Baobab Index

Progress on malaria elimination has stalled, especially in Africa where approximately 600,000 deaths occurred in 2024. Gene drive-modified mosquito (GDMM) technologies are a potentially transformational new tool to prevent malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes. Gene drive-modified mosquito technologies have been successful in contained (caged) testing, and field testing is being planned. Gene drive-modified mosquitoes are designed to be more specific vector control tools than chemical insecticides. However, the potential for spread and persistence of engineered gene drive constructs within interbreeding mosquito populations has raised concerns about possible negative effects on biodiversity. Postrelease safety monitoring of GDMMs will be an important component of risk management, yet scientifically based strategies for evaluating the environmental safety of GDMMs are lacking. Drawing from experience with related technologies in use, we propose a systematic approach to safety monitoring that is risk proportionate, considers ecological priorities and stakeholder concerns, and is practicable to implement in malaria-endemic countries. Suggested methods aim to achieve maximal decision-making value within available resources. Indicators of possible adverse impacts are selected strategically according to ecological analyses using a transparent ranking system. Intensity and coverage of monitoring reflect characteristics of both the GDMMs and the ecological indicator species, with allowance for adjusting the plan in response to initial results, ongoing observations, and regulator feedback. Although developed for early field testing, the framework can also help to guide later phase research and postimplementation environmental monitoring of GDMMs for malaria control in Africa, and it may inform the development of other genetic biological control technologies.

Human coronavirus HKU1 is globally endemic but genomically understudied. We present six near-complete HKU1 genomes from samples collected in coastal Kenya (2024-2025) that fell into genotypes A (

Root system development is essential for water and nutrient acquisition but requires substantial carbon investment. Optimizing root architecture while minimizing carbon costs is therefore an important target for crop improvement. Here, we characterized a novel rice (

In landscapes where wildlife and livestock co-graze, hosts are often poly-parasitised with diverse nematode and protozoan communities. The relationships between chronic, endemic parasite infections and host immune response is still unknown in many species, particularly for wildlife. Faecal ecoimmunological biomarkers allow physiological changes to be monitored Here we used an exploratory, cross-sectional study to examine the relationships between faecal immunological biomarkers and gastrointestinal parasitism in six wild and four domestic species of ungulates co-grazing in Laikipia, Kenya (10 samples per species). We measured faecal IgA, IgG, bovine lactoferrin and equine IL-6 using in-house enzyme immunoassays, alongside DNA metabarcoding, PCR screening and faecal egg counts, to explore the impacts of parasite composition and load on gut mucosal health. We aimed to identify specific parasites or community characteristic that were associated with higher faecal biomarker concentrations by fitting gobal models and using stepwise selection to identify key parasite predictors. Interestingly, a comparative immunology approach revealed that no one parasite was associated with a particular biomarker pattern across all host species. For example, the nematode This study provides an exploratory overview of the immune responses of wild and domestic herbivores, in association with natural multi-parasitic nematode and protozoan infections. Future research using comparative immunology approaches could improve our understanding of host immune phenotypes and the impacts of co-infections, improving decision making to promote animal health in shared landscapes.

The genus Zehneria (Cucurbitaceae) presents significant taxonomic challenges due to morphological similarities among species and a lack of resolution in molecular studies. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the chloroplast genomes of seven African Zehneria species collected from Kenya, complementing a previously published accession (Zehneria sp. MZ427944.1), to establish a comprehensive plastome-based framework for the genus. The plastomes ranged from 157,150 to 157,365 bp and exhibited a conserved quadripartite structure, with 130-132 annotated genes, including 86-87 protein-coding genes, 36-37 tRNAs, and 8 rRNAs. Structural variation, particularly in non-coding regions and inverted repeat boundaries, was observed, with eight hypervariable loci providing potential targets for molecular marker development. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) analysis revealed a predominance of A/T mononucleotides across species. Codon usage analysis revealed a strong AT-bias across all species, with codons ending in A or U accounting for 72.2% of synonymous codon preferences. Selective pressure analysis identified eight protein-coding genes with Ka/Ks ratios exceeding 1.0, including psaJ and rps8, proposed as candidate molecular barcodes pending further validation. Phylogenomic analysis of 79 protein-coding genes strongly supported the monophyly of Zehneria (ML bootstrap = 96-100%; PP = 1.0), with one node showing slightly reduced support (BS = 96%), and enhanced resolution of interspecific relationships compared to prior studies using fewer loci. This work offers novel insights into genomic diversity and evolutionary history of sampled Zehneria species, providing a critical molecular resource for future taxonomic and phylogenetic studies within Cucurbitaceae. Broader taxon sampling, particularly from Asian lineages, will be necessary to fully resolve interspecific relationships across the genus.

