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Background: Second only to mosquitoes, ticks (Acari: Ixodida) are significant blood-feeding ectoparasites and vectors of numerous pathogens affecting both animals and humans. Despite bats serving as hosts to various tick species, they remain relatively understudied due to their nocturnal behavior and laborious capture procedures. Soft ticks in particular display diverse ecological behaviors, inhabiting bat roosts, caves, and occasionally human dwellings. This overlap in habitats suggests soft ticks may play a critical role as vectors of zoonotic pathogens. In Southeast Asia, research on soft ticks has primarily focused on island nations, with limited studies on bat-associated ticks in Thailand. This study aimed to examine the identity and distribution of bat ticks in Thailand. Methods: Bats were captured across ten provinces in Thailand between 2018 and 2023. Ticks were removed from the bats' skin and identified through morphological examination using a stereomicroscope, with molecular confirmation. Scanning electron micrographs were recorded. Prevalence, mean abundance, and mean intensity of tick infestations were calculated. The mitochondrial genomes of the ticks were sequenced, annotated, and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Results: A total of 1031 bats, representing 7 families, 11 genera, and 28 species, were captured. Tick infestations were found in 34 bats (3.30%), specifically in two species: Craseonycteris thonglongyai (33/139, 23.74%) and Eonycteris spelaea (1/2, 50%). All ticks were in the larval stage. Basic local alignment search tool for nucleotide (BLASTN) searches using 16S rRNA (425 bp) and COI (825 bp) sequences, along with Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) database queries, revealed the highest similarity to tick in the genus Reticulinasus found on bats in Zambia. The mitochondrial genomes of ticks collected from C. thonglongyai and E. spelaea were 14,433 bp and 14,439 bp in length, respectively, and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis placed these ticks within the Reticulinasus clade, with strong support indicated by high bootstrap values. Conclusions: This study identified Reticulinasus sp. infestations on C. thonglongyai and E. spelaea bats, marking the first report of soft ticks in bats from Thailand, with potential implications for zoonotic disease transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In July 2017, an investigation into the cause of neurological signs in a black flying fox (Pteropus alecto, family Pteropodidae) identified a putative novel hantavirus (Robina virus, ROBV, order Bunyavirales, family Hantaviridae, genus Mobatvirus) in its brain. Analysis of the evolutionary relationship between other hantaviruses using maximum-likelihood, a systematic Bayesian clustering approach, and a minimum spanning tree, all suggest that ROBV is most closely related to another Mobatvirus, Quezon virus, previously identified in the lung of a Philippine frugivorous bat (Rousettus amplexicaudatus, also family Pteropodidae). Subsequently, between March 2018 and October 2023, a total of 495 bats were opportunistically screened for ROBV with an experimental qRT-PCR. The total prevalence of ROBV RNA detected in Pteropus spp. was 4.2% (95% CI 2.8–6.4%). Binomial modelling identified that there was substantial evidence supporting an increase (P = 0.033) in the detection of ROBV RNA in bats in 2019 and 2020 suggesting of a possible transient epidemic. There was also moderate evidence to support the effect of season (P = 0.064), with peak detection in the cooler seasons, autumn, and winter, possibly driven by physiological and ecological factors similar to those already identified for other bat-borne viruses. This is Australia's first reported putative hantavirus and its identification could expand the southern known range of hantaviruses in Australasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The calibration of 3D cameras is one of the key challenges to successfully measure the nightly 3D flight tracks of bats with thermal cameras. This is relevant around wind turbines to investigate the impact wind farms have on their species. Existing 3D-calibration methods solve the problem of unknown camera position and orientation by using a reference object of known coordinates. While these methods work well for small monitoring volumes, the size of the reference objects (e.g., checkerboard patterns) limits the distance between the two cameras and therefore leads to increased calibration errors when used in large outdoor environments. To address this limitation, we propose a calibration method for tracking flying animals with thermal cameras based on UAV GPS tracks. The tracks can be scaled to the required monitoring volume and accommodate large distances between cameras, which is essential for low-resolution thermal camera setups. We tested our method at two wind farms, conducting 19 manual calibration flights with a consumer UAV, distributing GPS points from 30 to 260 m from the camera system. Using two thermal cameras with a resolution of 640 × 480 pixels and an inter-axial distance of 15 m, we achieved median 3D errors between 0.9 and 3.8 m across different flights. Our method offers the advantage of directly providing GPS coordinates and requires only two