Tag Archives: Fever

Gene-Edited Pigs Resistant to Swine Fever: A Potential Advancement for Animal Welfare

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Gene-edited pigs exhibit resistance to swine fever

Simon Lillico

By making a few genetic modifications, pigs can be rendered entirely resistant to swine fever, a significant issue for farmers globally. This gene editing could also confer resistance to related viruses in cattle and sheep.

The widespread adoption of gene-edited pigs resistant to swine fever is expected to enhance animal welfare, boost productivity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lower retail prices. “This will foster sustainable livestock production and promote the well-being of pigs,” asserts Helen Crook from the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency.

Swine fever is a highly contagious viral illness that can lead to symptoms ranging from fever to diarrhea and miscarriage, often resulting in significant pig mortality.

While the disease has been eliminated in many regions, it can resurface. For instance, in 1997, the Netherlands culled 6 million pigs to contain an outbreak, and Japan has faced ongoing challenges since 2018.

Typically, when outbreaks occur, livestock are protected using vaccines containing live, weakened virus strains, which is a complex and costly process. “Vaccination demands extensive coordination and oversight,” mentions Christine Tate-Burkard from the University of Edinburgh, UK.

Countries utilizing vaccinations face restrictions when exporting to disease-free areas. Interruptions in vaccination programs can also lead to outbreaks, as seen recently in the Philippines, explains Tate-Burkard.

Nevertheless, the classic swine fever virus has a vulnerability. The viral protein bundles formed from long chains of amino acids must be cleaved into functional pieces, relying on specific pig proteins for this process.

By altering a single amino acid in this pig protein, referred to as DNAJC14, it may be possible to obstruct this cleavage. Tait-Burkard and colleagues employed CRISPR gene editing to create pigs with this minor modification.

Subsequently, the team sent some of these pigs to a secure facility, where Crook’s group introduced the live swine virus intranasally. All typical pigs fell ill, while the gene-edited pigs showed no signs of infection. There were no symptoms, antibodies, nor detectable virus.

“These pigs demonstrated complete resistance to viral replication and remained healthy and content throughout the experiment,” states Crook.

This research was partially sponsored by Genus, a major international breeding company currently evaluating the commercialization of these pigs.

Genus has previously developed gene-edited pigs resistant to another significant disease, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, which are already approved in the United States, Brazil, and other nations. The company awaits approvals in Mexico, Canada, and Japan—key export markets for the U.S.—before it can start selling semen to farmers.

When used to implement small changes that can naturally occur, gene editing often faces less stringent regulations compared to traditional genetic engineering. Japan has already sanctioned three types of gene-edited fish.

The UK is anticipated to begin approving gene-edited plants soon, although regulations for livestock are yet to be finalized. It is expected that these regulations will prioritize animal welfare.

The research team observed no adverse effects in the swine fever-resistant pigs, according to Simon Lillico and colleagues from the University of Edinburgh, although further research is necessary to confirm these findings.

He emphasizes that traditional breeding lacks such welfare considerations. “It would be beneficial to ensure a level playing field,” he remarks. “We are aware that some conventionally reared animals experience low welfare standards.”

A virus closely related to classical swine fever is responsible for causing bovine viral diarrhea in cattle and borderline disease in sheep. While these diseases are not lethal, they still impact welfare and productivity. The Edinburgh research team is presently examining whether modifications made to pigs will also benefit cattle and sheep.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New ‘Molecular Shield’ Offers Relief from Hay Fever Symptoms in the Nose

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Sneezing and coughing are prevalent symptoms of hay fever

Mohammad Hosein Safaei/Unsplash

Individuals suffering from hay fever may find relief with a novel “molecular shield” designed to stop pollen from penetrating the nasal lining, likely with fewer side effects than traditional treatments.

Hay fever is an allergic response triggered by pollen interacting with IgE antibodies found in the nose, mouth, and eyes, leading to inflammation and symptoms like sneezing and itching. Common treatments, such as antihistamines and steroids, help reduce inflammation but often come with side effects, including drowsiness.

Seeking alternatives, Kaissar Tabynov from Kazakh National University of Agricultural Research and his team first collected blood samples from mice. They then isolated antibodies that did not participate in the allergic response but could bind to major mugwort pollen allergens, the primary trigger for hay fever. This binding action inhibited allergens from connecting with IgE antibodies in laboratory tests. “It acts as a molecular shield,” Tabynov explains.

To evaluate the shield’s effectiveness, the researchers induced mugwort pollen allergies in 10 mice by injecting them with allergens and chemicals to stimulate an immune response.

After a week, they administered small amounts of liquid containing the pollen-blocking antibodies into the noses of half the mice, gradually increasing the dosage over five days. The other group received saline solutions. An hour following each droplet, the mice were exposed to mugwort pollen at concentrations similar to those encountered during peak pollen seasons, according to Tabynov.

Following the final injection, the mice receiving the antibody treatment showed an average of 12 nose rubs over five minutes, in stark contrast to 92 in the saline group.

