Risk of viral airborne transmission peaks within 5 seconds

 

Scientists have successfully visualized and measured the flow field of aerosol particles derived from exhaled air and examined the risk of viral exposure during face-to-face encounters, such as while walking, jogging, running, or sprinting.

The results, from the University of Tsukuba, showed that the number of aerosol particles during face-to-face encounters peaked within 5 seconds after the encounter and rapidly declined thereafter.

The researchers identified the risk of virus exposure by visualizing and measuring the flow field of aerosol particles derived from exhaled air (jet stream) during face-to-face encounters using a mobile full-scale mannequin and a particle-tracking velocimetry system. Subsequently, the researchers compared the differences between aerodynamic characteristics with and without ventilation and their effects on the risk of virus exposure.

The researchers found that, with or without ventilation, the number of aerosol particles peaked within 5 seconds after face-to-face encounters and then declined rapidly. The higher the transit velocity, the smaller this peak became, which may be due to the increase in the relative velocity between exhaled air and ambient air that facilitated particle diffusion. Furthermore, the number of aerosol particles in ventilated conditions was significantly lower than that in nonventilated conditions.

The results indicate that, to reduce the risk of viral infection during face-to-face encounters, measures such as interrupting inhalation, maintaining a physical distance of at least 1 m, and positioning oneself upwind, are effective within 5 seconds of face-to-face encounters. These findings can help in the management of exposure risk to airborne viruses in general.

 

See: Takeshi Asai, Erina Kurosaki, Kaoru Kimachi, Masao Nakayama, Masaaki Koido, Sungchan Hong. Peak risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection within 5 s of face-to-face encounters: an observational/retrospective study. Scientific Reports, 2023; 13 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44967-x

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology Resources (http://www.pharmamicroresources.com/)

5 Medicinal Routes That Can Help the Common Cold

 

The common cold is a type of viral infection that primarily affects your throat and nose. It can cause sneezing, congestion and runny noise. While most people recover from the cold fairly quickly, the symptoms can be a nuisance. The good news is that you can use the following medicinal remedies to alleviate the symptoms.

 

Take Supplements

 

There are no supplements that can prevent you from developing the common cold. However, there are a few supplements that have been shown to reduce the duration of a cold and the symptoms. When zinc is taken within 24 hours of one developing cold symptoms, it can shorten the duration.

 

Vitamin C is considered a preventative supplement. If you take it regularly for several weeks before catching a cold, it can help you recover more quickly.

 

Take Expectorants

 

The stuffiness is one of the most annoying symptoms that you may experience when you have a cold. Expectorants are medications that can reduce stuffiness. These medications can encourage the body to loosen the mucus. Mucinex is an example of an expectorant.

 

 

Take Antihistamines

 

Antihistamines are medications that are often recommended to people who suffer from allergies. However, they can help alleviate cold symptoms. They can get rid of the runny nose and sneezing.

 

Take Decongestants

 

Decongestants can get rid of the stuff nose. Examples of decongestants include Sudafed and Contact Cold 12. It is important to note that decongestants may interact with medication that you are already taking. That is why it is a good idea for you to consult with a physician before you take any over-the-counter decongestants if you are currently on prescription medication.

 

Use a Candle

 

A quick way to help yourself feel better when you have a cold is to use a candle. The scent from the candle can help you open your airways and alleviate congestion. Peppermint and eucalyptus are two examples of the types of candles that you can use.

 

Other Ways to Manage Cold Symptoms

 

In addition to taking medication and supplements, there are a few other things that you can do to get relief. It is important for you to spend a few days resting. When you rest, you let your body focus on fighting off the cold virus. The extra rest also allows your immune system to function optimally.

 

You should also keep yourself hydrated. You tend to become dehydrated more easily when your body is fighting off of an illness. Staying hydrated also tends to loosen the mucus inside of your body. Water is the best thing that you can drink if you are trying to stay hydrated. You can also drink clear broth and juice. Do not drink sodas or caffeinated beverages.

 

Honey has both antiviral and antibacterial properties. That is why it is a good idea to add honey to your tea. However, it is important to note that children who are under the age of one should not be given any honey. Additionally, you can use a humidifier in order to increase the amount of moisture in the air. This can reduce congestion.

 

 

Written by Taylor McKnight, Author for White Fox Candles

 

Pharmaceutical Microbiology Resources (http://www.pharmamicroresources.com/)

New avian influenza requires urgent coordinated response

 Image: © Yann Forget / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

A new study from the University of Maryland has tracked the arrival and spread of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1). This virus is killing wild birds, impacting poultry and pushing up egg prices.

 

The researchers found that the deadly impact on wild birds and a shift from seasonal to year-round infections signal dangerous changes in avian influenza in the U.S. The researchers are seeking to determine how this outbreak is different from previous ones.

 

The research suggests that H5N1 will likely become endemic, potentially posing risks to food security and the economy.

 

H5N1 spread from Eurasia to the U.S. where it was first documented in late 2021. By October 2022, the disease had resulted in 31 reported wild bird mass mortalities, accounting for an estimated 33,504 wild bird detections in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, more than 58 million domestic poultry were infected or had to be culled to limit the spread of infection in the U.S. and 7 million in Canada.

 

 

This is based on an analysis of five different data sources that provide information on the incidence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds and poultry focusing on the USA and Canada, as well as information obtained from a global database from 2014 through early 2023.

