Target and click: Peptide ligands targeted to the C‐terminal motif of the kinase Akt2 were obtained by combining phosphate recognition of a dinuclear zinc(II) complex with in situ click chemistry to target this epitope. The peptide ligands (shown as XXXXX) selectively bind the C‐terminal polypeptide of Akt2, and are selective for Akt2 relative to the Akt1 and Akt3 isoforms. The ligands differentially modulate Akt2 activity.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), and Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) in common food animals (cattle, goats, and pigs) reared by tribal communities and smallholder farmers in Northeast India. The isolates were characterized for the presence of virulence genes, extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) production, antimicrobial resistance, and biofilm production, and the results were statistically interpreted. In pathotyping 141 E. coli isolates, 10 (7.09%, 95% CI: 3.45%–12.66%) were identified as STEC, 2 (1.42%, 95% CI: 0.17%–5.03%) as atypical-EPEC, and 1 (0.71%, 95% CI: 0.02%–3.89%) as typical-EPEC. None of the isolates were classified as ETEC. Additionally, using the phenotypic combination disc method (ceftazidime with and without clavulanic acid), six isolates (46.1%, 95% CI: 19.22%–74.87%) were determined to be ESBL producers. Among the STEC/EPEC strains, eleven (84.6%, 95% CI: 54.55%–98.08%) and one (7.7%, 95% CI: 0.19%–36.03%) strains were capable of producing strong or moderate biofilms, respectively. PFGE analysis revealed indistinguishable patterns for certain isolates, suggesting clonal relationships. These findings highlight the potential role of food animals reared by tribal communities and smallholder farmers as reservoirs of virulent biofilm-forming E. coli pathotypes, with implications for food contamination and zoonotic infections. Therefore, monitoring these pathogens in food animals is crucial for optimizing public health through one health strategy.

We describe a laboratory investigation carried out to confirm the etiology of the heavy mortality (37 animals died out of total 44, i.e. 84%) in goats in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya, Northeast region of India in December 2015. The clinical signs observed were abortion, diarrhea, high fever (up to 104°F), pox lesion in the skin, and respiratory distress. The samples comprising whole blood, sera, and pox lesion were collected from the animals (n=7) from an outbreak for the screening of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and poxviruses. The whole blood and sera were used for screening of PPR virus (PPRV) by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and antibody by competitive ELISA as well as detection of PPRV partial N gene by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The skin lesions were used for the detection of poxvirus by PCR. The results showed the presence of PPR antigens (58-80%) in the samples by sandwich ELISA and antibody in all the sera samples ranging from 9% to 41% positivity in competitive ELISA. Four samples were positive for PPRV partial N gene. The skin lesion screened for poxvirus was also found to be positive for I3L gene of goatpox virus. We confirm the outbreak of disease in goats with high mortality is a case of mixed infection of PPR and goatpox detected for the first time in Northeast India.