UAV flights for cross-validation of the 3D errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic land use change facilitates disease emergence by altering the interface between humans and pathogen reservoirs and is hypothesized to drive pathogen evolution. Here, we show a positive association between land use change and the evolution and dispersal of Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) and Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV). We update the phylogeographies of EBOV and SUDV, which reveal that the most recent common ancestor of EBOV was circulating around 1960 in the forests of what is now the northwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo, while the most recent common ancestor of SUDV was circulating around 1958 in the southern Sudanese savanna. Both landscapes underwent significant anthropogenic fragmentation between 1940 and 1960, associated with specific colonial “schemes,” which substantially altered local human settlement patterns and the surrounding vegetation to support intensive cash crop agriculture. Since these disturbances, landscape fragmentation was spatiotemporally associated with the divergence and dispersal of new variants of both viruses into new ecoregions of Africa. These variants segregated geographically along ecoregion boundaries, resembling a pattern observable for other bat‐borne viruses. The amino acid changes which characterized each variant disproportionately involved glycosylation‐sensitive amino acids in the surface glycoprotein domain responsible for immune evasion and attachment to host cells, suggesting adaptation to new hosts amidst changing landscapes. Our results show that land use change not only increases the risk of spillover, but also impacts the evolution of viruses themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted during January-December, 2022 at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Kamdhenu University, Anand, Gujarat, India to study the normal values of haematological and biochemical parameters in both males and females of P. giganteus and C. spinx. In the study period, samples were collected from different district of Gujarat viz., Ahmedabad, Navsari and Valsad. In which two species of the fruit bats, P. gigantus (n=4) and C.sphinx (n=10) were screened for the morphometric identification. Based on morphometry both the species were identified. The haematology was performed in 27 fruit bats (Pteropus giganteus, n=13; Cynopterus sphinx, n=14) and biochemical analysis was carried out in 28 fruit bats (Pteropus giganteus, n=16; Cynopterus sphinx, n=12). In haematology, mean Hb, PCV and TLC were observed higher in P. gigantus than C. sphinx, whereas the value of TEC was lower. Between the species and sexes, hemoglobin and packed cell volume (PCV) values were comparatively equal, indicating similar oxygen-carrying capacity. In serum biochemistry, mean value of Creatinine, ALT, Total protein and BUN was observed higher in P. gigantus, whereas the AST was found high in C.sphinx. In comparison between male and female, the higher value of Creatinine and Total protein were found in male, whereas ALT, AST and BUN was found higher in female. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the results of two expeditions (2019 and 2022) to the Mbam Minkom Massif (Centre Region, Cameroon), focused on an assessment of the montane area's bat fauna. We describe bat species' richness and highlight the incredible diversity and ecological importance of this highly threatened ecosystem. Across both years, we captured a total of 36 bat species representing 21 genera and six families on Mbam Minkom Massif and in the surrounding lowland forest. Our findings include two new species records for Cameroon, and two additional records of the recently described bat, Pseudoromicia mbamminkom. We provide accounts for all captured species, including new locality records, detailed capture locations, and notable taxonomic and distributional observations, as well as echolocation call data. Sampling curves suggest adequate sampling coverage, yet also the potential non-detection of several bat species, highlighting the need for further fieldwork to develop a comprehensive species checklist. Conservation strategies are urgently needed to protect this vital ecosystem and mitigate both the loss of forest cover and consequent species loss. Our findings illustrate the importance of the Mbam Minkom Massif and the need to better understand and conserve inselberg ecosystems within rainforests that are facing intense anthropogenic pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Engaged teachers experience a positive, fulfilling, and work-related state of mind related to their work tasks able to affect their well-being positively. Nevertheless, teachers are particularly exposed to burnout risk, which is highly probable to occur during teachers' professional careers. The current study investigates the mediating effect of burnout, through which work engagement influences subjective well-being. Methods: Participants were 807 Italian teachers (Female, 91.7%; Mage = 47.54; SD = 9.91). Self-report instruments were administered to evaluate teachers' burnout (BAT, Burnout Assessment Tool), well-being (WHO-5 Well-being Index), and work engagement (UWES-3, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale). Results: Findings show that exhaustion (β = −0.2162, p < 0.001) and psychological distress (β = −0.2811, p < 0.001) mediate the relationship between work engagement and well-being (total effect, β = 0.6409, p < 0.001). Conclusions: These results enable us to gain a deeper understanding of how the phenomenon of burnout impacts teachers' well-being, allowing us to design training, prevention, and evaluation programs that consider the complex nature of burnout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological trials, such as behavioural avoidance tests (BAT), are a fundamental part of the phobia therapeutic process. In order to link physiological reactions with specific points in time during psychological trials, it is necessary to integrate observation data with data collected automatically by sensors, such as wearable devices. To this end, this paper introduces FRAME - a framework for combining real-world events occurring during psychological trials with physiological data collected by wearables. FRAME consists of three parts, an Observation App, a data integration module and a Virtual Reality (VR) App. The Observation App captures events and their exact time of occurrence. The integration module links the observations with the respective physiological data, allowing an in-depth analysis of physiological reactions. The VR App provides a virtual scenario based on the BAT in vivo, thus enabling a BAT in virtuo. The practical applicability of FRAME is tested within a study comparing behavioural avoidance tests in vivo and in virtuo, assessing 25 patients with arachnophobia wearing an Empatica E4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Bat is considered a natural reservoir of various important pathogens, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), SARS-CoV-2, Ebola virus, and Nipah virus. To study these viruses’ pathogenicity and proliferation efficacy and viral tolerance mechanisms in bats, bat-derived cell lines, and primary cultured cells are used. However, these do not adequately reflect the exact biology of bats, and establishing new bat-related research models is necessary. Organoid culture can recapitulate organ structure, functions, and diseases. The respiratory tract is one of the primary routes of viral infection, and the establishment of bat lung organoids (BLO) is necessary to study the viral susceptibility in bats. Therefore, we aimed to establish a culture method of BLO from Rousettus leschenaultia that died of natural causes. The generated BLO successfully recapitulated the characteristics of pulmonary epithelial structure and morphology. BLO expressed the entry receptors for coronavirus, Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and Transmembrane Protease Serine 2 (TMPRSS2), and alveolar type 2 cells were successfully sorted from BLO, which has an important role for the development of viral infection in the respiratory system. Furthermore, we showed that BLO had no susceptibility to Pteropine orthoreovirus (PRV) compared to bat intestinal organoids. Collectively, our established bat organoid culture models including this BLO might become promising in vitro biomaterials to study the biology of bat-derived infectious diseases.

Background: Osteocytes are the main stress-sensing cells in bone. The substances secreted by osteocytes under mechanical loading play a crucial role in maintaining body homeostasis. Osteocytes have recently been found to release exosomes into the circulation, but whether they are affected by mechanical loading or participate in the regulation of systemic homeostasis remains unclear. Methods: We used a tail-suspension model to achieve mechanical unloading on osteocytes. Osteocyte-specific CD63 reporter mice were used for osteocyte exosome tracing. Exosome detection and inhibitor treatment were performed to confirm the effect of mechanical loading on exosome secretion by osteocytes. Co-culture, GW4869 and exosome treatment were used to investigate the biological functions of osteocyte-derived exosomes on brown adipose tissue (BAT) and primary brown adipocytes. Osteocyte-specific Dicer KO mice were used to screen for loading-sensitive miRNAs. Dual luciferase assay was performed to validate the selected target gene. Results: Firstly, we found the thermogenic activity was increased in BAT of mice subjected to tail suspension, which is due to the effect of unloaded bone on circulating exosomes. Further, we showed that the secretion of exosomes from osteocytes is regulated by mechanical loading, and osteocyte-derived exosomes can reach BAT and affect thermogenic activity. More importantly, we confirmed the effect of osteocyte exosomes on BAT both in vivo and in vitro. Finally, we discovered that let-7e-5p contained in exosomes is under regulation of mechanical loading and regulates thermogenic activity of BAT by targeting Ppargc1a. Conclusion: Exosomes derived from osteocytes are loading-sensitive, and play a vital role in regulation on BAT, suggesting that regulation of exosomes secretion can restore homeostasis. The translational potential of this article: This study provides a biological rationale for using osteocyte exosomes as potential agents to modulate BAT and even whole-body homeostasis. It also provides a new pathological basis and a new treatment approach for mechanical unloading conditions such as spaceflight.

