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Microb Genom. 2025 Mar;11(3). doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.001366.

ABSTRACT

Streptococcus equi subsp. equi causes the equine respiratory disease 'strangles', which is highly contagious, debilitating and costly to the equine industry. S. equi emerged from the ancestral Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus and continues to evolve and disseminate globally. Previous work has shown that there was a global population replacement around the beginning of the twentieth century, obscuring the early genetic events in this emergence. Here, we have used large-scale genomic analysis of S. equi and its ancestor S. zooepidemicus to identify evolutionary events, leading to the successful expansion of S. equi. One thousand two hundred one whole-genome sequences of S. equi were recovered from clinical samples or from data available in public databases. Seventy-four whole-genome sequences representative of the diversity of S. zooepidemicus were used to compare the gene content and examine the evolutionary emergence of S. equi. A dated Bayesian phylogeny was constructed, and ancestral state reconstruction was used to determine the order and timing of gene gain and loss events between the different species and between different S. equi lineages. Additionally, a newly developed framework was used to investigate the fitness of different S. equi lineages. We identified a novel S. equi lineage, comprising isolates from donkeys in Chinese farms, which diverged nearly 300 years ago, after the emergence of S. equi from S. zooepidemicus, but before the global sweep. Ancestral state reconstruction demonstrated that phage-encoded virulence factors slaA, seeL and seeM were acquired by the global S. equi after the divergence of the basal donkey lineage. We identified the equibactin locus in both S. equi populations, but not S. zooepidemicus, reinforcing its role as a key S. equi virulence mechanism involved in its initial emergence. Evidence of a further population sweep beginning in the early 2000s was detected in the UK. This clade now accounts for more than 80% of identified UK cases since 2016. Several sub-lineages demonstrated increased fitness, within which we identified the acquisition of a new, fifth prophage containing additional toxin genes. We definitively show that acquisition of the equibactin locus was a major determinant in S. equi becoming an equid-exclusive pathogen, but that other virulence factors were fixed by the population sweep at the beginning of the twentieth century. Evidence of a secondary population sweep in the UK and acquisition of further advantageous genes implies that S. equi is continuing to adapt, and therefore, continued investigations are required to determine further risks to the equine industry.

PMID:40152912 | DOI:10.1099/mgen.0.001366

We were delighted to welcome pupils from Warrington’s Lymm High School, Ipswich High School, The Charter School in North Dulwich, Rickmansworth School, Sutton Valance School in Maidstone as well as schools closer to home such as St Peter’s Huntingdon, Fenstanton Primary School, Barton Primary School, Impington Village College and St Andrews School in Soham. 

Running over two days (25/26 March 2025) and held in the Cambridge Sports Centre, students went on a great alien hunt with Dr Matt Bothwell from the Institute of Astronomy, stepped back in time to explore Must Farm with Department of Archaeology and the Cambridge Archaeological Unit as well as learning to disagree well with Dr Elizabeth Phillips from The Woolf Institute. 

Schools had a choice of workshops from a range of departments including, how to think like an engineer and making sustainable food with biotechnology with researchers from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, as well as the chance to get hands-on experience in the world of materials science and explore how properties of materials can be influenced by temperature at the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy. 

The Department of Veterinary Medicine offered students the opportunity to find out what a career in veterinary medicine may look like with workshops on animal x-rays, how different professionals work together to treat animals in a veterinary hospital as well as meeting the departments horses and cows and learn how veterinarians diagnose and treat these large animals. 

Students also had the opportunity to learn about antibodies and our immune system with the MRC Toxicology Unit. The students learnt about the incredible job antibodies do defending our bodies against harmful invaders like bacteria and viruses. 

Alongside this, a maths trail, developed by Cambridgeshire County Council, guided students around the West Cambridge site whilst testing their maths skills with a number of problems to solve. 

Now in their third year, the Cambridge Festival schools days are offering students the opportunity to experience studying at Cambridge with a series of curriculum linked talks and hands on workshops.   

