No abstract

Haemophilus influenzae is an important cause of mucosal and invasive infections and a common colonizer of the upper respiratory tract. As there are no recent data on H. influenzae carriage in Portugal, we aimed to characterize carriage samples and investigate possible parallelisms with disease isolates. Between 2016–2019, 1524 nasopharyngeal samples were obtained from children (0–6 years) attending day-care. H. influenzae were serotyped and screened for β-lactamase production. Strains producing β-lactamase and/or those that were encapsulated were further characterized by antibiotype; encapsulated strains were also investigated for MLST and the presence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes (extracted from whole genome sequencing). The overall carriage rate was 84.1%. Most isolates (96.7%) were nonencapsulated. Encapsulated strains were of serotypes f (1.8%), e (1.1%), a (0.3%), and b (0.1%). MLST showed clonality within serotypes. Although the lineages were the same as those that were described among disease isolates, colonization isolates had fewer virulence determinants. Overall, 7.5% of the isolates were β-lactamase positive; one isolate had blaTEM-82, which has not been previously described in H. influenzae. A single isolate, which was identified as H. parainfluenzae, had an incomplete f-like cap locus. In conclusion, circulation of serotype b is residual. The few encapsulated strains are genetically related to disease-causing isolates. Thus, surveillance of H. influenzae carriage should be maintained.

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a major human respiratory pathogen linked with high morbidity, mortality, and health care-associated costs worldwide. This bacterium often colonizes asymptomatically healthy children.

To address the problem of climate changes, CO2 sequestration by forests should be assessed. Forests store carbon in their biomass- about half of it is carbon. The trees’ diameter, height and age are relevant parameters for forests’ biomass estimation. Various methods have been utilized to estimate forests’ biomass. Initially, field measurements using tape measures, clinometers and frequently a ruler were used. They are precise but limited to local scales. In contrast, remote sensing, like drones and satellites, can provide images at regional and global scales. They can use optical, radar or Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors for this purpose. LiDAR is more accurate than optical or radar sensors. It is becoming incorporated in smartphones such as I-Phone 12. Mixed-reality devices also have emerged to involve people in forests mapping, in addition to existing tree measuring apps. Google Earth provides free and historical data, but does not offer hypespectral images required to properly estimate biomass. Drones perform three-dimensional terrain geometry, which is relevant to determine trees’ height. They are widely available today. Carbon captured by forests (and for other land use types) can be used to compensate forest growers and farmers, as they are contributing to mitigate climate change.