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Glycans are carbohydrate modifications typically found on proteins or lipids, and can act as ligands for glycan‐binding proteins called lectins. Glycans and lectins play crucial roles in the function of cells and organs, and in the immune system of animals and humans. Viral pathogens use glycans and lectins that are encoded by their own or the host genome for their replication and spread. Recent advances in glycobiological research indicate that glycans and lectins mediate key interactions at the virus‐host interface, controlling viral spread and/or activation of the immune system. This review reflects on glycan–lectin interactions in the context of viral infection and antiviral immunity. A short introduction illustrates the nature of glycans and lectins, and conveys the basic principles of their interactions. Subsequently, examples are discussed highlighting specific glycan–lectin interactions and how they affect the progress of viral infections, either benefiting the host or the virus. Moreover, glycan and lectin variability and their potential biological consequences are discussed. Finally, the review outlines how recent advances in the glycan–lectin field might be transformed into promising new approaches to antiviral therapy., Glycans and lectins cover crucial roles in virus biology and their interplay often shapes the virus‐host interaction. This review reflects on glycan‐lectin interactions in the context of viral infection and anti‐viral immunity, and explores potential targets for antiviral strategies.

Campylobacteriosis in humans, caused by Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli, is the most common recognized bacterial zoonosis in the European Union and the United States. The acute phase is characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms. The long-term sequelae (Guillain-Barré syndrome, reactive arthritis, and postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome) contribute considerably to the disease burden. Attribution studies identified poultry as the reservoir responsible for up to 80% of the human Campylobacter infections. In the European Union, an estimated 30% of the human infections are associated with consumption and preparation of poultry meat. Until now, interventions in the poultry meat production chain have not been effectively introduced except for targeted interventions in Iceland and New Zealand. Intervention measures (eg, biosecurity) have limited effect or are hampered by economic aspects or consumer acceptance. In the future, a multilevel approach should be followed, aiming at reducing the level of contamination of consumer products rather than complete absence of Campylobacter.

BACKGROUND Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) have been suspected to adversely affect human reproductive health. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between PFC exposure and male semen quality. METHODS PFCs were measured in serum from 588 partners of pregnant women from Greenland, Poland and Ukraine who provided a semen sample, using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) could be detected in >97% of the samples. The associations between levels of these compounds and semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility and morphology were assessed. RESULTS Across countries, sperm concentration, total sperm count and semen volume were not consistently associated with PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS or PFNA levels. The proportion of morphologically normal cells was 35% lower [95% confidence interval (CI): 4-66%) for the third tertile of PFOS exposure as compared with the first. A similar reduction was found in relation to increasing PFHxS levels. At the third PFOA exposure tertile, the percentage of motile spermatozoa was 19% (95% CI: 1 to 39%) higher than in the first. CONCLUSIONS The most robust finding in the present study was the negative associations between PFOS exposure and sperm morphology suggesting adverse effects of PFOS on semen quality, possibly due to interference with the endocrine activity or sperm membrane function. It cannot be excluded that this association and the positive association between PFOA and semen motility, which was not consistent across countries, might represent a chance finding due to the multiple statistical tests being performed.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2007 to evaluate the relation between pesticide exposure and respiratory health in a population of indigenous women in Costa Rica. Exposed women (n ¼ 69) all worked at plantain plantations. Unexposed women (n ¼ 58) worked at organic banana plantations or other locations without pesticide exposure. Study participants were interviewed using questionnaires to estimate exposure and presence of respiratory symptoms. Spirometry tests were conducted to obtain forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Among the exposed, prevalence of wheeze was 20% and of shortness of breath was 36% versus 9% and 26%, respectively, for the unexposed. Prevalence of chronic cough, asthma, and atopic symptoms was similar for exposed and unexposed women. Among nonsmokers (n ¼ 105), reported exposures to the organophosphate insecticides chlorpyrifos (n ¼ 25) and terbufos (n ¼ 38) were strongly associated with wheeze (odd ratio ¼ 6.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.6, 28.0; odds ratio ¼ 5.9, 95% confidence interval: 1.4, 25.6, respectively). For both insecticides, a statistically significant exposure-effect association was found. Multiple organophosphate exposure was common; 81% of exposed women were exposed to both chlorpyrifos and terbufos. Consequently, their effects could not be separated. All findings were based on questionnaire data. No relation between pesticide exposure and ventilatory lung function was found. En 2007 se realizó un estudio transversal para evaluar la relación entre la exposición a los plaguicidas y la salud respiratoria en una población de mujeres indígenas de Costa Rica. Las mujeres expuestas (n ¼ 69) trabajaban todas en la plantación de plátanos plantaciones. Las mujeres no expuestas (n ¼ 58) trabajaban en plantaciones de banano orgánico u otros lugares sin pesticida exposición. Se entrevistó a los participantes en el estudio mediante cuestionarios para estimar la exposición y la presencia de síntomas respiratorios. Se realizaron pruebas de espirometría para obtener la capacidad vital forzada y el volumen espiratorio forzado en un segundo. Entre los expuestos, la prevalencia de las sibilancias fue del 20% y la de la dificultad respiratoria del 36% frente al 9% y el 26%, respectivamente, para los no expuestos. La prevalencia de la tos crónica, el asma y los síntomas atópicos fue similar para las mujeres expuestas y no expuestas. Entre los no fumadores (n ¼ 105), las exposiciones reportadas al organofosfato Los insecticidas clorpirifos (n ¼ 25) y terbufos (n ¼ 38) estaban fuertemente asociados con las sibilancias (proporción impar ¼ 6.7, intervalo de confianza del 95%: 1,6, 28,0; odds ratio ¼ 5,9, intervalo de confianza del 95%: 1,4, 25,6, respectivamente). Para ambos insecticidas, se encontró una asociación estadísticamente significativa de efecto de exposición. Exposición a múltiples organofosfatos era común; el 81% de las mujeres expuestas estaban expuestas tanto a clorpirifos como a terbufos. En consecuencia, sus efectos no podía ser separado. Todas las conclusiones se basaron en los datos del cuestionario. No hay relación entre la exposición a los plaguicidas y se encontró una función pulmonar ventilada. Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica Instituto Regional de Estudios en Sustancias Tóxicas, Universidad Nacional