The Cambridge Festival runs from 19 March – 4 April and is a mixture of online, on-demand and in-person events covering all aspects of the world-leading research happening at Cambridge. The public have the chance to meet some of the researchers and thought-leaders working in some of the pioneering fields that will impact us all.

Over 500 KS2 and KS3 students from as far away as Warrington got the chance to experience studying at the University of Cambridge with a selection of lectures and workshops held as part of the Cambridge Festival. 

Students make antibody keychains during a workshop with the MRC Toxicology Unit

The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Images, including our videos, are Copyright ©University of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified. All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways – on our main website under its Terms and conditions, and on a range of channels including social media that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.

Yes

Microbiol Res. 2025 Mar 21;296:128147. doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2025.128147. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Bacteriophage research has experienced a renaissance in recent years, owing to their therapeutic potential and versatility in biotechnology, particularly in combating antibiotic resistant-bacteria along the farm-to-fork continuum. However, certain pathogens remain underexplored as targets for phage therapy, including the zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus suis which causes infections in pigs and humans. Despite global efforts, the genome of only one infective S. suis phage has been described. Here, we report the isolation of two phages that infect S. suis: Bonnie and Clyde. The phages infect 58 of 100 S. suis strains tested, including representatives of seven different serotypes and thirteen known sequence types from diverse geographical origins. Clyde suppressed bacterial growth in vitro within two multi-strain mixes designed to simulate a polyclonal S. suis infection. Both phages demonstrated stability across various temperatures and pH levels, highlighting their potential to withstand storage conditions and maintain viability in delivery formulations. Genome comparisons revealed that neither phage shares significant nucleotide identity with any cultivated phages in the NCBI database and thereby represent novel species belonging to two distinct novel genera. This study is the first to investigate the adhesion devices of S. suis infecting phages. Structure prediction and analysis of adhesion devices with AlphaFold2 revealed two distinct lineages of S. suis phages: Streptococcus thermophilus-like (Bonnie) and S. suis-like (Clyde). The structural similarities between the adhesion devices of Bonnie and S. thermophilus phages, despite the lack of nucleotide similarity and differing ecological niches, suggest a common ancestor or convergent evolution, highlighting evolutionary links between pathogenic and non-pathogenic streptococcal species. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of phages that can infect S. suis, providing new data for the therapeutic application of phages in a One Health context.

PMID:40132484 | DOI:10.1016/j.micres.2025.128147

Salary: £22,637 - £23,076 per annum (pro-rata for 0.95 FTE) plus 15% shift allowance = £26,032 - £26,537 per annum. This equates to approximately an hourly rate of £12.52 - £12.76 (£14.39 - £14.67 with 15% uplift).

Fixed Term: This post is fixed-term until 9 September 2025.

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join us as a 24/7 Veterinary Care Assistant in our Small Animal Wing on a temporary basis. The referral hospital is a very fast-paced environment working with complex and seriously ill animals. The temporary role will begin as soon as possible from April 2025 and will continue until the 9th of September 2025.

The main objective of the role is to provide animal care to an excellent standard for the Queen's Veterinary School referral Hospital, to meet the needs of the service in the Small Animal Wing. The small animal wing consists of four dog, two cat, critical care, isolation wards housing an average of 15-25 patients during the overnight period and Theatre Suite.

You will play an important part in a primary care team working alongside nurses and other veterinary care assistants. Responsibilities will include cleaning and animal care duties in order to assist veterinary nurses in the inpatient area and in theatres.

In return, we offer an encouraging and nurturing environment and have a dedicated team of clinicians, nurses and veterinary care assistants who are committed to providing the best care for our patients.