Background/Objectives: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation has important metabolic health implications, yet the relationship between habitual dietary intake and BAT activity in humans remains to be fully understood. Methods: We compared dietary intake among adult men with (BATpositive, age: 34.8 ± 5.4 years, BMI: 28.2 ± 5.3 kg/m2, n = 12) and without (BATnegative, age: 39.1 ± 4.1 years, BMI: 31.1 ± 6.7 kg/m2, n = 11) cold-induced BAT activation. Activation of BAT was measured immediately following 2 h of cold exposure using 18F fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography reported as maximum standardized uptake (SUVmax). Participants categorized as BATpositive had an SUVmax > 1.5 g/mL that was normalized to lean body mass (SUVlean) for analysis. Shivering intensity was recorded every 15 min during cold exposure and dietary intake was estimated from 7 consecutive 24 h dietary recalls. Results: The BATnegative group was significantly older than the BATpositive group (p = 0.046). Although BATnegative participants consumed an average of 281.2 kcal/day more than BATpositive, there were no significant differences in dietary intake between groups (p ≥ 0.202). Further, no statistically significant associations between SUVlean and dietary intake among BATpositive participants were observed (p ≥ 0.175). Participants who shivered (n = 9) during cold exposure tended to be shorter (p = 0.056) and have a lower waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.097) but did not differ in dietary intake (p ≥ 0.204) or BAT activity (p = 0.964) when compared to the non-shivering (n = 11) group. Conclusions: Our results indicate that BAT activity and shivering during cold exposure are more strongly related to variables such as age and body size or composition rather than habitual dietary intake. We conclude that habitual dietary intake likely has a negligible influence on BAT activity among adult men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Wireless sensor networks consist of several autonomous nodes that are outfitted with sensors, radio, processors, memory storage, and power sources. These nodes track, sense, and send data using radio. While establishing a network, the two most essential characteristics are coverage and connectivity. For better connectivity and a longer network life, it's important to make the coverage area as big as possible with the fewest number of sensor nodes. The goal of this research is to make a connected sensor network that uses less energy and can be used in situations where the sensors need to be placed in the best way to make the network last as long as possible. The probabilistic sensing model is used, and improved network lifetime is the goal of the research work by using problem‐specific intelligent optimization techniques like BAT, ACO, and JOA to maximize the coverage area with respect to energy and points of interest. This work introduces a novel approach that optimizes both coverage and connectivity. The modified binary bat algorithm overcomes computational complexities and local optima observed in existing methods. Uniquely, it models the three states of each sensor node and includes innovative features like a greedy initialization and a weighted cost function for improving network efficiency. After investigation, it was analyzed that the proposed solution significantly improves network lifetime by over 10% to 12% compared to existing methods like JOA and ACO. The proposed approach converges faster and performs more efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding underlying genetic structure is essential for the conservation and management of rare or uncommon species because it is important to protect their evolutionary potential and adaptability by preserving genetic diversity. Southeastern Myotis (Myotis austroriparius or MYAU) is an uncommon bat species that ranges across much of the southeastern United States. At the state level, MYAU is regarded as endangered or a Species of Greatest Conservation Need across nearly all its distribution. The overall objective of this study was to examine the genetic structure and genetic diversity of MYAU by determining levels of subpopulation connectivity across its range. We collected, sequenced, and analyzed tissue samples from 376 individuals from 38 sites, 11 states, and 8 ecoregions using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). We used Sanger sequencing to sequence a portion of the mtDNA control region from 472 tissue samples from 42 sites, 12 states, and 8 ecoregions. GBS results indicated that MYAU has a single, panmictic population with little genetic structure and should be managed as so. Results from mtDNA indicated higher levels of genetic structure, likely due to low effective population size, some level of sex-biased dispersal, and increased mutation rates, but not enough to consider separate management units or clades. Genetic diversity estimates were low to moderate. Results from this study can be used to infer and improve long-term protection and management protocols for MYAU. Researchers and managers should preserve gene flow and ensure subpopulations remain connected by maintaining forest corridors and protecting natural and artificial roosts for MYAU in order to prevent future population segregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Allergy to dust mites (HDMs) plays an important role in atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the role of this allergy in other dermatoses is little known. The aim of this study was to assess hypersensitivity to HDMs in patients with AD or hand disease using the basophil activation test. Material and Methods: A total of 52 patients with AD, 57 with hand eczema disease, and 68 healthy volunteers qualified for this study. Diagnosis was based on the Hanifin and Rajka criteria, dermatological assessment, and exclusion of other dermatoses. The participants underwent skin prick tests (SPTs), a basophil activation test (BAT) with D. pteronyssinus allergen extract, and the concentration of specific IgE (sIgE) for the same allergen in blood serum was determined. Results: Positive results in all tests (SPT, sIgE, and BAT) were obtained (24 (46.2%) patients with AD, 9 (15.8%) with hand disease, and none in the control group for p < 0.05). The results of the SPT, sIgE, and BAT correlated with each other in the AD and hand eczema groups (Spearmen correlation test, r = 0.72 or 0.85, p < 