The researchers aimed to diminish inflammation and confirmed their success by imaging the nasal tissues collected from the mice at the study’s conclusion. This imaging revealed that the treatment not only had localized effects but also systemic ones. “Our research is the first to show that allergen-specific monoclonal antibodies can be administered intranasally to achieve both local and systemic protection against plant pollen allergies,” states Tabynov.

While the researchers did not assess potential side effects, they do not anticipate the adverse reactions associated with oral hay fever treatments, since the antibodies act at the site of allergen entry.

“This study represents a significant breakthrough and underscores the promise of intranasal therapies for allergic rhinitis. [hay fever] It lays the groundwork for early clinical trials exploring this method in humans,” remarks Sayantani Sindher from Stanford University in California.

Nonetheless, translating success in mice to human applications may prove challenging, and the antibodies will need to be modified to ensure they do not provoke an unexpected immune response in humans, Tabynov notes. If all goes well, the team hopes to advance this method to a nasal spray for human use within the next two to three years, he adds.

Such sprays could also address additional pollen types responsible for hay fever. “We envision a future where tailored antibody sprays can be made for individuals with sensitivities to different pollen varieties,” muses Tabynov.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Working Groups Warning of Fever Deaths Establish Signs About Doge in National Parks

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The early season heatwaves scorched much of the West, resulting in dangerously high temperatures and prompting extreme heat warnings lasting from Friday through Saturday. Southern Nevada saw widespread triple-digit highs, with Death Valley expected to surpass 115 degrees.

Weeks ahead of the official start of summer, we intensified the union message. The organization’s signage campaign aims to address the far-reaching effects of Doge layoffs and budget cuts on the nation’s beloved national parks. In the Southwest, this translates to zero tolerance for extreme heat, according to Shaquille.

“We had to adapt our message to connect with people directly,” he stated.

Results from the National Park Service’s budget cuts are still pending, especially with the peak summer tourist season on the horizon.

Abigail Wine, deputy director of Death Valley National Park, mentioned that park staff are committed to ensuring public safety and raising awareness about the hazards of extreme heat. She urged visitors to take necessary precautions before heading to Death Valley, such as checking weather warnings, verifying closures, and packing adequate water, sunscreen, and other essentials.

“As always, the National Park Service is dedicated to providing visitors with an incredible, safe, and unforgettable experience at Death Valley National Park and throughout the country,” Wines informed NBC News in a statement.

The broader objective of achieving a more perfect union in the Billboard campaign is to spotlight Doge’s controversial actions and the significant cuts instituted by the Trump administration to federal agencies. Shaquille noted that the organization strategically leveraged the bipartisan support enjoyed by national parks to ignite discussion.

According to a 2024 Population Survey from Pew Research Center, the National Park Service ranks as the most favored federal agency, with a favorable rating of 76% among over 9,400 Americans surveyed.

“Many of the locations where we placed our signs are in areas assumed to lean Republican, where a significant number of people likely voted for Donald Trump. Even the Doge component resonates,” Shaquille explained. “But national parks serve as a perfect example of where the limits were overstepped.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Severe fever can accelerate biological aging in elderly individuals

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Woman drinks water during heat waves in French Hierrez

Magali Cohen/Hans Lucas/AFP Getty Images

Extreme fever appears to speed up biological aging in older adults, suggesting that it may increase the risk of age-related diseases.

“This is one of the first large-scale studies linking long-term heat exposure to biological aging in humans,” he says. Eun Young Choi At the University of Southern California. “Elderly people who live in areas with biologically extreme heat in cooler areas.”

Choi and her colleagues analyzed genetic data extracted from blood samples collected by other researchers from 3,600 people in the US in 2006-7. At the time, they were all over 56 years old.

They estimated the biological age of each participant using three so-called epigenetic clocks, including seeing patterns of chemical tags called methyl groups on DNA. These patterns change as we age, and such changes are associated with age-related diseases.

The researchers also looked at daily temperature measurements taken within a few kilometres of where participants lived for six years before blood samples were collected.

They found that every 200 days of six years when participants were exposed to daily maximum temperatures of at least 32.2°C (90°), biological age was on average up to 3.5 months old, and on average up to 3.5 months of age than those in cooler areas. That number depends on which watch was used.

“This refers to heat exposure increasing the rate of biological aging,” he says. Austin Argencheri At Harvard University, where he was not involved in the research.

Previous studies on the Taiwanese and German people have also found a link between extreme heat exposure and biological aging.

However, epigenetic watches do not fully capture the aging process or the risk of people's illnesses, says Argentieri. “More jobs that can link both extreme heat exposure, biological aging from these watches, age-related diseases, mortality and the effects on life expectancy itself will help us drive home what we need to take away from now on.”

Furthermore, the study did not consider access to air conditioners or the duration of time participants spent outdoors, so individual exposure changes to heat exposure, says Argentieri. The team controlled for other factors such as age, gender, race, wealth, ethnicity, smoking status, alcohol consumption, obesity, and physical activity.

Furthermore, research should investigate whether results will be translated to younger people or to people living in different countries where people may have different approaches to keeping people cool, says Argentieri.