Benefits - Generous paid annual leave including bank holidays - Defined benefit pension scheme - Enhanced family friendly policies - Access to a dedicated Personal and Professional Development team - Wellness programme including Occupational Health team and Staff counselling - Staff discount scheme including shopping vouchers - Cycle to work scheme - Travel to work loans - Eye care voucher scheme - Discounted gym membership

If you have any questions about this role please contact the Clinical HR Team by email: qvsh.hr@vet.cam.ac.uk. Please quote reference PP45440 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

Further particulars for the role and information about the Department are available at: www.vet.cam.ac.uk

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a health assessment.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Applications will be monitored regularly, and we may contact candidates prior to the closing date. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Closing date: 06 April 2025

Interviews will commence mid-late April 2025.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Lancet. 2025 Mar 11:S0140-6736(25)00196-5. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00196-5. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40086455 | DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00196-5

mBio. 2025 Mar 14:e0032225. doi: 10.1128/mbio.00322-25. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Mycobacterium abscessus is one of the leading causes of pulmonary infections caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria. The ability of M. abscessus to establish a chronic infection in the lung relies on a series of adaptive mutations impacting, in part, global regulators and cell envelope biosynthetic enzymes. One of the genes under strong evolutionary pressure during host adaptation is ubiA, which participates in the elaboration of the arabinan domains of two major cell envelope polysaccharides: arabinogalactan (AG) and lipoarabinomannan (LAM). We here show that patient-derived UbiA mutations not only cause alterations in the AG, LAM, and mycolic acid contents of M. abscessus but also tend to render the bacterium more prone to forming biofilms while evading uptake by innate immune cells and enhancing their pro-inflammatory properties. The fact that the effects of UbiA mutations on the physiology and pathogenicity of M. abscessus were impacted by the rough or smooth morphotype of the strain suggests that the timing of their selection relative to morphotype switching may be key to their ability to promote chronic persistence in the host.IMPORTANCEMultidrug-resistant pulmonary infections caused by Mycobacterium abscessus and subspecies are increasing in the U.S.A. and globally. Little is known of the mechanisms of pathogenicity of these microorganisms. We have identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a gene involved in the biosynthesis of two major cell envelope polysaccharides, arabinogalactan and lipoarabinomannan, in lung-adapted isolates from 13 patients. Introduction of these individual SNPs in a reference M. abscessus strain allowed us to study their impact on the physiology of the bacterium and its interactions with immune cells. The significance of our work is in identifying some of the mechanisms used by M. abscessus to colonize and persist in the human lung, which will facilitate the early detection of potentially more virulent clinical isolates and lead to new therapeutic strategies. Our findings may further have broader biomedical impacts, as the ubiA gene is conserved in other tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacterial pathogens.

PMID:40084888 | DOI:10.1128/mbio.00322-25

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2025 Mar 12. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202409-1824OC. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE: Mycobacterium abscessus group bacteria (MABS) cause lethal infections in people with chronic lung diseases. Transmission mechanisms remain poorly understood; the detection of dominant circulating clones (DCCs) has suggested potential for person-to-person transmission.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the role of drinking water in the transmission of MABS.

METHODS: A total of 289 isolates were cultured from respiratory samples (231) and drinking water sources (58) across Queensland, Australia.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Whole genome sequences were analysed to identify DCCs and determine relatedness. Half of the isolates (144, 49·8%) clustered with previously described DCCs, of which 30 formed a clade within DCC5. Pangenomic analysis of the water-associated DCC5 clade revealed an enrichment of genes associated with copper resistance. Four instances of plausible epidemiological links were identified between genomically-related clinical and water isolates.

CONCLUSIONS: We provide evidence that drinking water is a reservoir for MABS and may be a vector in the chain of MABS infection.

PMID:40072241 | DOI:10.1164/rccm.202409-1824OC

Clare Bryant, Professor of Innate Immunity, is a molecular detective. Clare allows us to see how inflammation functions across species, and when our defence systems go too far.

Salary £25,834.00 to £29,539.00 (pro rata for 0.96 FTE) + 15% Shift Allowance = £29,709.00 to £33,969.00 per annum, working an average of 35 hours a week.

This equates to approximately an hourly rate of £14.12 - £16.15 (£16.24-£18.57 with 15% uplift).

We have an exciting opportunity for a Registered Veterinary Nurse to join our nursing team at the Queens Veterinary School Hospital.

The referral hospital is a very fast-paced environment which requires you to be adaptable with the ability to work well under pressure. The role will be to provide nursing to an excellent standard in the Small Animal Wing. The small animal wing consists of four dog, two cat, critical care and isolation wards housing an average of 15-25 patients during the overnight period.

