Wellcome Open Research最新文献

{"title":"The genome sequence of a leaf beetle, <i>Galerucella nymphaeae</i> (Linnaeus, 1758).","authors":"Roger Booth","doi":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23676.1","DOIUrl":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23676.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We present a genome assembly from an individual female specimen of <i>Galerucella nymphaeae</i> (leaf beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 350.20 megabases. Most of the assembly (99.8%) is scaffolded into 16 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.95 kilobases in length.</p>","PeriodicalId":23677,"journal":{"name":"Wellcome Open Research","volume":"10 ","pages":"57"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11880761/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143568226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study protocol for an observational cohort study of heat stress impacts in pregnancy in The Gambia, West Africa.","authors":"Ana Bonell, Leonidas G Ioannou, Abdul Sesay, Kris A Murray, Bubacarr Bah, David Jeffries, Sophie E Moore, Ana Vicero-Cabrera, Neil S Maxwell, Jane E Hirst, Cally Tan, Apolline Saucy, Dorothy Watters, Bakary Sonko, Emmanuel Okoh, Yahaya Idris, Williams Oluwatosin Adefila, Jarra Manneh, Mam Leigh-Nabou, Sainabou Bojang, Andreas Flouris, Andy Haines, Andrew Prentice, Amanda N Sferruzzi-Perri","doi":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23172.2","DOIUrl":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23172.2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Climate change has resulted in an increase in heat exposure globally. There is strong evidence that this increased heat stress is associated with poor maternal and fetal outcomes, especially in vulnerable populations. However, there remains poor understanding of the biological pathways and mechanisms involved in the impact of heat in pregnancy. This observational cohort study of 764 pregnant participants based in sub-Saharan Africa, a geographical region at risk of extreme heat events, aims to evaluate the physiological and biochemical changes that occur in pregnancy due to heat stress. The key objectives of the study are to 1) map exposure to heat stress in the cohort and understand what environmental, social and community factors increase the risk of extreme heat exposure; 2) assess the impact of heat stress on maternal health, e.g. heat strain, subjective psychological well-being, sleep and activity level; 3) evaluate how heat stress impacts placenta structure and function; 4) determine how chronic heat exposure impacts birth outcomes; and 5) explore the epigenetic changes in the placenta and infant by heat stress exposure per trimester. Pregnant women will be recruited from two distinct regions in The Gambia to exploit the naturally occurring heat gradient across the country. Microclimate mapping of the area of recruitment will give detailed exposure measurements. Participants will be asked to wear a watch-style device at 28- and 35-weeks gestational age to evaluate maternal heart rate, activity and sleep. At the end of the week, an ultrasound scan will be performed to evaluate fetal size and placental blood flow. At delivery, birth outcomes will be recorded and maternal, placental and cord samples taken for epigenetic, biochemical and histological evaluation. Evaluation of neuro-behaviour and final infant samples will be taken at 1 month following birth.</p>","PeriodicalId":23677,"journal":{"name":"Wellcome Open Research","volume":"9 ","pages":"624"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11803196/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143383395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The genome sequence of a snakefly, <i>Xanthostigma xanthostigma</i> (Schummel, 1832).","authors":"Steven Falk, Liam M Crowley, Maxwell V L Barclay, Emma Taluy","doi":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23674.1","DOIUrl":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23674.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We present a genome assembly from an individual male snakefly, <i>Xanthostigma xanthostigma</i> (Arthropoda; Insecta; Raphidioptera; Raphidiidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 623.30 megabases. Most of the assembly (99.74%) is scaffolded into 13 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 17.75 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 13,251 protein-coding genes.</p>","PeriodicalId":23677,"journal":{"name":"Wellcome Open Research","volume":"10 ","pages":"52"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11871431/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143543633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The genome sequence of the Stable Fly, <i>Stomoxys calcitrans</i> (Linnaeus, 1758).","authors":"Ian Sims, Chris Raper, Olga Sivell","doi":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23623.1","DOIUrl":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23623.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We present a genome assembly from an individual specimen of <i>Stomoxys calcitrans</i> (Stable Fly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Muscidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 1,070.90 megabases. Most of the assembly (98.96%) is scaffolded into 5 chromosomal pseudomolecules.The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 17.6 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 15,757 protein-coding genes.</p>","PeriodicalId":23677,"journal":{"name":"Wellcome Open Research","volume":"10 ","pages":"48"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11868752/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143543638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The genome sequence of a longhorn beetle, <i>Rhagium mordax</i> (Degeer, 1775).","authors":"Maxwell V L Barclay, Dmitry Telnov","doi":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23668.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23668.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We present a genome assembly from an individual female specimen of <i>Rhagium mordax</i> (longhorn beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Cerambycidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 775.60 megabases. Most of the assembly (99.53%) is scaffolded into 10 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.68 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 11,937 protein-coding genes.