ORCID Profile
0000-0001-9212-2221
Current Organisation
James Cook University
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Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 10-02-2019
DOI: 10.3390/TROPICALMED4010033
Abstract: Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a high burden of tuberculosis (TB), including drug-resistant TB (DR-TB). DR-TB has been identified in patients in Western Province, although there has been limited study outside the provincial capital of Daru. This study focuses on the Balimo region of Western Province, aiming to identify the proportion of DR-TB, and characterise Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) drug resistance-associated gene mutations. Sputum s les were investigated for MTB infection using published molecular methods. DNA from MTB-positive s les was lified and sequenced, targeting the rpoB and katG genes to identify mutations associated with rif icin and isoniazid resistance respectively. A total of 240 sputum s les were collected at Balimo District Hospital (BDH). Of these, 86 were classified as positive based on the results of the molecular assays. For s les where rpoB sequencing was successful, 10.0% (5/50, 95% CI 4.4–21.4%) were considered rif icin-resistant through detection of drug resistance-associated mutations. We have identified high rates of presumptive DR-TB in the Balimo region of Western Province, PNG. These results emphasise the importance of further surveillance, and strengthening of diagnostic and treatment services at BDH and throughout Western Province, to facilitate detection and treatment of DR-TB, and limit transmission in this setting.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 09-02-2021
DOI: 10.20944/PREPRINTS202102.0235.V1
Abstract: Characterised by the growth of benign tumours, fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a debilitating disease that predominantly afflicts the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas). A growing body of histological and molecular evidence has consistently associated FP tumours with Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5), leading this virus to be considered the most likely aetiological agent of FP. However, a recent study which detected both ChHV5 and Chelonia mydas papillomavirus 1 (CmPV1) DNA in FP tumour tissues has challenged this hypothesis. The present study aimed to establish the wider prevalence of CmPV1 and co-occurrence with ChHV5 in marine turtles in waters adjacent to the east coast of Queensland, Australia. This comprehensive molecular survey screened a total of 353 s les from 275 foraging turtles using probe-based qPCR. Three s le categories were used in this study: Group A (FP tumours), Group B (non-tumoured skin from turtles with FP tumours) and Group C (non-tumoured skin from turtles without FP tumours). Concurrent detection of ChHV5 and CmPV1 DNA is reported for all three categories, with the highest rate of concurrent detection reported for Group A s les (43.5%). Collectively, these results pivot the way we think about FP as an infectious disease where two separate viruses may be at play.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 05-03-2021
DOI: 10.3390/ANI11030697
Abstract: Characterised by benign tumours, fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a debilitating disease that predominantly afflicts the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas). A growing body of histological and molecular evidence has associated FP tumours with Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5). However, a recent study which detected both ChHV5 and Chelonia mydas papillomavirus 1 (CmPV1) DNA in FP tumour tissues has challenged this hypothesis. The present study aimed to establish a probe-based qPCR to assess the wider prevalence of CmPV1 and co-occurrence with ChHV5 in 275 marine turtles foraging in waters adjacent to the east coast of Queensland, Australia: three categories: Group A (FP tumours), Group B (non-tumoured skin from FP turtles) and Group C (non-tumoured skin from turtles without FP). Concurrent detection of ChHV5 and CmPV1 DNA is reported for all three categories, where Group A had the highest rate (43.5%). ChHV5 viral loads in Group A were significantly higher than loads seen in Group B and C. This was not the case for CmPV1 where the loads in Group B were highest, followed by Group A. However, the mean CmPV1 load for Group A s les was not significantly different to the mean load reported from Group B or C s les. Collectively, these results pivot the way we think about FP as an infectious disease where two separate viruses may be at play.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 24-11-2021
DOI: 10.3390/PATHOGENS10121534
Abstract: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus mainly spread by
No related grants have been discovered for Graham Burgess.