We are looking for nurses who can cover 24/7 working on a 7 week, generous and attractive rotating shift pattern, covering core, early, late, night shifts and time off (includes 10 day off shift period after weeks of nights). Weekend working (2 in 7). Rotas are planned well in advance to help employees maintain a healthy work-life balance.

The role in Small Animal inpatients will include surgical, medical and critical care nursing (training can be given in critical care procedures). Cleaning, hygiene and administration duties linked to inpatient care will form a reasonable percentage of the time. This is a varied role where no two days are the same, so we are seeking individuals with a passion for nursing, with the ability to communicate with all levels of staff, students and clients. The ability to work on your own initiative with minimal supervision is essential. Shifts have student nurse and Veterinary Care Assistant support.

In return, we offer an encouraging and nurturing environment and have a dedicated team of clinicians and nurses who are committed to providing the best care for our patients.

Benefits:

• Generous paid annual leave including bank holidays
• Defined benefit pension scheme
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Access to a dedicated Personal and Professional Development team
• Wellness programme including Occupational Health team and Staff counselling
• Staff discount scheme including shopping vouchers
• Cycle to work scheme
• Travel to work loans
• Eye care voucher scheme
• Discounted gym membership
• CPD allowance

If you have any questions about this role, please contact the Clinical HR Team on qvsh.hr@vet.cam.ac.uk. Please quote reference PP45293 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a health assessment.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Applications will be monitored regularly, and we may contact candidates prior to the closing date. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications or extend the closing date if necessary. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Researchers studying British Labrador retrievers have identified multiple genes associated with canine obesity and shown that these genes are also associated with obesity in humans.  

The dog gene found to be most strongly associated with obesity in Labradors is called DENND1B. Humans also carry the DENND1B gene, and the researchers found that this gene is also linked with obesity in people.  

DENND1B was found to directly affect a brain pathway responsible for regulating the energy balance in the body, called the leptin melanocortin pathway.  

An additional four genes associated with canine obesity, but which exert a smaller effect than DENND1B, were also mapped directly onto human genes. 

“These genes are not immediately obvious targets for weight-loss drugs, because they control other key biological processes in the body that should not be interfered with.

But the results emphasise the importance of fundamental brain pathways in controlling appetite and body weight,” said Alyce McClellan in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, and joint first author of the report.  

“We found that dogs at high genetic risk of obesity were more interested in food,” said Natalie Wallis in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, and joint first author of the report.  

She added: “We measured how much dogs pestered their owners for food and whether they were fussy eaters. Dogs at high genetic risk of obesity showed signs of having higher appetite, as has also been shown for people at high genetic risk of obesity.”  

The study found that owners who strictly controlled their dogs’ diet and exercise managed to prevent even those with high genetic risk from becoming obese - but much more attention and effort was required.  

Similarly, people at high genetic risk of developing obesity will not necessarily become obese, if they follow a strict diet and exercise regime - but they are more prone to weight gain. 

As with human obesity, no single gene determined whether the dogs were prone to obesity; the net effect of multiple genetic variants determined whether dogs were at high or low risk. 

The results are published today in the journal 'Science'. 

“Studying the dogs showed us something really powerful: owners of slim dogs are not morally superior. The same is true of slim people. If you have a high genetic risk of obesity, then when there’s lots of food available you’re prone to overeating and gaining weight unless you put a huge effort into not doing so,” said Dr Eleanor Raffan, a researcher in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience who led the study. 

She added: “By studying dogs we could measure their desire for food separately to the control owners exerted over their dog’s diet and exercise. In human studies, it’s harder to study how genetically driven appetite requires greater willpower to remain slim, as both are affecting the one person.” 

The current human obesity epidemic is mirrored by an obesity epidemic in dogs. About 40-60% of pet dogs are overweight or obese, which can lead to a range of health problems. 

Dogs are a good model for studying human obesity: they develop obesity through similar environmental influences as humans, and because dogs within any given breed have a high degree of genetic similarity, their genes can be more easily linked to disease. 