 

Unlike the previous ‘bird flu’ virus H5N8, this disease is heavily impacting wild birds. The virus is impacting raptors, sea birds and colonial nesting birds. The data also reveals a shift from a seasonal to a year-round disease.

 

The research finds there is an urgent need for unprecedented coordination at a national and regional-scale to manage the spread of a disease reaching across jurisdictions and disciplines. This means federal agencies, state agencies, the agriculture sector and wildlife management, need to formulate a coordinated response.

 

 

Among the recommendation is a management approach based on a method called Structured Decision-Making, which follows a specific process of identifying and bringing together relevant individuals with an interest, expertise or stake in an issue, distinguishing the unknown from the known factors and establishing measurable goals and actions with quantifiable results.

 

The associated research paper outlines examples of potential triggers for action, identifying the relevant decision-makers required to coordinate a response and some of the challenges that may come up. See:

 

Johanna A Harvey, Jennifer M. Mullinax, Michael C. Runge, Diann J. Prosser. The Changing Dynamics of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1: Next Steps for Management & Science in North America. Conservation Biology, 2023 DOI: 10.32942/X26K57

 

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology Resources (http://www.pharmamicroresources.com/)

The chase: viruses vs bacteria

We are all aware of the presence of microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which wreak havoc on our well-being in our daily lives when we come into contact with the bad ones. Many people are unaware that the raging war does not spare the microscopic world. 

By Raphael Hans Lwesya

Humans have used the enmity of microbes for hundreds of years to treat infectious diseases. Among the scenarios that revealed the imperceptible microscopic wars were Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin and Twort and D'Herelle's discovery of bacteriophages. A virus is the smallest entity known to humans; it is capable of colonizing both the macroscopic and microscopic worlds without concern. They are well suited to infiltrate host cells and trigger a series of events that favor either their survival in the cell or their multiplication in order to infect other cells. Bacteriophages are among the most well-known bacterial killers; in recent years, they have gained popularity as the last resort when antibiotics have failed.

 

What are bacteriophages?

 Bacteriophages  possesses viral proteins capable of disrupting the host cell. It attaches itself to a susceptible bacterial cell and injects its genetic material into it. The viral genome takes over the host cell's machinery and uses bacterial components to release viral proteins. Bacteriophage attacks are natural, but scientists have attempted to manipulate them to fit the needs of experiments or applications. These particles, like other viruses, are specific to the host they infect, so phages that affect one strain of bacteria may or may not be able to infect another. Furthermore, bacteriophages do not infect human cells at all. Phages, like bacteria, are found everywhere; in fact, they exist whenever bacteria do because they rely on the host cells to multiply. Places rich in bacteria, such as sewage, dumps, fertile soil, and many others, will also have a variety of viral particles that prey on the available bacteria.

The natural effect of bacteriophage on the environment

Bacteriophages maintain the ecosystem's balance by acting as bacteria predators. Because organic matter derived from lysed host cells is immediately consumed by heterotrophic bacteria, lytic bacteriophages are recognized as important regulators of nutrient cycles. Bacteriophages, as a natural enemy of bacteria, including pathogenic bacteria, have also been studied as biological control agents. Phage aids in the balance of microflora in the human gut, among other places. Despite their susceptibility to UV light from the sun, phages can survive in the environment for extended periods of time.

 

Phage resistant bacteria

Bacteria, as usual, are not helpless in the face of phages; instead, bacteria have developed a number of mechanisms to neutralize or resist phage actions. The most well-known is a CRISPR region that protects bacteria by releasing CAS9 enzymes against bacteriophages, though phages have reversed the action by developing anti-CRISPR mechanisms. Another method of phage infection resistance is a suicidal mission involving bacterial abortive infection (programmed cell death), which involves cell death once the cell is infected by the phage so that the infection does not spread to the entire population.

Application of bacteriophages

Bacteriophages have got numerous applications in this world we are living in, starting from the production of phage-based vaccines, Disinfecting equipment, Diagnosis of bacterial diseases, cleaning fresh food products, phage display, and clinical phage applications like phage therapy. As much as phage technology is considered naive to the world, everyday discoveries are lining up so that the world can appreciate the potential of these particles.

Bacteriophage therapy

Because of their uniqueness and effectiveness in eradicating superbugs, scientists all over the world have been on the lookout for these natural bacterial predators in recent years (multidrug-resistant strains of bacteria). Phages are capable of auto-dosing once applied; they are also capable of mutating in the event that bacteria mutate to gain resistance against them; they have no adverse effects on humans; they are easily removed by the immune system; and they have no effect on other microflora. It has already been reported that these particles have successfully treated multidrug-resistant bugs. When antibiotics failed, phages became the last line of defense.

Despite their colorful properties that apprehend their usefulness, phages have got a negative side too. Among them are; they are capable of causing horizontal antibiotic resistance genes between a bacterium and a bacterium to occur, can be easily removed by the immunity hence act only for short time in case of systemic application, they have a narrow host range and lastly but not least they take a long duration to prepare. To counteract the negative side effects of phage application, scientists have proposed several solutions such as using micelle-like structures to increase phage persistence in the circulation system, creating bacteriophage cocktails to broaden the host range, and having a phage bank that can be used in an emergency. Some people have expressed concern about using the entire virus for treatment, so the solution has been to extract the enzyme lysins and use them against bacteria.

Pharmaceutical Microbiology Resources (http://www.pharmamicroresources.com/)