Bioengineering applies analytical and engineering principles to identify functional biological building blocks for biotechnology applications. While these building blocks are leveraged to improve the human condition, the lack of simplistic, machine-readable definition of biohazards at the function level is creating a gap for biosafety practices. More specifically, traditional safety practices focus on the biohazards of known pathogens at the organism-level and may not accurately consider novel biodesigns with engineered functionalities at the genetic component-level. This gap is motivating the need for a paradigm shift from organism-centric procedures to function-centric biohazard identification and classification practices. To address this challenge, we present a novel methodology for classifying biohazards at the individual sequence level, which we then compiled to distinguish the biohazardous property of pathogenicity at the whole genome level. Our methodology is rooted in compilation of hazardous functions, defined as a set of sequences and associated metadata that describe coarse-level functions associated with pathogens (e.g., adherence, immune subversion). We demonstrate that the resulting database can be used to develop hazardous “fingerprints” based on the functional metadata categories. We verified that these hazardous functions are found at higher levels in pathogens compared to non-pathogens, and hierarchical clustering of the fingerprints can distinguish between these two groups. The methodology presented here defines the hazardous functions associated with bioengineering functional building blocks at the sequence level, which provide a foundational framework for classifying biological hazards at the organism level, thus leading to the improvement and standardization of current biosecurity and biosafety practices.

/pdf/function-based-classification-of-hazardous-biological-3j0v3yi9.pdf

Function-based classification of hazardous biological sequences: Demonstration of a new paradigm for biohazard assessments

In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), effective brucellosis control is limited, in part, by the lack of long-term commitments by governments to control the disease and the absence of reliable national human and livestock population-based data to inform policies. Therefore, we conducted a study to establish the national prevalence and develop a risk map for Brucella spp. in cattle to contribute to plans to eliminate the disease in Kenya by the year 2040. We randomly generated 268 geolocations and distributed them across Kenya, proportionate to the area of each of the five agroecological zones and the associated cattle population. Cattle herds closest to each selected geolocation were identified for sampling. Up to 25 cattle were sampled per geolocation and a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to their owners. We tested 6,593 cattle samples for Brucella immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We assessed potential risk factors and performed spatial analyses and prevalence mapping using approximate Bayesian inference implemented via the integrated nested Laplace approximation (INLA) method. The national Brucella spp. prevalence was 6.8% (95% CI: 6.2-7.4%). Exposure levels varied significantly between agro-ecological zones, with a high of 8.5% in the very arid zone with the lowest agricultural potential relative to a low of 0.0% in the agro-alpine zone with the highest agricultural potential. Additionally, seroprevalence increased with herd size, and the odds of seropositivity were significantly higher for females and adult animals than for males or calves. Similarly, animals with a history of abortion, or with multiple reproductive syndromes had higher seropositivity than those without. At the herd level, the risk of Brucella spp. transmission was higher in larger herds, and herds with a history of reproductive problems such as abortion, giving birth to weak calves, or having swollen testes. Geographic localities with high Brucella seroprevalence occurred in northern, eastern, and southern regions of Kenya all primarily characterized by semi-arid or arid agro-ecological zones dominated by livestock pastoralism interspersed with vast areas with mixed livestock-wildlife systems. The large spatial extent of our survey provides compelling evidence for the widespread geographical distribution of brucellosis risk across Kenya in a manner easily understandable for policymakers. Our findings can provide a basis for risk-stratified pilot studies aiming to investigate the cost-effectiveness and efficacy of singular and combined preventive intervention strategies that seek to inform Kenya's Brucellosis Control Policy. 

Mapping brucellosis risk in Kenya and its implications for control strategies in sub-Saharan Africa

A prospective and retrospective study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of ovine Brucellosis in Kashmir valley. The data spanning over five years (2015-16 to 2019-20) maintained at Disease Investigation Laboratory Nowshera, Srinagar, were collected and utilized to estimate seroprevalence of ovine Brucellosis in Kashmir valley. A total of 20165 sera samples were collected from organized and unorganized sectors of Kashmir valley. The samples were screened serologically using modified Rose Bengal Plate Test (mRBPT), Micro Agglutination Test (MAT) and Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (iELISA). The overall seroprevalence of ovine brucellosis of 17.38% in Kashmir valley was observed in the present study. The seroprevalence of 11.03%, 19.13%, 24.88%, 13.07% and 12.64% was observed during 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively. The prevalence of ovine brucellosis was significantly (p

https://www.entomoljournal.com/archives/2020/vol8issue4/PartR/8-4-50-126.pdf

Seroprevalence of ovine brucellosis in Kashmir valley, a prospective and retrospective study