To get their results, the researchers recruited owners with pet dogs in which they measured body fat, scored ‘greediness’, and took a saliva sample for DNA. Then they analysed the genetics of each dog. By comparing the obesity status of the dog to its DNA, they could identify the genes linked to canine obesity. 
Dogs carrying the genetic variant most associated with obesity, DENND1B, had around 8% more body fat than those without it.  

The researchers then examined whether the genes they identified were relevant to human obesity. They looked at both large population-based studies, and at cohorts of patients with severe, early onset obesity where single genetic changes are suspected to cause the weight gain.  

The researchers say owners can keep their dogs distracted from constant hunger by spreading out each daily food ration, for example by using puzzle feeders or scattering the food around the garden so it takes longer to eat, or by choosing a more satisfying nutrient composition for their pets. 

Raffan said: “This work shows how similar dogs are to humans genetically. Studying the dogs meant we had reason to focus on this particular gene, which has led to a big advance in understanding how our own brain controls our eating behaviour and energy use.”  

The research was funded by Wellcome, the BBSRC, Dogs Trust, Morris Animal Foundation, MRC, France Genomique consortium, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes, French National Center for Precision Diabetic Medicine, Royal Society, NIHR, Botnar Foundation, Bernard Wolfe Health Neuroscience Endowment, Leducq Fondation, Kennel Club Charitable Trust. 

Reference 
Wallis, N.J. et al: ‘Canine genome-wide association study identifies DENND1B as an obesity gene in dogs and humans.’ Science, March 2025. DOI: 10.1126/science.ads2145  
 

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered genes linked to obesity in both Labradors and humans. They say the effects can be over-ridden with a strict diet and exercise regime.

Dogs at high genetic risk of obesity showed signs of having higher appetite, as has also been shown for people at high genetic risk of obesity.Natalie WallisJames Barker on UnsplashLabrador licking nose

The text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Images, including our videos, are Copyright ©University of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified. All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways – on our main website under its Terms and conditions, and on a range of channels including social media that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.

YesLicence type: Attribution-Noncommerical

Science. 2025 Mar 6:eads2145. doi: 10.1126/science.ads2145. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Obesity is a heritable disease, but its genetic basis is incompletely understood. Canine population history facilitates trait mapping. We performed a canine genome-wide association study for body condition score, a measure of obesity, in 241 Labrador retrievers. Using a cross-species approach, we showed canine obesity genes are also associated with rare and common forms of obesity in humans. The lead canine association was within the gene DENN domain containing 1B (DENND1B). Each copy of the alternate allele was associated with ~7% greater body fat. We demonstrate a role for this gene in regulating signaling and trafficking of melanocortin 4 receptor, a critical controller of energy homeostasis. Thus, canine genetics identified obesity genes and mechanisms relevant to both dogs and humans.

PMID:40048553 | DOI:10.1126/science.ads2145

PLoS One. 2025 Mar 5;20(3):e0315546. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315546. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) has a high prevalence and a severe clinical course in the Italian Spinone breed of dog. A genome-wide association study meta-analysis of 52 cases and 51 controls was conducted to identify genomic regions that may be involved with the development of IE. Subsequent to the meta-analysis, a set of 175 controls and an independent validation set of 23 cases and 23 controls were genotyped for SNPs showing suggestive association with IE to find variants exhibiting evidence of replicable association and to test the predictiveness of SNPs for IE status when combined in a weighted risk score. Although two regions showed statistically significant association with IE in the GWAS meta-analysis, and additional regions with suggestive association were identified, the findings were not emulated in the validation set. This is the first GWAS of IE in the Italian Spinone, and the findings suggest that IE in the breed is not monogenic and demonstrates the challenges when investigating a multigenic or complex inherited disease in a numerically small domesticated animal population.