0.05). However, the BAT was positive more often than the SPT and sIgE for D. pteronyssinus. Conclusions: House dust mite hypersensitivity is common in patients with AD and eczema. The BAT may be more sensitive for assessing sensitization to house dust mites, especially in patients with hand eczema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until a few years ago, it was assumed that oocyte renewal did not take place in the ovary of adult organisms; however, the existence of germline progenitor cells (GPCs), which renew the ovarian follicular reserve, has now been documented in mammals. Specifically, in the adult ovary of bats, the presence of cells located in the cortical region with characteristics similar to GPCs, called adult cortical germ cells (ACGC), has been observed. One of the requirements that a GPC must fulfil is to be able to proliferate mitotically, so the evaluation of cell proliferation in ACGC is of utmost importance in order to be able to relate them to a parental lineage. Currently, there are several methods to determine cell proliferation, including BrdU labelling or the use of endogenous proliferation markers. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the proliferative activity of ACGC in the adult ovary of the bat Artibeus jamaicensis , using different proliferation markers and correlating these with the protein expression of the transcription factor Oct4 and the germ line marker Ddx4. We found that the expression pattern of the proliferation markers BrdU, PCNA, Ki-67 and pH3 occurs at different times of the cell cycle, so co-localization of two or more of these markers allows us to identify proliferating cells. This allowed us to identify ACGC with proliferative capacity in the adult ovary of A. jamaicensis , suggesting that GPCs renew the follicle reserve during the adult life of the organism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although bats are notorious for their association with poison, they are genuine teachers and friends to humans. They play indispensable ecological roles in pest control, seed dispersal, and plant pollination, and hold significant economic value. Furthermore, they are crucial for research in health and longevity, as well as in biomimetics. As the only flying mammals, bats have always been subjects of human observation and study. The discovery of the bat sonar system illustrates the complex and persistent human quest for truth. Bats possess the extraordinary ability of echolocation, which has inspired the creation of bat robots. The future applications and development prospects for these technologies are vast. Additionally, bats are a symbol of good fortune in Chinese culture, deserving of our eternal praise. This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of bats, their body structure, living habits, night vision abilities, and the related knowledge of bat robots. The aim is to guide students to comprehensively and critically understand bats, cultivate critical thinking skills, appreciate the marvels of biomimicry, inherit the essence of traditional Chinese good fortune culture, and establish the concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Fruit bats (genus Pteropus) are typically island‐endemic species important in seed dispersal and reforestation that are vulnerable to increased extinction risk. An effective method of reducing extinction risk in vulnerable species that cannot be conserved in their native habitat is establishing an ex‐situ captive breeding programme. Due to anthropogenic threats and low population numbers, in the early 1990s, a captive breeding programme was established at Jersey Zoo, British Isles, for Critically Endangered Livingstone's fruit bats (Pteropus livingstonii). Here we use six polymorphic microsatellite loci to assess genetic diversity in the captive breeding population of Livingstone's fruit bats (P. livingstonii), 30 years after the programme's establishment, investigating change over generations and comparing our findings with published data from the wild population. We found no significant difference between the genetic diversity in the captive and wild populations of Livingstone's fruit bats (P. livingstonii), in both expected heterozygosity and allelic richness. The captive population has retained a comparable level of genetic diversity to that documented in the wild, and there has been no significant decline in genetic diversity over the last 30 years. We advise that a full pedigree of the paternal lineage is created to improve the management of the captive breeding programme and further reduce the possibility of inbreeding. However, it appears that the captive breeding programme is currently effective at maintaining genetic diversity at levels comparable to those seen in the wild population, which suggests reintroductions could be viable if genetic diversity remains stable in captivity. Research highlights: The captive breeding programme of Critically Endangered Livingstone's fruit bats shows comparable genetic diversity to current wild populations.This level of genetic diversity has remained stable in the captive population for 30 years, since its first establishment, across four generations of animals.The captive breeding programme of Livingstone's fruit bats is currently managed effectively, minimising inbreeding, and retains reintroduction potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of the Review: In the last decade, an increasing trend towards a supposedly healthier vegan diet could be observed. However, recently, more cases of allergic reactions to plants and plant-based products such as meat-substitution products, which are often prepared with legumes, were reported. Here, we provide the current knowledge on legume allergen sources and the respective single allergens. We answer the question of which legumes beside the well-known food allergen sources peanut and soybean should be considered for diagnostic and therapeutic measures. Recent Findings: These "non-priority" legumes, including beans, pea, lentils, chickpea, lupine, cowpea, pigeon pea, and fenugreek, are potentially new important allergen sources, causing mild-to-severe allergic reactions. Severe reactions have been described particularly for peas and lupine. An interesting aspect is the connection between anaphylactic reactions and exercise (food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis), which has only recently been highlighted for legumes such as soybean, lentils