Effect of gamma irradiation on the adhesive property and antibacterial activity of blend polymer (abietic acid-EVA)

Abietic acid (Aba) and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) were blended by mixing and dissolving in toluene. The copolymer blend (Aba/EVA 85:15 wt%) was subjected to varying doses of gamma irradiation (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 90 kGy). The crystallinity and the chemical structure of the polymeric blends were investigated by Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy and their adhesive properties were verified through utilizing the tensile strength testing. According to the findings, the gamma irradiation was found to increase the adhesive power of the blend polymer (Aba/EVA). To achieve the optimal adhesive force, 30 kGy was used as the irradiation dose. The adhesive forces of both irradiated and unirradiated samples were 1084 and 411 kPa, respectively. For this reason, adhesive force went up to 263%. Moreover, the process also entailed an examination of the antibacterial activity of the aforementioned copolymeric adhesive blend for irradiated (30 kGy) and unirradiated samples. The outcome from the antibacterial study pointed out that this polymer blend does entail antibacterial activity, something that is safe and helpful in the context of food packaging. </jats:p

Isolation of MERS Coronavirus from Dromedary Camel, Qatar, 2014

We obtained the full genome of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) from a camel in Qatar. This virus is highly similar to the human England/Qatar 1 virus isolated in 2012. The MERS-CoV from the camel efficiently replicated in human cells, providing further evidence for the zoonotic potential of MERS-CoV from camels

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) RNA and neutralising antibodies in milk collected according to local customs from dromedary camels, Qatar, April 2014

Antibodies to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) were detected in serum and milk collected according to local customs from 33 camels in Qatar, April 2014. At one location, evidence for active virus shedding in nasal secretions and/or faeces was observed for 7/12 camels; viral RNA was detected in milk of five of these seven camels. The presence of MERS-CoV RNA in milk of camels actively shedding the virus warrants measures to prevent putative food-borne transmission of MERS-CoV

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in dromedary camels: an outbreak investigation

Background Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes severe lower respiratory tract infection in people. Previous studies suggested dromedary camels were a reservoir for this virus. We tested for the presence of MERS-CoV in dromedary camels from a farm in Qatar linked to two human cases of the infection in October, 2013. Methods We took nose swabs, rectal swabs, and blood samples from all camels on the Qatari farm. We tested swabs with RT-PCR, with amplification targeting the E gene (upE), nudeocapsid (N) gene, and open reading frame (ORF) la. PCR positive samples were tested by different MERS-CoV specific PCRs and obtained sequences were used for phylogentic analysis together with sequences from the linked human cases and other human cases. We tested serum samples from the camels for IgG immunofluorescence assay, protein microarray, and virus neutralisation assay. Findings We obtained samples from 14 camels on Oct 17, 2013. We detected MERS-CoV in nose swabs from three camels by three independent RT-PCRs and sequencing. The nudeotide sequence of an ORFla fragment (940 nucleotides) and a 4.2 kb concatenated fragment were very similar to the MERS-CoV from two human cases on the same farm and a MERS-CoV isolate from Hafr-Al-Batin. Eight additional camel nose swabs were positive on one or more RT-PCRs, but could not be confirmed by sequencing. All camels had MERS-CoV spike-binding antibodies that correlated well with the presence of neutralising antibodies to MERS-CoV. Interpretation Our study provides virological confirmation of MERS-CoV in camels and suggests a recent outbreak affecting both human beings and camels. We cannot condude whether the people on the farm were infected by the camels or vice versa, or if a third source was responsible