PMID:40043055 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0315546

Prev Vet Med. 2025 Feb 15;239:106445. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106445. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The epidemic of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in the United Kingdom and Northern Europe from 2021 to 2023 has dwarfed all previous incursions. This fact has driven the need to review biosecurity behaviours and perceptions of virus incursions on commercial poultry farms. This study used qualitative methods to evaluate farm managers' perceptions of biosecurity and their implementation of measures as recommended by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Thirteen farm managers across different regions of England and Wales were recruited between May and September 2023 to take part in the study. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were held with managers to discuss various topics relating to biosecurity and avian influenza (AI). Biosecurity measures being used across the farm by managers and staff were also observed to help understand biosecurity behaviours. Interviews were transcribed and analysed to identify themes and patterns amongst the data, along with extensive notes collated during the farm visits. Findings showed that farms' use of biosecurity with respect to disinfection regimes and use of foot dips were both well cited and observed. Similarly, farm managers were all highly likely to refer to the use of farm-specific and shed-specific rubber boots, while also citing stricter requirements for visitors and delivery/maintenance. Biosecurity concerning the layout of the premises, fencing, access to changing rooms and the general age and maintenance of buildings and sheds required significant improvement across many farms. Additionally, farm managers expressed strong feelings of stress and anxiety in recent years, particularly those who had experienced an AI outbreak recently. We argue that factors such as risk perceptions, remits of control, feelings of responsibility and autonomy, and consequences on mental health, are all factors that can inform how farm managers respond to outbreaks and implement or sustain biosecurity on farms. A greater emphasis on providing regular and tailored training and educational resources for the industry would be beneficial as would further services focusing on reducing the burden on farmers' mental health. This research provides insight into the application and shortcomings of biosecurity implementation on commercial poultry farms. It also identifies farmer perceptions and experiences shaping implementation on farms. However, this highlights that the onus for improving biosecurity cannot remain solely with farm managers and workers. Further research exploring the role of other stakeholders in the industry would help bridge remaining gaps in our understanding of biosecurity implementation.

PMID:40010002 | DOI:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106445

J Vet Intern Med. 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e70030. doi: 10.1111/jvim.70030.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Serum symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) concentrations are higher in some hyperthyroid cats with normal renal function, presumably due to increased protein catabolism.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if SDMA is higher in cats with inflammation (defined as elevated serum amyloid A [SAA]).

ANIMALS: Twenty-eight cats: 12 with elevated SAA concentrations (> 3.9 μg/mL) and 16 with normal SAA.

METHODS: Retrospective case control study. Cats presenting to a referral institution between 2016 and 2022 with a documented SAA were identified. Individuals with renal and extrarenal factors known to affect SDMA were excluded. SDMA was measured from stored serum samples. Comparisons were made using the Mann-Whitney U test, and correlations assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Data are presented as median [minimum-maximum].

RESULTS: SDMA was not significantly different between cats with elevated SAA and normal SAA (11 [5-17] μg/dL vs. 13 [9-21] μg/dL, respectively; p = 0.28). There was no correlation between SDMA and SAA (rs = -0.105; p = 0.594) or serum TT4 concentrations (rs = -0.023; p = 0.906). No difference in age or USG was present between elevated SAA and normal SAA groups (p = 0.908 and p = 0.165, respectively). Serum urea and creatinine concentrations were both significantly lower in cats with elevated SAA compared to those with normal SAA (6.3 [3.6-8.8] mmol/L vs. 8.4 [6.2-10.5] mmol/L; p = 0.008, and 96 [62-129] μmol/L vs. 118 [90-147] μmol/L; p = 0.008, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: SDMA might be a more representative biomarker of GFR during inflammatory states, provided other confounding factors that affect SDMA are eliminated.

PMID:40008808 | DOI:10.1111/jvim.70030

We have an exciting opportunity for a personable and effective Client Services Team Leader to work in our Client Services function of the Queen's Veterinary School Hospital. This position is full-time and operates on a rota system to cover the hospital reception's opening hours, which are currently Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 7:00pm.

The Client Service Team Leader will aim to provide a first-class customer service in what can often be a very challenging environment. The role will involve supporting clients during difficult conversations including diagnosis of patients, treatment (or non-treatment) and subsequent payment of accounts. The role holder will provide a natural route of escalation for the Client Service Administrators in supporting clients.