and chickpea. Most allergic reactions derive from IgE cross-reactions to homologous proteins, for example between peanut and lupine, which is of particular importance for peanut-allergic individuals ignorant to these cross-reactions. Summary: From our findings we conclude that there is a need for large-scale studies that are geographically distinctive because most studies are case reports, and geographic differences of allergic diseases towards these legumes have already been discovered for well-known "Big 9" allergen sources such as peanut and soybean. Furthermore, the review illustrates the need for a better molecular diagnostic for these emerging non-priority allergen sources to evaluate IgE cross-reactivities to known allergens and identify true allergic reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats, notable as the only flying mammals, serve as natural reservoir hosts for various highly pathogenic viruses in humans (e.g., SARS-CoV and Ebola virus). Furthermore, bats exhibit an unparalleled longevity among mammals relative to their size, particularly the Myotis bats, which can live up to 40 years. However, the mechanisms underlying these distinctive traits remain incompletely understood. In our prior research, we demonstrated that bats exhibit dampened STING-interferon activation, potentially conferring upon them the capacity to mitigate virus- or aging-induced inflammation. To substantiate this hypothesis, we established the first in vivo bat-mouse model for aging studies by integrating Myotis davidii bat STING (MdSTING) into the mouse genome. We monitored the genotypes of these mice and performed a longitudinal comparative transcriptomic analysis on MdSTING and wild-type mice over a 3-year aging process. Blood transcriptomic analysis indicated a reduction in agingrelated inflammation in female MdSTING mice, as evidenced by significantly lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, immunopathology, and neutrophil recruitment in aged female MdSTING mice compared to aged wild-type mice in vivo. These results indicated that MdSTING knock-in attenuates the agingrelated inflammatory response and may also improve the healthspan in mice in a sex-dependent manner. Although the underlying mechanism awaits further study, this research has critical implications for bat longevity research, potentially contributing to our comprehension of healthy aging in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold-induced brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation is considered to improve metabolic health. In murine BAT, cold increases the fundamental molecule for mitochondrial function, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), but limited knowledge of NAD+ metabolism during cold in human BAT metabolism exists. We show that cold increases the serum metabolites of the NAD+ salvage pathway (nicotinamide and 1-methylnicotinamide) in humans. Additionally, individuals with cold-stimulated BAT activation have decreased levels of metabolites from the de novo NAD+ biosynthesis pathway (tryptophan, kynurenine). Serum nicotinamide correlates positively with cold-stimulated BAT activation, whereas tryptophan and kynurenine correlate negatively. Furthermore, the expression of genes involved in NAD+ biosynthesis in BAT is related to markers of metabolic health. Our data indicate that cold increases serum tryptophan conversion to nicotinamide to be further utilized by BAT. We conclude that NAD+ metabolism is activated upon cold in humans and is probably regulated in a coordinated fashion by several tissues.

ABSTRACT Healthy wings are vital for the survival and reproduction of bats, and wing microbiome is a key component of bat wing health. However, relatively little is known about the wing microbiome of bats in western Canada where the white nose syndrome has become an increasing threat. Here, we used DNA metabarcoding to investigate the bacterial and fungal communities on the wings of three bat species: the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), the Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis), and the little brown myotis (M. lucifugus) from four field sites in Lillooet, British Columbia, Canada. The bacterial 16S rRNA metabarcoding revealed a total of 4,167 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) belonging to 27 phyla, 639 genera, and 533 known and 2,423 unknown species. The wing bacteria were dominated by phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroides, and Actinobacteria, and the most common genera were Delftia, Bordetella, Sphingomonas, Phyllobacterium, Bradyrhizobium, Pseudomonas, and Corynebacterium. The fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) metabarcoding revealed a total of 11,722 ASVs belonging to 16 phyla, 806 genera, and 1,420 known and 10,302 unknown species. The wing fungi were dominated by phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Motierellomycota, and the most common genera were Cladosporium, Aspergillus, and Mycosphaerella. Principal coordinates analysis showed that both bat species and field sites contributed variably to the diversity and distribution of bacterial and fungal communities on bat wings. Interestingly, both positive and negative correlations were found in their relative abundances among several groups of microbial taxa. We discuss the implications of our results for bat health, including the management of P. destructans infection and white-nose syndrome spread.IMPORTANCEMicrobiomes play important roles in host health. White-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal infection of bat wings and muzzles, has threatened bat populations across North America since 2006. Recent research suggest that the skin microbiome of bats may play a significant role in bat's susceptibility to WNS. However, relatively little is known about the skin microbiome composition and function in bats in Western Canada, a region with a high diversity of bats, but WNS has yet to be a major issue. Here, we revealed high bacterial and fungal diversities on the skin of three common bat species in Lillooet, British Columbia, including several highly prevalent microbial species that have been rarely reported in other regions. Our analyses showed fine-scale structures of bat wing microbiome based on local sites and bat species. The knowledge obtained from WNS-naïve bat populations in this study may help develop mitigation and management strategies against WNS.