In order to determine the prevalence of bovine brucellosis and the factors affecting its persistence in the province of Djelfa (Algeria), a sero-epidemiological study was carried out on a total of 10827 cattle (7346 females and 3481 males) during the decade from 2004 to 2013. The sera were screened by card agglutination test, and the positive samples were confirmed by the complement fixation test. Some factors (year, age, breed and sex) were considered. Results found an average prevalence of brucellosis during these ten years of 1.4% with a highly significant difference according to year and sex (P 0.05) in the seroprevalence of brucellosis. A higher prevalence of infection (1.53%) was found in imported breeds compared to local and cross breeds with (1.39%) and (1.35%) respectively. The effect of the breed is highly significant (P<0.05). In conclusion the bovine brucellosis persists in the province of Djelfa and it is necessary to implement a scheme to fight and prevent this infection.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of bovine brucellosis in the province of Djelfa (ALGERIA)

A total of 231 sheep and 181 goats with the history and clinical symptoms of abortions, still births, repeat breeding and pyrexia were screened for B.melitensis antibodies using serological tests viz. rose bengal test (RBT), standard tube agglutination test (STAT) and i-ELISA. The overall prevalence of B.melitensis infection in sheep tested by RBT, STAT and i-ELISA was 13.85%, 9.96% and 20.35%, respectively and in goats was 17.68%, 16.02% and 24.86% respectively. Seroprevalence of brucellosis was highest in goats of 23 years (35.3%) age group followed by 1–2 years (19.6%) and more than 3 years (18.4%) age group, and in sheep, it was highest in 2–3 years (27.9%) age group followed by more than 3 years (19.2%) and less in 1–2 years (14.2%) age group. The study reveled that the prevalence varied from one age group to another vastly.

Seroprevalence of brucellosis in different age groups of sheep and goats.

The present study was carried out on ovines of four administrative blocks of Ganderbal i.e., Lar, Ganderbal, Wakura and Kangan from May 2016 to July 2017. A multi-stage simple random sampling technique was used to determine sample size. The total sample size as calculated turned out to be 223 sheep. Samples of blood in clot activator tubes were collected and serum was harvested. The Microagglutination test (MAT) was performed in 96-well U-shaped microplates. The overall prevalence of ovine brucellosis was 35.87%. Prevalence was non-significantly higher in females (37.82%) having 1.99 times greater odds than males (23.33%). Age-wise prevalence was significantly higher in sheep >2 years of age. The sheep aged >2 years had 2.35 times greater odds (80.6/34.21) of having a higher prevalence of brucellosis than sheep aged < 2 years. The results of this study suggest a high prevalence of ovine brucellosis in this region, whose economic effect has not been investigated till date.

https://www.entomoljournal.com/archives/2017/vol5issue6/PartH/5-5-168-140.pdf

Seroprevalence of brucellosis in ovines of Ganderbal district of Kashmir Valley

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas system has been seized upon with a fervor enjoyed previously by small interfering RNA (siRNA) and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) technologies and has enormouspotential for high-throughput functional genomics studies. Editing via (CRISPR)-CRISPRassociated (Cas) constitutes a next-generation method for programmable and high throughput functional genomics. CRISPR-Cas systems are readily reprogrammed to induce sequence-specific DNA breaks at target loci, resulting in fixed mutations via host-dependent DNA repair mechanisms. Bacteria and archaea acquire resistance to invading viruses and plasmidsby integrating short fragments offoreign nucleic acids at one end of the CRISPR locus. CRISPR loci are transcribedand the long primary CRISPR transcript is processed into a library of small RNAs that guide the immune system to invading nucleic acids, whichare subsequently degraded by dedicated nucleases.

CRISPR: Genome-Editing and Beyond

AdipoR2 mRNA in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Four groups of wistar rats were utilized: C, NAFLD-Suc, NAFLD-Suc/Mc and NAFLD/Mc. The inductor of NAFLD was sucrose at 40% in water to drink. The rats of the NAFLD-Suc/Mc and NAFLD/Mc groups received 200 mg of extract (2 weeks). We observed difference in the body weight of rats intaking sucrose with respect to control group, during two weeks of treatment. The NAFLD/Mc group showed decrease of liver weigth, index liver and reversion of fatty liver with respect to NAFLD-Suc group. The same way, decrease expression of the gene AdipoR2 that codes for the receptor of adiponectine, wich could be associated with the reduction of the content of triglycerides in the liver.

https://www.phytojournal.com/archives/2017/vol6issue6/PartAD/6-6-286-826.pdf

Toxins of Clostridium perfringens as virulence factors in animal diseases

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Seroprevalence of brucellosis in ovines of Ganderbal district of Kashmir Valley

CRISPR: Genome-Editing and Beyond

Toxins of Clostridium perfringens as virulence factors in animal diseases