In addition to carrying out all elements of the Client Services Administrator role they will have additional responsibility for supervision, training of processes to the administrators and ensuring the right level of resource is available at all times to support the delivery of the clinical caseload within the Veterinary Hospital.

A positive, "can-do" attitude and excellent communication skills are essential, along with the ability to work effectively with staff at all levels of the organisation. You should have experience in a busy administrative role, strong customer care skills, and a professional telephone manner. Accuracy, numeracy, and attention to detail are key, as well as confidence in using Microsoft software packages. Experience in supervising a team is desirable.

There may also be a requirement to participate in a weekend working, for which additional remuneration will be made in line with the University Policy.

For informal enquiries please contact the Clinical HR Team, by email on: qvsh.hr@vet.cam.ac.uk

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Please quote reference PP45232 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

Applications will be monitored regularly, and we may contact candidates prior to the closing date. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

J Comp Pathol. 2025 Feb 18;217:62-65. doi: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2025.01.006. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

An adult bronze-winged parrot (Pionus chalcopterus) was presented for post-mortem examination following death without antecedent clinical signs. Macroscopically, the liver was expanded by a 14 × 12 × 10 mm, off-white to grey, infiltrative mass with 3-8 mm diameter nodular masses on the serosa of the duodenum. Cytology of impression smears of the hepatic mass revealed a monomorphic population of epithelial cells, arranged in cohesive clusters, occasionally with an acinar-like arrangement. Histologically, the neoplasm was unencapsulated, infiltrative, well-demarcated and moderately densely cellular. Neoplastic cells were arranged in well-defined, variably sized acini and tubules that were supported by a fine collagenous stroma. Acini and tubules frequently contained intraluminal eosinophilic proteinaceous material. Neoplastic cells were small to moderately sized and were generally columnar or cuboidal with well-delineated cell boundaries and a small amount of eosinophilic to basophilic cytoplasm. The nuclei were round, frequently basally located and had densely stippled chromatin and usually a single, prominent, magenta nucleolus. There were two mitoses in 10 high-power fields (2.37 mm2). Vascular invasion was observed and metastatic nodules of similar neoplastic cells were present on the duodenal serosa. Immunohistochemical labelling for cytokeratin 19 revealed weak to moderate, punctate cytoplasmic expression in <10% of neoplastic cells. Macroscopically, cytologically and histologically the neoplasm was consistent with a cholangiocarcinoma.

PMID:39970837 | DOI:10.1016/j.jcpa.2025.01.006

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD: £28,738.00 (Subject to change)

A three-year Senior Clinical Training Scholarship in Small Animal Medicine (Residency) is available, to start on 11 August 2025. The training programme covers all aspects of small animal medicine, including cardiology, oncology, medical neurology, diagnostic imaging and clinical pathology, and is approved by the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

The Scholar will register for the Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. The training programme requires participation in the Department's clinical service, including the out-of-hours rota, in addition to small-group teaching of veterinary students.

An applicant must be a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, or hold a veterinary degree that qualifies them for membership. Completion of an appropriate internship or a minimum of two years' experience in small animal practice, during which you have gained knowledge of UK veterinary regulations and practices, is essential.

Closing date for applications: Midnight on Monday, 10 February 2025.

Interviews will be held early April 2025.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Nick Bexfield, Clinical Director of Small Animal Services, by email: nb289@cam.ac.uk

A SCTS application form (SCTS1) and information pack can be downloaded from the following website: https://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/job

Applicants should supply a completed SCTS Application Form (SCTS1), Curriculum Vitae and Covering Letter giving reasons for wishing to undertake this SCTS in the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge.

Applications should be submitted via e-mail to vetmed@vet.cam.ac.uk with the above documents as one attachment no later than the closing date stated.

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a health assessment.

Please note: The ability to take up this Scholarship is contingent upon you being able to evidence your right to work in the UK, or through gaining the right to work via the UK immigration system. Evidence will need to be provided before an offer can be made. Regrettably, this Scholarship is not suitable for sponsorship via the Skilled Worker or Temporary Worker visa routes as the minimum requirements cannot be met.