</p>","PeriodicalId":23677,"journal":{"name":"Wellcome Open Research","volume":"10 ","pages":"51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11909496/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143650939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The therapeutic potential of exercise in post-traumatic stress disorder and its underlying mechanisms: A living systematic review of human and non-human studies.","authors":"Simonne Wright, Virginia Chiocchia, Olufisayo Elugbadebo, Ouma Simple, Toshi A Furukawa, Claire Friedrich, Charlotte Austin, Hossein Dehdarirad, David Gilbert, Jaycee Kennett, Edoardo G Ostinelli, Jennifer Potts, Fiona Ramage, Emily Sena, Spyridon Siafis, Claire Stansfield, James Thomas, Francesca Tinsdeall, Thomy Tonia, Malcolm Macleod, Andrea Cipriani, Georgia Salanti, Soraya Seedat","doi":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23033.2","DOIUrl":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23033.2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Exercise for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a potentially effective adjunct to psychotherapy. However, the biopsychosocial mechanisms of exercise are not well understood. This co-produced living systematic review synthesizes evidence from human and non-human studies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We Included controlled human and non-human studies involving searches of multiple electronic databases (until 31.10.23). Records were screened, extracted, assessed for risk of bias, and reconciled by two independent reviewers. The primary outcome for human studies was PTSD symptom severity, while outcomes of interest for non-human studies included freezing behaviour, fear memory, fear generalization, startle response, and locomotion. Data were synthesised with random-effects meta-analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eleven human studies met the eligibility criteria. Overall, exercise was not associated with symptom severity improvement compared to control (standardized mean difference [SMD] -0.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.24 to 0.07; 8 studies, one at low risk of bias). High-intensity exercise reduced PTSD symptoms scores more than moderate-intensity exercise. There was insufficient data to examine the effects of exercise on functional impairment, PTSD symptom clusters, and PTSD remission. Only three studies, all at high risk of bias, examined mechanisms of exercise with inconclusive results. Exercise was associated with improvement in all behavioural outcomes, including locomotor activity (SMD 1.30, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.87, 14 studies), and changes in several neurobiological markers, including increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (SMD 1.79, 95% CI 0.56 to 3.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>While non-human studies provide compelling evidence for the beneficial effects of exercise, human trials do not. Evidence from non-human studies suggest that exercise might increase the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, enhance cognitive appraisal, and improve perceived exertion. Overall, the paucity of data on the effectiveness of exercise in PTSD and mechanisms of action underscore the need for rigorous trials.</p><p><strong>Registration: </strong>The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (ID:453615; 22.08.2023).</p>","PeriodicalId":23677,"journal":{"name":"Wellcome Open Research","volume":"9 ","pages":"720"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11959255/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143765250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A pilot study to explore utility of electronic informed consent in a low- income setting; the case of a Controlled human infection study in Blantyre, Malawi.","authors":"Clara Ngoliwa, Chikondi Chakwiya, Joel Gondwe, Edna Nsomba, Vitumbiko Nkhoma, Modesta Reuben, Linda Chantunga, Pemphero Liwonde, Edward Mangani, Evaristar Kudowa, Lumbani Makhaza, Neema Toto, Tiferanji Sochera, Tarsizio Chikaonda, Ben Morton, Marc Y R Henrion, Dingase Dula, Stephen B Gordon, Anthony E Chirwa","doi":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.20770.2","DOIUrl":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.20770.2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Electronic informed consent can improve accuracy, workflow, and overall patient experience in clinical research but has not been used in Malawi, owing to uncertainty about availability, utility, patient data security and technical support.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We aimed to explore the utility of electronic consent (e-consent) in an ongoing human infection study in Blantyre, Malawi.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The approved paper consent forms were digitized using Open Data Kit (ODK). Following participant information giving by the research staff, healthy literate adult participants with no audio-visual impairments completed a self-administered e-consent and provided an electronic signature. We dual-consented participants by both paper-based and electronic-consenting. Signed e-consent forms were uploaded to a secure study server. Utility of e-consenting was observed by participation rate, user-friendliness, documentation error rate, and staff perception of the overall consenting process.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All 109 participants offered e-consenting accepted participation. E-consenting was user-friendly, had no identifiable documentation errors as compared to 43.1% (n 47/109) error rate with paper-based consenting, and ensured data safety, and unravelled areas for consideration. Challenges with e-consenting included difficult digitization of ethics stamped documents, as well as present but infrequent delays of retrieval of e-consent forms.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>E-consenting is feasible, has a utility benefit in a controlled human infection study in Malawi; a low-income country, and can supplement paper-based consenting. Its usefulness can improve the consenting process in research conducted in such settings. Additionally, success of e-consenting requires a careful consideration.