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In Tanzania, researchers are unlocking the mysteries of a mold (fungus) that infects patients who have already contracted the bacterial disease tuberculosis. According to World Health Organization statistics, tuberculosis is the leading cause of death globally from infectious disease, with over a quarter of TB deaths occurring in Africa. Fungal lung disease, particularly chronic pulmonary aspergillosis is significantly under-diagnosed, under-treated and a common cause of death in Africa: a 2022 study found the Aspergillosis mold develops in the lesions caused by TB, worsening them and resulting in a deteriorating clinical situation. Dr Martha F. Mushi, a lecturer consultant medical mycologist, at the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS) and Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania, explaines that her research explores the prevalence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of CPA among patients with smear-negative (lower bacterial load) TB, contributing to improved patient care in vulnerable populations. “The fact that approximately 45% of clinically diagnosed pulmonary TB cases have negative-smear or PCR test results highlighted the need of this project,” she says, adding that while CPA is documented as the major cause of smear negative TB, the mortality rate of untreated CPA is estimated at 75% to 80% over five years. “Africa’s capacity to diagnose lung fungal infection is still very low,” she says, “This calls for the global attention in increasing awareness of fungal infection among clinicians and training of technical staff (radiology and clinical laboratory) on the WHO essential diagnostic tests, to attain the sustainable development goals.” Mushi explained that the project is a result of collaboration with Prof David Denning, the founder and retired executive director of Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections (GAFFI), which partially funds and supports the project. Dr Martha Mushi reading gram stain results all in in microbiology laboratory of CUHAS with taken on … [+] 30th June 2023 Martha Mushi Importance of Mycology Mushi grew up in in Kilimanjaro region Northeastern part of Tanzania. “As a university student I was very much inspired by my microbiology professor, who interested me in this field that explores the intricate world of microorganisms,” she says, adding that the neglect of mycology as a whole result in limited research funding, making it challenging to generate evidence-based data for teaching and to foster interest among junior researchers. “Despite these obstacles, mycology plays a crucial role in understanding and addressing fungal infections, which have significant impacts on public health,” she says. According to Mushi, addressing public health issues requires more than just medical interventions. “Scientists from the Global South understand the local healthcare systems, traditional healing practices, community dynamics, and social determinants of health,” she says, “This understanding enables them to design interventions that are sensitive to cultural beliefs and practices, promote community engagement, and enhance the likelihood of successful implementation. Mushi explains that scientists from the Global South can shed light on ethical dilemmas specific to their contexts and ensure that research is conducted in a way that respects the dignity, autonomy, and rights of individuals and communities. “This not only enhances the relevance and applicability of the solutions but also promotes a sense of ownership and empowerment among the communities affected by the global challenges,” she says. Mwanza, Tanzania. getty Phage Approach Another researcher from the region interested in tuberculosis is 20-year old Rutendo Kahari. Kahari, from Zimbabwe, is already on a path to use viruses that infect bacteria to fight some of sub-Saharan Africa’s deadliest infectious diseases. The budding biomedical researcher interested in bacteriophages (viruses that whose hosts are bacteria) and genetic engineering as potential tools for fighting TB and other infectious diseases. Recent studies have focused on phage-based treatments as a solution to treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. After hearing a podcast on bacteriophages, Kahari delved into how phages could potentially combat the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. “I was intrigued by the idea of using viruses to control populations of pathogenic bacteria,” she says.