Identifying the people who are at the lowest risk of aging fastest due to extreme heat could help policymakers develop and deploy measures to protect them, he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Fungal threat highlighted by Valley fever outbreak at California music festival

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summary

  • California has seen an increase in cases of valley fever, a fungal infection, in recent years.
  • Fourteen confirmed cases among people who attended or worked at a music festival in the state are one example of the threat the bacteria poses.
  • Climate change is creating more opportunities for a fungus called Coccidioides to thrive.

Valley fever breaks out among attendees Infections among workers at an outdoor music festival in California's Central Valley highlight the growing threat of fungal infections.

Fourteen people who traveled to Bakersfield to attend or work at the Lightning in a Bottle festival in May have tested positive for valley fever and developed symptoms, the California Department of Public Health told NBC News on Thursday. At least three people have been hospitalized.

“About a week after I got back from the festival, I got really bad body aches and fever,” said Eric Mattson, 33, a musician from San Luis Obispo who attended this year's festival after testing positive for valley fever last month.

The condition progressed to joint pain, difficulty moving and night sweats. “I would wake up two or three times in the night drenched in sweat. I had to change my bedding and pyjamas in terrible pain. It was really bad,” Mattson said.

The bacteria that causes valley fever, Coccidioides, thrives in hot, dry climates, so most cases have been seen in Arizona and California. Climate change is creating more opportunities for the bacteria to grow, leading to an increase in valley fever cases in California.

“The number of reported valley fever cases has been particularly high in 2023 and 2024, which may be related to heavy rains in the winter of 2022-2023 following several years of drought,” the health department said in a statement.

The number of annual cases in California has increased from fewer than 1,000 in 2000 to more than 9,000 in 2019. Recent reports from state health departmentsThere have been 5,370 suspected or confirmed cases so far this year.

San Joaquin County has already seen more than 200 suspected and confirmed cases combined this year, 47 overall last year and 59 so far in 2022.

Valley fever is not transmitted from person to person. Rather, it infects the lungs by inhaling spores in dust or soil. The name comes from the San Joaquin Valley, where Coccidioides was found.

Mattson said he hasn't been contacted by the California Department of Public Health, which has not released the names of the 14 people who have been confirmed to be infected, so it's unclear if Mattson is among them. NBC News has reviewed Mattson's medical records, which show he tested positive.

Mattson estimated he lost 20 pounds in four to five weeks.

He suspected valley fever, having heard reports of some festival-goers being infected in the past, but was initially diagnosed with pneumonia. Eventually, his family doctor ordered a blood test, which came back positive early last month.

Mattson's situation is common, says Dr. Geeta Sivasubramanian, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, Fresno: “Patients with valley fever are often misdiagnosed with bacterial pneumonia.”

That's because many doctors don't recognize the disease, test for it too early, or confuse it with other respiratory infections, she says — errors that can lead to patients receiving unnecessary antibiotics instead of the appropriate antifungal medication.

About 60% of people with valley fever have no symptoms, but some may experience symptoms such as cough, fatigue, fever, shortness of breath, night sweats, muscle and joint pain, and a rash on the legs and upper body. People with diabetes, weakened immune systems, and pregnant women are more susceptible to severe lung infections. In very rare cases (about 1%), the lung infection can spread to the bones, joints, and brain, becoming life-threatening.

An ideal environment for spreading Valley Fever

Sivasubramanian said he wasn't surprised by the concentration of cases among the more than 20,000 people attending the music festival.

“We live in a valley fever endemic area so anyone who visits the area or lives in the area is at risk,” she said.

In the Central Valley, heavy winter rains encourage the growth of the fungus in the soil, then as temperatures rise and the soil dries, dust carries the spores into the air.

Activities that kick up large amounts of dust, such as construction and agriculture, increase the risk of exposure. In 2014, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated: Five confirmed and five suspected cases of valley fever were linked. Dry and dusty environment on outdoor film set.

Dr. Arturo Casadevall, chair of the department of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said “Lightning in a Bottle” appears to have come to the right place at the right time.

“You need two things: a spore cloud and a human,” he said.

Mattson said high winds during the festival stirred up dust near some of the stages and in the campgrounds where many attendees stayed.

“When you have a lot of people dancing, it definitely kicks up a lot of dust,” he said.

Valley fever may be spreading to new areas

Climate change is bringing increased rainfall and warmer temperatures, which provide better conditions for the fungus to thrive. It may also lead to more frequent and intense wildfires. Transporting spores to the surrounding area.

Outside of California and Arizona, 2019 Survey It's estimated that valley fever may already be endemic in certain counties in 10 other states, stretching as far east as Kansas and Oklahoma.

“As the desert expands, we're going to see cases outside of the historic areas,” Casadevall said.

Some researchers suspect that climate change may be altering rodent migration patterns, helping the fungus spread, but others don't think that's the case in general. 2022 Survey Coccidioides has been detected in rodents in Kern County, home of the Lightning in a Bottle festival.

Mattson said she doesn't regret attending the festival, but wants people in the community to know about the disease and its symptoms.

“If you've been in the valley or been anywhere where there's a lot of dust in the air, we really want to encourage people to get tested,” he said.

Source: www.nbcnews.com