydrolases.IMPORTANCEPlastic pollution is pervasive and ubiquitous. Occurrences of plastics causing entanglement or ingestion, the leaching of toxic additives and persistent organic pollutants from environmental plastics, and their consequences for marine macrofauna are widely reported. However, little is known about the effects of persistent plastic pollution on microbial functioning. Shotgun metagenomics sequencing provides us with the necessary tools to examine broad-scale community functioning to further investigate how plastics influence microbial communities. This study provides insight into the functional consequence of continued exposure to waste plastic by comparing the prokaryotic functional potential of biofilms on five types of plastic [linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), nylon-6, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, and oxygen-degradable LLDPE], glass, and ambient pond water over 12 months and at different depths (20, 40, and 60 cm) within a tertiary maturation pond of a municipal wastewater treatment plant., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.