Summary: Researchers found a live eight-centimeter Ophidascaris robertsi roundworm in the brain of a 64-year-old Australian woman. The parasitic roundworm, typically found in carpet pythons, was successfully extracted following brain surgery. The patient likely contracted the parasite from touching or consuming a type of native grass, Warrigal greens, contaminated with the python’s fecal matter. This alarming case raises concerns about the increasing risk of zoonotic diseases as human and animal habitats continue to overlap. Key Facts: This is the first-ever human case of Ophidascaris robertsi roundworm, which is common to carpet pythons. The roundworm was found in the woman’s brain, a first for any mammalian species. The patient likely contracted the parasite from Warrigal greens beside a lake where the python had shed the parasite through its feces. Source: Australian National University The world’s first case of a new parasitic infection in humans has been discovered by researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) and the Canberra Hospital after they detected a live eight-centimetre roundworm from a carpet python in the brain of a 64- year-old Australian woman. The Ophidascaris robertsi roundworm was pulled from the patient after brain surgery – still alive and wriggling. It is suspected larvae, or juveniles, were also present in other organs in the woman’s body, including the lungs and liver. “This is the first-ever human case of Ophidascaris to be described in the world,” leading ANU and Canberra Hospital infectious disease expert and co-author of the study Associate Professor Sanjaya Senanayake said. “To our knowledge, this is also the first case to involve the brain of any mammalian species, human or otherwise. “Normally the larvae from the roundworm are found in small mammals and marsupials, which are eaten by the python, allowing the life cycle to complete itself in the snake.” Ophidascaris robertsi roundworms are common to carpet pythons. It typically lives in a python’s oesophagus and stomach, and sheds its eggs in the host’s faeces. Humans infected with Ophidascaris robertsi larvae would be considered accidental hosts. Roundworms are incredibly resilient and able to thrive in a wide range of environments. In humans, they can cause stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, appetite and weight loss, fever and tiredness. The researchers say the woman, from southeastern New South Wales in Australia, likely caught the roundworm after collecting a type of native grass, Warrigal greens, beside a lake near where she lived in which the python had shed the parasite via its faeces. The patient used the Warrigal greens for cooking and was probably infected with the parasite directly from touching the native grass or after eating the greens. Canberra Hospital’s Director of Clinical Microbiology and Associate Professor at the ANU Medical School, Karina Kennedy, said her symptoms first started in January 2021. “She initially developed abdominal pain and diarrhoea, followed by fever, cough and shortness of breath. In retrospect, these symptoms were likely due to migration of roundworm larvae from the bowel and into other organs, such as the liver and the lungs. Respiratory samples and a lung biopsy were performed; however, no parasites were identified in these specimens,” she said. “At that time, trying to identify the microscopic larvae, which had never previously been identified as causing human infection, was a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack. “In 2022, she began experiencing subtle changes in memory and thought processing and underwent a brain MRI scan which demonstrated an atypical lesion within the right frontal lobe of the brain.” The patient was first admitted to a local hospital in late January 2021 after suffering three weeks of abdominal pain and diarrhoea, followed by a constant dry cough, fever and night sweats. By 2022, the patient was experiencing forgetfulness and depression, prompting an MRI scan. A neurosurgeon at Canberra Hospital explored the abnormality and it was then that the unexpected eight-centimetre roundworm was found. Its identity was later confirmed through parasitology experts, initially through its appearance and then through molecular studies. Associate Professor Senanayake said the world-first case highlighted the danger of diseases and infections passing from animals to humans, especially as we start to live more closely together and our habitats overlap more and more. “There have been about 30 new infections in the world in the last 30 years. Of the emerging infections globally, about 75 per cent are zoonotic, meaning there has been transmission from the animal world to the human world. This includes coronaviruses,” he said. “This Ophidascaris infection does not transmit between people, so it won’t cause a pandemic like SARS, COVID-19 or Ebola. However, the snake and parasite are found in other parts of the world, so it is likely that other cases will be recognised in coming years in other countries.” Associate Professor Karina Kennedy said the important message from this case is about general food safety, particularly when gardening or foraging for food where there may be other wildlife in close proximity. “People who garden or forage for food should wash their hands after gardening and touching foraged products. Any food used for salads or cooking should also be thoroughly washed, and kitchen surfaces and