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BACKGROUND: The Global Typhoid Genomics Consortium was established to bring together the typhoid research community to aggregate and analyse Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (Typhi) genomic data to inform public health action. This analysis, which marks 22 years since the publication of the first Typhi genome, represents the largest Typhi genome sequence collection to date (n=13,000). METHODS: This is a meta-analysis of global genotype and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants extracted from previously sequenced genome data and analysed using consistent methods implemented in open analysis platforms GenoTyphi and Pathogenwatch. RESULTS: Compared with previous global snapshots, the data highlight that genotype 4.3.1 (H58) has not spread beyond Asia and Eastern/Southern Africa; in other regions, distinct genotypes dominate and have independently evolved AMR. Data gaps remain in many parts of the world, and we show the potential of travel-associated sequences to provide informal sentinel surveillance for such locations. The data indicate that ciprofloxacin non-susceptibility (>1 resistance determinant) is widespread across geographies and genotypes, with high-level ciprofloxacin resistance (≥3 determinants) reaching 20% prevalence in South Asia. Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid has become dominant in Pakistan (70% in 2020) but has not yet become established elsewhere. Ceftriaxone resistance has emerged in eight non-XDR genotypes, including a ciprofloxacin-resistant lineage (4.3.1.2.1) in India. Azithromycin resistance mutations were detected at low prevalence in South Asia, including in two common ciprofloxacin-resistant genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: The consortiums aim is to encourage continued data sharing and collaboration to monitor the emergence and global spread of AMR Typhi, and to inform decision-making around the introduction of typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCVs) and other prevention and control strategies. FUNDING: No specific funding was awarded for this meta-analysis. Coordinators were supported by fellowships from the European Union (ZAD received funding from the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 845681), the Wellcome Trust (SB, Wellcome Trust Senior Fellowship), and the National Health and Medical Research Council (DJI is supported by an NHMRC Investigator Grant [GNT1195210]).

Anecdotal evidence suggests that autistic people experience an elevated risk of homelessness, but systematic empirical research on this topic is lacking. As a step towards filling this gap in knowledge, we conducted a preliminary investigation of the prevalence of "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (5th ed.) autism symptoms in a group of long-term homeless people. The entire caseload (N = 106) of a UK homeless outreach team was screened (excluding individuals born outside of the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland) using an in-depth, semi-structured interview with keyworkers, based on "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (5th ed.) diagnostic criteria. This showed adequate inter-rater reliability, as well as evidence of criterion and construct validity. Of the sample, 13 people (12.3%, 95% confidence interval (7.0, 20.4)) screened positive, meeting "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (5th ed.) autism criteria by keyworker report. A further nine people (8.5%, 95% confidence interval (4.5, 15.3)) were 'marginal', having autistic traits that were not quite sufficient to meet "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (5th ed.) criteria. Those with elevated autistic traits, compared to those without, tended to be more socially isolated and less likely to use substances. This study has provided initial evidence that autistic traits are over-represented among homeless people and that autistic homeless people may show a distinct pattern of characteristics and needs. Further investigation is required to build upon these provisional findings.

Aims Antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis. Roughly two-thirds of all antibiotics used are in production animals, which have the potential to impact the development of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens of humans. There is little visibility on the extent of antibiotic resistance in the Australian food chain. This study sought to establish the incidence of antibiotic resistance among enterococci from poultry in Victoria. Methods and results In 2016, poultry from a Victorian processing facility were swabbed immediately post-slaughter and cultured for Enterococcus species. All isolates recovered were speciated and tested for antibiotic susceptibility to 12 antibiotics following the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. A total of 6 farms and 207 birds were sampled and from these 285 isolates of Enterococcus were recovered. Eight different enterococcal species were identified as follows: E. faecalis (n  = 122; 43%), E. faecium (n  = 92; 32%), E. durans (n  = 35; 12%), E. thailandicus (n  = 23; 8%), E. hirae (n  = 10; 3%), and a single each of E. avium, E. gallinarum , and E. mundtii. Reduced susceptibility to older classes of antibiotics was common, in particular: erythromycin (73%), rifampin (49%), nitrofurantoin (40%), and ciprofloxacin (39%). Two vancomycin-intermediate isolates were recovered, but no resistance was detected to either linezolid or gentamicin. Conclusions The relatively high numbers of a recently described species, E. thailandicus , suggest this species might be well adapted to colonize poultry. The incidence of antibiotic resistance is lower in isolates from poultry than in human medicine in Australia. These results suggest that poultry may serve as a reservoir for older antibiotic resistance genes but is not driving the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in human bacterial pathogens. This is supported by the absence of resistance to linezolid and gentamicin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barmah Forest virus (BFV) is an arbovirus that is pathogenic to humans and is traditionally considered to be endemic only to Australia (1). BFV is a member of the Semliki [...]

Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are negative-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses normally found in wild aquatic birds, the natural reservoir (1). Typically, AIVs do not cause severe disease in domestic poultry; however, [...]