Research from the United States consistently shows that female‐dominated occupations generally yield lower wages than male‐dominated occupations. Using detailed occupational data, this study analyses the size and causes of this occupational gender wage‐gap in the Dutch labour market using multi‐level modelling techniques. The analyses show that both men and women earn lower wages if they are employed in female‐dominated occupations. This especially indicates the significance of gender in Western labour markets, since overall levels of wage inequality are relatively small in the Netherlands compared to, for example, the United Kingdom and the United States. Differences in required responsibility are particularly important in accounting for this occupational wage‐gap. Nonetheless, we find large wage penalties for working in a female‐dominated instead of a male‐dominated occupation for occupations that require high levels of education, skills, and responsibility.

Several studies showed that oncology nurses are exposed to antineoplastic drugs via the skin during daily activities. Several antineoplastic drugs (including cyclophosphamide) have been classified as carcinogenic to humans. This study aims to assess the leukemia risk of occupational exposure to cyclophosphamide. Average task frequencies from the population of oncology nurses in the Netherlands and task-based dermal exposure intensities were used to calculate oncology nurses' dermal exposure levels. A dermal absorption model in combination with a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model was used to assess the delivered dose of cyclophosphamide and its active metabolites in the bone marrow. This delivered dose was subsequently related to pharmacodynamic and epidemiological information from a longitudinal study with cyclophosphamide- treated patients to estimate the excess lifetime leukemia risk at age 80 for Dutch oncology nurses after 40 years of exposure to cyclophosphamide. The excess lifetime leukemia risk at age 80 of an exposed oncology nurse after 40 years of dermal exposure to cyclophosphamide was estimated to be 1.04 per million oncology nurses. This risk could potentially increase to a maximum of 154 per million if a nurse performs all cyclophosphamide-related tasks with the maximum frequency (as observed in this population) and is exposed to maximum exposure intensities for each task without using protective gloves for 40 years. This study indicates that the risk of an oncology nurse in a Dutch hospital with an average dermal exposure to cyclophosphamide is well below the maximum tolerable risk of one extra death from cancer per 250 deaths after 40 years of occupational exposure, and that this level is not exceeded in a worst-case scenario.

INTRODUCTION: Exposure to flour dust has been reported as an important risk factor for allergic respiratory disease among bakery workers. A high prevalence of allergic sensitization and asthma was recently reported in South African supermarket bakeries. The aim of this study was to conduct a detailed exposure assessment of these bakeries so as to provide the baseline for a broader intervention study. METHODS: A total of 211 full-shift personal samples were collected on randomly selected individuals within five different job categories in 18 bakeries. The samples were analyzed for particulate mass and specific flour dust allergens (wheat, rye, and fungal alpha-amylase). Exposure models were developed using job, bakery size, tasks, and specific ingredients used. Bakery and worker were regarded as random effect components. RESULTS: Bread bakers had the highest average (geometric mean) exposures (1.33 mg m(-3) flour dust particulate, 13.66 microg m(-3) wheat allergens, and 5.14 microg m(-3) rye allergens). For alpha-amylase allergens, most samples were below the limit of detection for several occupational titles. In the mixed effect models, the significant predictors of elevated exposure to inhalable dust particulate as well as wheat and rye allergen concentrations were large bakery size, bread baking, and use of cereal flours, while tasks such as confectionery work were negatively correlated with these exposure metrics. Weighing tasks and use of premix products were associated with increased exposure to fungal alpha-amylase. A high correlation between particulate dust and wheat (r = 0.84) as well as rye (r = 0.86) was observed, with a much lower correlation between particulate dust and fungal alpha-amylase (r = 0.33). Overall, a low proportion (39%) of bakery stores implemented various control measures to reduce dust exposures in the bakeries. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that current exposure control strategies in supermarket bakery stores are inadequate in reducing dust exposures to protect the health of bakery workers.