cutting boards, wiped downed and cleaned after use,” she said. The patient continues to be monitored by the team of infectious disease and brain specialists. “It is never easy or desirable to be the first patient in the world for anything. I can’t state enough our admiration for this woman who has shown patience and courage through this process,” Associate Professor Senanayake said. The researchers’ findings have been described in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. The research team included scientists and infectious diseases, immunology and neurosurgical doctors from ANU, Canberra Health Services, CSIRO, the University of Melbourne and the University of SydneyThe world’s first case of a new parasitic infection in humans has been discovered by researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) and the Canberra Hospital after they detected a live eight-centimetre roundworm from a carpet python in the brain of a 64- year-old Australian woman. The Ophidascaris

A new COVID-19 variant may be more likely to cause breakthrough infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC released a risk assessment Wednesday, breaking down information regarding the new variant. “BA.2.86 may be more capable of causing infection in people who have previously had COVID-19 or who have received COVID-19 vaccines,” the assessment read. Meaning, it may be more likely to cause breakthrough infections than previous strains of the virus. The CDC also broke down where the variant has been spotted, how severe an illness it may cause, and whether current treatments are effective against it. Here’s what experts currently know about BA.2.86. Getty Images / AzmanL Nicknamed “Pirola,” BA.2.86 was first identified on July 24, 2023. The World Health Organization recently added the new variant to its list of “currently circulating variants under monitoring,” noting that the strain has a “large number of mutations identified.” So far, nine cases of BA.2.86 have been detected—three in Denmark, two in South Africa, two in the U.S., one in the U.K., and one in Israel. One of the cases in the U.S. was a person in Michigan, with the Michigan Health Department noting in a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the patient who contracted the strain is an older adult with “mild symptoms” who hasn’t been hospitalized. BA.2.86 is a subvariant of Omicron, which has been the dominant strain in the U.S. since late 2021, but “it has many, many more mutations than the mutations of each of the variants before,” Timothy Murphy, MD, senior associate dean for clinical and translational research at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, told Health. Specifically, BA.2.86 has more than 35 amino acid changes to its spike protein than the recently circulating XBB.1.5, which the fall COVID-19 booster was based on, Murphy said. The CDC pointed out that this change is “roughly of the same magnitude” as the switch between the Delta strain of COVID-19 and the initial Omicron variant, BA.1. It’s the spike protein mutations that make this variant likely to cause breakthrough infections. “The virus uses the spike protein to bind the disease to cells,” Murphy said. “That’s what the vaccines are directed against.” With so many mutations in the spike protein, there is a greater chance that the vaccine and having previously been infected with COVID-19 won’t offer as much protection against BA.2.86 as prior strains of the virus, William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, told Health. “Initially, officials thought that BA.2.86 was not all that much different but, now that they’ve noted there are many mutations, they’ve at least raised the question about whether there may be some immune evasion on the part of this strain,” Schaffner said. The CDC said it’s “too soon to know the real-world impacts on immunity” of BA.2.86. However, the agency noted that many people have immunity, either from previous infection, the vaccine, or both. “It is likely that these antibodies will continue to provide some protection against severe disease from this variant,” the CDC said. While testing for COVID-19 is highly encouraged, new variants can be tricky to accurately test for. “We have no lab data or experimental data whatsoever to say how this will impact immunity,” Murphy said. “It simply hasn’t been studied at this point, but likely will be soon.” Samples of the new strain aren’t broadly available for reliable lab testing at this point, but are expected to happen eventually. Meanwhile, existing treatments for older COVID-19 strains can most likely provide relief for patients who are infected with BA.2.86. According to the CDC, the mutation profile of BA.2.86 suggests that treatments like Paxlovid, Veklury, and Lagevrio will be effective against the variant. “The medications don’t target the spike protein—they go after different proteins in the virus and those do not appear to be any different,” Murphy said. Schaffner agreed. “The treatments for sure ought to work, but we’ll see whether over-the-counter tests continue to be able to detect this new variant as we go forward,” he said. Overall, it’s hard to say how different BA.2.86 is from other variants. The CDC stressed that there have just been nine cases, making it hard to know how infectious this variant is and how severe of an illness it may cause. “There’s really zero information here,” Murphy said. “With nine cases, it’s just not enough to know anything.”