The characterization of genetic architecture and the optimization of genomic prediction are pivotal for the genetic improvement of complex traits in poultry. In this study, we investigated the genetic basis of 15 growth and carcass traits in an F2 chicken population (n = 877) using high-depth whole-genome sequencing with an average coverage of 31.2 × . By implementing an ensemble strategy involving four independent callers, we identified 35,924 high-confidence structural variations (SVs), with deletions being the most prevalent type. Combining SNPs and SVs enhanced genomic heritability for 14 out of 15 traits compared to SNPs alone. SNP-based GWAS corroborated well-known genes, including the prominent QTL cluster on chromosome 1, the NCAPG-LCORL locus on chromosome 4, and IGF2BP1 on chromosome 27. Notably, SV-based analysis unveiled additional candidate genes, such as ZNF385D, MYH10, and MOB1B. To gain functional insights, eQTL-GWAS colocalization analysis integrating SNP-based GWAS signals with tissue-specific eQTL data identified significant colocalization signals for ITM2B in brain tissue, potentially implicating excitatory synaptic transmission, and TRIM13 in blood, potentially implicating inflammatory and immune regulation. To optimize genomic breeding value estimation through the effective utilization of multi-type markers, we developed GPDLBP, a hybrid deep learning framework that integrates locally connected networks to capture SV effects with the GBLUP model for SNP effects. Compared with the traditional SNP-only model, GPDLBP improved prediction accuracy for most traits, with gains exceeding 2% for BW21 (body weight at 21 days of age), BW49 (body weight at 49 days of age), EW (eviscerated weight), LMW (leg muscle weight), and AFW (abdominal fat weight); for example, prediction accuracy increased from 0.512 to 0.532 for BW49 and from 0.471 to 0.491 for EW. These findings show that SVs complement SNPs in both genetic dissection and genomic prediction of economically important traits in chickens. The integration of multiple variant types provides a practical strategy for accelerating precision breeding in high-depth sequencing-based poultry programs.

Understanding the size, gender composition, and cadre mix of the health workforce and how it has evolved across time and locations can inform policies for planning, recruitment, training, and retention of human resources for health (HRH), and improvement of access to the health-care workforce among populations. Using comparable and standardised data sources, we aim to describe the composition and density of health workers by sex among 20 cadres for 204 countries and territories over 1990-2023 and quantify workforce shortfalls relative to universal health coverage (UHC) attainment. We used 1816 country-years of data from population-based surveys, 82 from censuses, 3888 from administrative sources, and 96 from scientific literature. We harmonised reported occupation in all sources with the International Standard Classification of Occupations 2008. We produced estimates for 20 cadres and the total health workforce disaggregated by sex using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression, a standardised method in the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors study. Finally, stochastic frontier meta-regression was used to estimate the minimum density of doctors, nurses and midwives, dentists, and pharmacists required to reach a score of 80 out of 100 on the UHC effective coverage index. In 2023, there were 122·1 million (95% uncertainty interval 115·4-130·5) health workers across 20 cadres, an increase of 81·2 million (72·0-90·5) or 198·5% (161·9-245·6) relative to 1990. Of that total, there were 15·1 million (13·1-18·2) doctors, 33·2 million (30·8-36·3) nurses, 2·4 million (2·0-2·9) midwives, and 7·6 million (6·7-8·6) community health workers (CHWs). 68·9% (66·9-70·6) of all health workers in 2023 were female, and female health workers accounted for 71·4% (64·5-77·4) of net HRH workforce growth. Less than half of doctors were female (43·9%, 34·5-53·2) and most nurses (80·7%, 76·2-83·1), midwives (96·0%, 83·9-98·5), and CHWs (89·5%, 83·6-93·7) were female. Substantial differences in HRH density remained into 2023: sub-Saharan Africa had the lowest HRH densities across cadres, with the exception of CHWs, while high-income countries had the highest HRH densities. To reach 80 out of 100 on the UHC index, an additional 7·1 million (6·6-7·5) doctors, 23·9 million (21·8-26·1) nurses and midwives, 1·8 million (1·6-1·9) dentists, and 1·6 million (1·4-1·9) pharmacists are required globally. The global health workforce has expanded substantially since 1990, largely due to women entering the formal health workforce. However, this expansion has been uneven across regions and persistent shortfalls remain in doctors, nurses and midwives, dentists, and pharmacists relative to moderate UHC attainment. Addressing these gaps will require expansion of training capacity, retention and remuneration policies for early-career workers, and gender-responsive workforce arrangements. Gates Foundation.