</p>","PeriodicalId":23677,"journal":{"name":"Wellcome Open Research","volume":"9 ","pages":"233"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11862358/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143516680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Exposure to copper metal enhances the tolerance of An. gambiae s.s. over multiple</i> <i>generations while reducing both fertility and fecundity in this primary malaria vector</i> <i>.</i>","authors":"Massioudou Koto Yérima Gounou Boukari, Genevieve Tchigossou, Innocent Djègbè, Ghislain T Tepa-Yotto, Eric Tossou, Donald Hessou-Djossou, Camille Dossou, Louckman Monra Seidou, Aldo Emmanuel C Glokpon, Danahé Adanzounon, Adam Gbankoto, Rousseau Djouaka","doi":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23229.2","DOIUrl":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23229.2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Anopheles</i> s.l. displays the potential to develop tolerance to heavy metals, particularly copper, this may occur at a significant biological cost, which can adversely affect its ecological fitness. This study investigated the larval metal exposure on larval development and reproduction of <i>An. gambiae</i> s.s., a laboratory susceptible strain, <i>kisumu.</i></p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Stage 2 larvae of <i>Anopheles gambiae</i>, <i>Kisumu</i> were exposed to C ₁ = 484 μg L ^-1, C ₂ = 300 μg L ^-1 and 0 μg L ^-1 (control) of copper chloride. Larval mortality, pupation time, pupation rate, gonotrophic cycle length, fecundity and fertility of larvae/adults were assessed over six generations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results revealed that larval mortality rate was significantly higher in the C ₁ groups of each group (p = 0.000), but this mortality rate decreased over generations. Pupation time was extended to 13 and 14 days respectively for C ₂ and C ₁ groups (p = 0.000) compared to the control group. Similar results were observed for the gonotrophic cycle, which increased from 4 days at G0 to more than 6 days at generation 5 in adults of C ₁. The pupation rate in generation 4 (C ₁) and generation 5 of the same group (p = 0.000) as well as the emergence rate in generation 4 (C ₂, p = 0.000) and generation 5 (C ₁ and C ₂, p = 0.000) decreased significantly compared to the control group. The average number of eggs laid was lower in the test groups from generation 4 to generation 5 (C ₁ and C ₂, p = 0.00) and egg fertility was also negatively affected by exposure of the larval stage of <i>An. gambiae</i> s.s. to copper.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study showed that copper not only exhibits larvicidal properties in <i>Anopheles gambiae</i> s.s. larvae, it also revealed the potential of this metal to reduce fecundity and fertility in these malaria vectors.</p>","PeriodicalId":23677,"journal":{"name":"Wellcome Open Research","volume":"9 ","pages":"623"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11803199/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143383352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Statistical analysis plan for the LAST ACT clinical trial; a Leukotriene A4 hydrolase Stratified non-inferiority Trial of Adjunctive Corticosteroids for HIV-negative adults with Tuberculous meningitis.","authors":"Joseph Donovan, Marcel Wolbers, Nguyen Thuy Thuong Thuong, Dong Huu Khanh Trinh, Le Thanh Hoang Nhat, Guy E Thwaites, Ronald B Geskus","doi":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.22498.1","DOIUrl":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.22498.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of tuberculosis. Corticosteroids are currently recommended as an adjunctive therapy in HIV-negative adults with TBM. However, benefit from corticosteroids in TBM may depend upon host <i>leukotriene A4 hydrolase</i> ( <i>LTA4H</i>) genotype and the corresponding inflammatory phenotypes. This article describes the planned analyses for the primary publication of the results of the LAST ACT clinical trial (NCT03100786): 'Leukotriene A4 hydrolase Stratified Trial of Adjunctive Corticosteroids for HIV-negative adults with Tuberculous meningitis'. The primary hypothesis addressed by the trial is that <i>LTA4H</i> genotype, in particular CC or CT genotype, determines whether adjunctive dexamethasone benefits or harms adults with TBM. The trial was an <i>LTA4H</i> genotype stratified, parallel group, randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled multi-centre Phase III trial of dexamethasone given for 6-8 weeks in addition to standard anti-tuberculosis drugs. <i>LTA4H</i> genotype (CC, CT, TT) was determined in all participants prior to randomisation; only those with CC or CT genotype were randomised to dexamethasone or placebo. All TT genotype participants received dexamethasone because prior data indicated survival was increased by dexamethasone in this genotype. The primary endpoint was all-cause death or new neurological event over the first 12 months after randomisation. We took a hybrid trial-design approach which aims to prove non-inferiority of placebo first but also allows claiming superiority of placebo in case dexamethasone causes substantial harm. This statistical analysis plan expands upon and updates the analysis plan outlined in the published study protocol.</p>","PeriodicalId":23677,"journal":{"name":"Wellcome Open Research","volume":"9 ","pages":"695"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11795021/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143256888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The genome sequence of the Sandy Carpet moth, <i>Perizoma flavofasciatum</i> (Thunberg, 1792).","authors":"Douglas Boyes, Jonathan Davis","doi":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23612.1","DOIUrl":"10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23612.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We present a genome assembly from a male specimen of <i>Perizoma flavofasciatum</i> (Sandy Carpet; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Geometridae). The genome sequence has a total length of 369.30 megabases. Most of the assembly (99.88%) is scaffolded into 30 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.61 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 11,915 protein-coding genes.</p>","PeriodicalId":23677,"journal":{"name":"Wellcome Open Research","volume":"10 ","pages":"40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11889404/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143587334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}