Vaccine. 2025 Feb 12;50:126831. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.126831. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Two distinct diseases are attributable to the varicella zoster virus, varicella (chickenpox) and zoster (shingles). This study assesses the impact and cost-effectiveness of a childhood varicella vaccination program in England.

METHODS: We use an age-structured dynamic transmission model and a health economic decision tree. The model incorporates recent data on varicella and zoster epidemiology, including the effects of exogenous boosting on zoster incidence. By simulating various vaccination strategies, including routine and catch-up programs, the study evaluates the potential reduction in varicella and zoster cases due to vaccination and the associated vaccine cost-effectiveness (from the NHS perspective).

RESULTS: We find that a two-dose varicella vaccination program could significantly reduce varicella incidence, potentially achieving near-elimination if high coverage rates are maintained. However, the model also predicts a temporary increase in zoster incidence due to reduced natural boosting from varicella exposure; this is partly mitigated by the current zoster vaccination program and the effect is much less substantial than previously estimated. Cost-effectiveness analyses reveal that all vaccination strategies modelled are cost-effective at typical thresholds, with the routine vaccination scenario being the most economically advantageous. Sensitivity analyses demonstrate that vaccine price and varicella treatment costs are the primary drivers of cost-effectiveness.

CONCLUSION: The study supports the introduction of a childhood varicella vaccination program in England, which offers substantial health benefits and is highly likely to be cost-effective.

PMID:39946866 | DOI:10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.126831

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol. 2025 Feb 11. doi: 10.1055/a-2510-3720. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to compare the accuracy and safety of a transcondylar screw (TCS) placed using a 3D-printed patient-specific guide (PSG) or a generic aiming device (AD). We hypothesized that PSG is more accurate (i.e., positioning and orientation closer to the optimal trajectory) and safer (reduced incidence of joint violation) than the AD.

METHODS: A total of seven pairs of forelimbs were allocated to PSG and AD groups. After CT scanning, the optimal TCS orientation was planned in silico by a surgical specialist, and guides were printed. Using the PSG or AD, a 2.5-mm drill hole was drilled from medial to lateral across the humeral condyle. The positioning of the "planned" and "achieved" drill holes was defined on postoperative CT. The accuracy of TCS positioning and the risk of joint penetration were then calculated for the two groups.

RESULTS: Positioning of the entry and exit holes was significantly more accurate in the PSG group. Differences in screw angulation were not significantly different between groups. Despite the presence of an outlier (caused by incomplete seating of the PSG against the bone), 7 out of 7 screws positioned with PSG were "safe," while 3 out of 7 from the AD group would have violated the joint.

CONCLUSION: Our data confirm the technical superiority of PSG over the AD for placement of a TCS in the humeral condyle.

PMID:39933720 | DOI:10.1055/a-2510-3720

Cell Rep. 2025 Jan 28;44(1):115151. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.115151. Epub 2024 Dec 28.

ABSTRACT

In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), malignant cells surviving chemotherapy rely on high mRNA translation and their microenvironmental metabolic support to drive relapse. However, the role of translational reprogramming in the niche is unclear. Here, we found that relapsing AML cells increase translation in their bone marrow (BM) niches, where BM mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) become a source of eIF4A-cap-dependent translation machinery that is transferred to AML cells via extracellular vesicles (EVs) to meet their translational demands. In two independent models of highly chemo-resistant AML driven by MLL-AF9 or FLT3-ITD (internal tandem duplication) and nucleophosmin (NPMc) mutations, protein synthesis levels increase in refractory AML dependent on nestin+ BMSCs. Inhibiting cap-dependent translation in BMSCs abolishes their chemoprotective ability, while EVs from BMSCs carrying eIF4A boost AML cell translation and survival. Consequently, eIF4A inhibition synergizes with conventional chemotherapy. Together, these results suggest that AML cells rely on BMSCs to maintain an oncogenic translational program required for relapse.

PMID:39932190 | DOI:10.1016/j.celrep.2024.115151