Background Engaged teachers experience a positive, fulfilling, and work-related state of mind related to their work tasks able to affect their well-being positively. Nevertheless, teachers are particularly exposed to burnout risk, which is highly probable to occur during teachers’ professional careers. The current study investigates the mediating effect of burnout, through which work engagement influences subjective well-being.Methods Participants were 807 Italian teachers (Female, 91.7%; Mage = 47.54; SD = 9.91). Self-report instruments were administered to evaluate teachers’ burnout (BAT, Burnout Assessment Tool), well-being (WHO-5 Well-being Index), and work engagement (UWES-3, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale).Results Findings show that exhaustion (β = −0.2162, p

BackgroundSarbecoviruses are a subgenus of Coronaviridae that mostly infect bats with known potential to infect humans (SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2). Populations in Southeast Asia, where these viruses are most likely to emerge, have been undersurveyed to date.MethodsWe surveyed communities engaged in extractive industries and bat guano harvesting from rural areas in Myanmar. Participants were screened for exposure to sarbecoviruses, and their interactions with wildlife were evaluated to determine the factors associated with exposure to sarbecoviruses.ResultsOf 693 people screened between July 2017 and February 2020, 12.1% were seropositive for sarbecoviruses. Individuals were significantly more likely to have been exposed to sarbecoviruses if their main livelihood involved working in extractive industries (logging, hunting, or harvesting of forest products; odds ratio [OR] = 2.71, P = 0.019) or had been hunting/slaughtering bats (OR = 6.09, P = 0.020). Exposure to a range of bat and pangolin sarbecoviruses was identified.ConclusionExposure to diverse sarbecoviruses among high-risk human communities provides epidemiologic and immunologic evidence that zoonotic spillover is occurring. These findings inform risk mitigation efforts needed to decrease disease transmission at the bat-human interface, as well as future surveillance efforts warranted to monitor isolated populations for viruses with pandemic potential.

Bats are ecologically diverse vertebrates characterized by their ability to host a wide range of viruses without apparent illness and the presence of numerous endogenous viral elements (EVEs). EVEs are well preserved, expressed, and may affect host biology and immunity, but their role in bat immune system evolution remains unclear. Among EVEs, endogenous bornavirus-like elements (EBLs) are bornavirus sequences integrated into animal genomes. Here, we identified a novel EBL in the microbat Myotis daubentonii, EBLL-Cultervirus.10-MyoDau (short name is CV.10-MyoDau) that shows protein-level conservation with the L-protein of a Cultervirus (Wuhan sharpbelly bornavirus). Surprisingly, we discovered a transcript on the antisense strand comprising three exons, which we named AMCR-MyoDau. The active transcription in Myotis daubentonii tissues of AMCR-MyoDau, confirmed by RNA-Seq analysis and RT-PCR, highlights its potential role during viral infections. Using comparative genomics comprising 63 bat genomes, we demonstrate nucleotide-level conservation of CV.10-MyoDau and AMCR-MyoDau across various bat species and its detection in 22 Yangochiropera and 12 Yinpterochiroptera species. To the best of our knowledge, this marks the first occurrence of a conserved EVE shared among diverse bat species, which is accompanied by a conserved antisense transcript. This highlights the need for future research to explore the role of EVEs in shaping the evolution of bat immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rabies virus (RABV) is the etiologic agent of rabies, a fatal brain disease in mammals. Rabies circulation has historically involved the dog has the main source of human rabies worldwide. Nevertheless, in Colombia, cats (Felis catus) have become a relevant species in the epidemiology of rabies. Aims: To characterize rabies cases in humans in Colombia in the last three decades in the context of the epidemiology of the aggressor animal. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal epidemiological study of human rabies caused by cats' aggression, collecting primary and secondary information. Variables considered included the demography of the patient, symptoms, information about the aggressor animal as the source of infection and the viral variant identified. Results: We found that the distribution of rabies incidence over the years has been constant in Colombia. Nevertheless, between 2003 and 2012 a peak of cases occurred in rural Colombia where cats were the most frequent aggressor animal reported. Most cats involved in aggression were unvaccinated against rabies. Cat's clinical signs at the time of the report of the human cases included hypersalivation and changes in behaviour. Human patients were mostly children and female and the exposure primarily corresponded to bite and puncture lacerations in hands. The RABV lineage detected in most cases corresponded to variant 3, linked to the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus). The geographical presentation of cat borne RABV in humans occurred along the Andes mountains, epidemiologically known as the rabies red Andean corridor. Discussion: By finding cats as the primary source of rabies spillover transmission in Colombia, this report highlights the importance of revising national rabies control and prevention protocol in countries in the Andes region. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that rabies vaccination for outdoor cats needs to prioritize to reduce the number of rabies‐related human deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, light weight bio-inspired micro air vehicles (MAVs) have gained popularity due to wide applications in civil and military operations. Much research has been done in this regard inspired by the flapping wings of biological flyers such as birds, insects, bats, etc. MAVs have adapted the design from the flapping of beetle, butterfly, bat, hummingbird, mosquitoes, and bees. For MAV design, various flight characteristics such as wing beat frequency, Reynolds number, the aspect ratio of bio-mimic vehicle, landing, and take off techniques are examined. This article focuses on the recently developed bio-mimic MAVs and identifying their suitability for the desired task. The research accomplishments on the hoverable, insect, bird, and bat MAV mechanisms over the last decades are categorized and discussed. The mechanism's issues, trends, and difficulties are compiled and presented. This review concludes with recommendations for future research on the mechanical structures and mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In plastic surgery, autologous fat grafts (AFG) play an important role because of their abundant supply, biocompatibility, and low rejection rate. However, the lower retention rate of fat grafts limits their widespread use. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) can promote angiogenesis and regulate the level of associated inflammation. This study explored whether BAT has a facilitative effect on fat graft retention. Methods: We obtained white adipose tissue (WAT) from c57 mice and combined it with either BAT from c57 mice or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as a control. These mixtures were injected subcutaneously into the back of thymus-free nude mice. After 12 weeks, fat grafts were harvested, weighed, and analyzed. Results: We found that the BAT-grafted group had higher mass retention, more mature adipocytes, and higher vascularity than the other group. Further analysis revealed that BAT inhibited M1 macrophages; down-regulated IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-β; upregulated M2 macrophages and Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGFA); and promoted adipocyte regeneration by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which together promoted adipose graft retention. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that BAT improved adipose graft retention by promoting angiogenesis, inhibiting tissue inflammation levels and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Level of Evidence III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats are the natural reservoir hosts for SARS-related coronavirus (SARSr-CoV) and other highly pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, it is conceivable that an individual bat may harbor multiple microbes. However, there is limited knowledge on the overall co-circulation of microorganisms in bats. Here, we conducted a 16-year monitoring of bat viruses in south and central China and identified 238 SARSr-CoV positive samples across nine bat species from ten provinces or administrative districts. Among these, 76 individual samples were selected for further metagenomics analysis. We found a complex microenvironment characterized by the general co-circulation of microbes from two different sources: mammal-associated viruses or environment-associated microbes. The later includes commensal bacteria, enterobacteria-related phages, and insect or fungal viruses of food origin. Results showed that 25% (19/76) of the samples contained at least one another mammal-associated virus, notably alphacoronaviruses (13/76) such as AlphaCoV/YN2012, HKU2-related CoV and AlphaCoV/Rf-HuB2013, along with viruses from other families. Notably, we observed three viruses co-circulating within a single bat, comprising two coronavirus species and one picornavirus. Our analysis also revealed the potential presence of pathogenic bacteria or fungi in bats. Furthermore, we obtained 25 viral genomes from the 76 bat SARSr-CoV positive samples, some of which formed new evolutionary lineages. Collectively, our study reveals the complex microenvironment of bat microbiome, facilitating deeper investigations into their pathogenic potential and the likelihood of cross-species transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting non-trembling thermogenesis of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) helps prevent obesity. MiR-23b is highly expressed in adipose tissue-derived exosomes obtained from obese people, but the role of exosomal miR-23b in regulating thermogenesis and obesity progression remains to be further explored. Here, a mouse obesity model was established through high-fat diet (HFD), and inguinal WAT (iWAT)-derived exosomes and miR-23b antagomir were administered by intraperitoneal injection. The results showed that WAT-derived exosomal miR-23b upregulated body weight and adipocyte hypertrophy and enhanced insulin resistance. Moreover, exosomal miR-23b restrained mtDNA copy number and the expression of genes related to thermogenesis and mitochondrial biogenesis in BAT, and suppressed the expression of WAT browning-related genes under cold stimulation, indicating that exosomal miR-23b hindered non-trembling thermogenesis of BAT and WAT browning. Mechanism studies found that miR-23b targeted Elf4 to inhibit its expression. And Elf4 bound to the GLP-1R promoter region to promote GLP-1R transcription. In addition, silencing miR-23b effectively abolished the inhibitory effect of WAT-derived exosomes on thermogenic gene expression and mitochondrial respiration in adipocytes isolated from BAT and iWAT, which was reversed by GLP-1R knockdown. In conclusion, WAT-derived exosomal miR-23b suppressed thermogenesis by targeting Elf4 to regulate GLP-1R transcription, which contributed to the progression of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]