Climate change poses critical threats to human, animal, and environmental health, yet evidence on integrated One Health responses remains fragmented. Although numerous studies highlight climate-driven health risks, many climate adaptation frameworks still underrepresent cross-sectoral interactions and the needs of low-resource settings. This study aims to identify and operationalize key governance mechanisms, surveillance strategies, and collaborative approaches that can be implemented to support health-adaptive policies. A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed literature and international reports (March 2020-June 2025) was conducted across Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, the World Health Organization (WHO), WHO African region (AFRO), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) repositories. A narrative synthesis approach was adopted to integrate findings across heterogeneous study designs and contexts. Climate change intensifies vector-borne diseases, heat-related illness, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries. Evidence suggests that implementing a One Health approach through effective, evidence-based actions such as fostering collaborative engagement, using a common operating picture for community-based surveillance, and strengthening resilient food and livestock production systems that are adaptable to a changing climate could enhance surveillance capacity and accelerate preparedness and early warning processes. Significant opportunities exist to improve One Health governance by, among other things, establishing coordinated surveillance systems, flexible policy approaches, an ecosystem-based perspective, and inter-sectoral engagement. Currently, policies fail to fully consider environmental and animal health aspects, which could pose significant risks.

Despite a general improvement in the HIV burden over the past two decades, gendered social determinants including intimate partner violence (IPV) continue to affect women's vulnerability to HIV, which could be further exacerbated as resources dwindle over the coming years. Our study aimed to quantify recent trends in the HIV burden, the magnitude of the HIV burden associated with IPV, and the potential impact of declining financial support globally. Using the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023 framework, we estimated annual HIV incidence, prevalence, and mortality for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023, disaggregated by age and sex. Input data included national HIV programme reports, population-based serosurveys, clinical and vital registration data, and systematically reviewed literature. Countries and territories were grouped according to the availability and completeness of HIV prevalence and mortality data, with tailored modelling approaches applied for each group. To characterise the potential contributions of IPV to the HIV burden, time series estimates of IPV prevalence by location and effect size estimates were combined to generate population attributable fractions of the HIV burden. To forecast future trends and assess the potential impact of reductions in development assistance for health, we used a non-parametric stochastic frontier approach to estimate how funding levels could affect antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage. Adjustments in future ART coverage were integrated into our forecasts, altering projected rates of HIV-related incidence and mortality. We compared scenarios with and without funding cuts, quantifying the potential epidemiological effects of reduced ART availability by sex. Between 2003 and 2023, the annual number of new HIV infections declined globally, from 2·85 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 2·76-2·96) to 2·06 million (1·88-2·29). Meanwhile, HIV-related deaths decreased from a peak of 1·71 million (1·61-1·83) in 2004 to 0·83 million (0·73-0·96) in 2023. The number of people living with HIV rose from 26·3 million (25·5-27·3) in 2003 to 42·4 million (40·3-44·4) in 2023, reflecting improved survival associated with ART expansion. Although females continued to have higher prevalence of HIV than males in 2023 (23·4 million [22·2-24·6] vs 19·1 million [17·6-20·5]), the gap in incidence between females and males has substantially declined. Regionally, sub-Saharan Africa had the greatest declines in both incidence (64·3%; 58·0-68·6) and mortality (74·6%; 70·4-78·5) between 2003 and 2023, while central Europe, eastern Europe, and central Asia recorded the highest increases in incidence rates (232·1%; 146·5-299·1) and mortality rates (37·8%; 31·2-45·5) during this period. IPV was associated with an estimated 10·7% (1·6-20·4) of HIV-related deaths among females aged 15 years and older globally in 2023, corresponding to 40 700 (6400-80 600) deaths, with the highest population attributable fractions observed in Oceania (17·4%; 2·8-33·1), central sub-Saharan Africa (14·2%; 2·1-29·4), and eastern sub-Saharan Africa (13·2%; 2·0-25·3). Forecasts indicate that funding reductions could decrease ART coverage by 8·1% globally between 2025 and 2030, resulting in approximately 1·6 million new HIV infections among females and 1·3 million new HIV infections among males, alongside 790 600 and 670 600 HIV-related deaths, respectively. These impacts are primarily concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite two decades of substantial progress, the global HIV response remains highly sensitive to gendered social determinants and funding stability. The potential contribution of IPV to HIV-related mortality among women underscores the need for integrated interventions that address violence prevention and post-violence care alongside HIV treatment. The projected effects of funding cuts-millions of additional infections and deaths-highlight the fragility of the gains achieved and the urgent need to protect HIV financing. Achieving and sustaining the UNAIDS 2030 targets will require renewed investment, gender-responsive programming, and resilient health systems capable of providing equitable access to care. Gates Foundation and the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.