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GeneConvene-Hosted Webinar Series

Photo by J. Kelly Brito on UnsplashAn archive of those genetic biocontrol and gene drive-related webinars.

As part of the GeneConvene Global Collaborative‘s interests and efforts to support and promote learning and discussion around genetic biocontrol and gene drive technologies and associated issues, it hosts webinars regularly.  Although ranging in subject matter, all webinars relate to genetic biocontrol directly or indirectly.

The Virtual Institute also aggregates webinars related to gene drive and genetic biocontrol that were organized and hosted by others and that collection can be viewed HERE.

GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Emerging Gene Drive Systems 2023

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David O'Brochta,  2023.

February 15, 22, March 15, April 19, 26, May 10  2023
Washington, D.C.
Gene drive systems are being engineered in the laboratory and in some cases shown to be effective at rapidly altering target-gene frequencies in experimental populations. Much of this foundational work has been conducted in insects in the laboratory. This webinar series will focus on emerging potential applications of gene drive technology in a wide variety of organisms. These webinars are intended to inform audiences of the rationale for these development efforts, the current state of research and development and outstanding challenges.


GeneConvene Global Collaborative | Laboratory Containment of Arthropods Capable of Gene Drive: Best Practices and Recommendations

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Hector Quemada,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2022.

October 13,  2022
Washington, D.C.

This webinar is presented by members of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene’s American Committee of Medical Entomologists who were involved in drafting a recent Addendum to the ASTMH’s Arthropod Containment Guidelines that specifically consider arthropods with gene drive systems.


GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Wolbachia Biology, Mechanisms and Applications 2022

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David O'Brochta,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2022.

October 12, 19, 26, November 9, 23, 2022
Washington, D.C.
This is s series of 5 webinars by experts in the field in which key aspects of the biology of Wolbachia are explored such as Cytoplasmic Incompatibility and Anti-Virus effects. In addition the genomic interactions arising from the close association of these intracellular bacteria are explored and the biology of Wolbachia in populations. Finally, these studies are driven in part by the potential Wolbachia has to serve as an agent of insect control – particularly vectors of human pathogenic viruses.


GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Demystifying the Convention on Biological Diversity – Seven Videos

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Hector Quemada and David O'Brochta,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2022.

April 20, 27, May 4, 11, 18, 25 , 2022
Washington, D.C.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international agreement aimed at providing the legal framework for country cooperation to conserve biodiversity, while also enabling its sustainable use, and providing for fair and equitable sharing of the benefits derived from that use. It became effective in 1993 when the first 30 countries signed it, but now has 196 parties. Biotechnology figures prominently in this agreement, since one of its major goal is to “promote and advance priority access on a fair and equitable basis by Contracting Parties, especially developing countries, to the results and benefits arising from biotechnologies.” The CBD provides the basis for regulations on biotechnologies, particularly genetically engineered organisms (including gene drive organisms). While the convention, and its subsidiary agreements, have a significant impact on the regulatory environment within which synthetic gene drive research takes place, the procedures and decision-making processes connected with the CBD are often not transparent to researchers and others who do not closely follow the proceedings.

This webinar series will introduce the researcher who is not an expert on the CBD to the following topics:

– its history and political background,
– the development of its oversight of synthetic biology and gene drives, and
– the key points of interest to major country and stakeholder groups who will be involved in the decisions that will be negotiated at the upcoming conference of the parties that will be held in China later in 2022.

We hope that this knowledge will enable researchers to better engage with the representatives their countries will be sending to the conference. This input by researchers into the decision-making process is important to assure that decisions reached by the CBD are informed by accurate scientific information.


GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Genetic Drive Systems in Nature

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David O'Brochta and Hector Quemada,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2022.

March 2, 9, 16, 30, April 6 , 2022
Washington, D.C.

Intra genomic genetic conflicts are ubiquitous in nature and have shaped and continue to shape the evolution of plants, animals, and microbes. These conflicts can result in preferential transmission – drive – of genes, various genetic elements, and even whole chromosomes. Interest in drive systems extends beyond the basic sciences to technologists who are exploring natural and synthetic drives as agents to suppress or modify species in nature. This webinar series will explore the variety of drive systems found in nature, mechanisms responsible for drive and impacts of drive on behavior and evolution..


GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Invasive Species Management: Informing Gene Drive Considerations

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David O'Brochta and Hector Quemada,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2021.

October 13, 27, November 3 2021
Washington, D.C.
The management, control and elimination of invasive species involves solving problems that have analogs to those anticipating the use of gene drive technologies to control and eliminate malaria in Africa.  Avoiding unintended consequences from interventions designed to reduce or remove a species from an ecosystem has parallels in some applications of gene drive technologies.  Monitoring and surveilling for the movement of invasive species is critical for making management decisions and methods and approaches that have been devised to deal with challenges such as large geographic areas, low species densities, limited resources to name just a few could inform thinking about monitoring and surveillance of gene drive-containing organisms.  This series of webinars by invasive species specialists will feature research into how these challenges are being successfully addressed.


GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Controlling Gene Drives

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David O'Brochta and Hector Quemada,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2021.

September 22, 29, October 6 2021
Washington, D.C.

Some gene drive technologies being explored in the laboratory for possible use in the control and elimination of malaria in Africa are predicted to efficiently spread and persist indefinitely following their initial release into an environment containing the targeted mosquito species.  While the autonomous properties of some gene drive technologies are desirable features that are expected to make them effective at controlling hard to reach populations of targeted mosquitoes and to provide sustained control with minimal additional inputs, the ability to control spread and persistence remains important.  This series of webinars will feature researchers and developers exploring various control options for gene drive technologies.


GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Ecological Relationships of Mosquito Disease Vectors: Anticipating Risk Assessment of Gene Drive Technologies

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Stephanie James, Hector Quemada and David O'Brochta,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2021.

April 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19 2021
Washington, D.C.

An often-raised concern for the development of genetically modified mosquito technologies, particularly those involving gene drive, as tools to prevent disease transmission is the limitation of our understanding of the roles these species may play within the ecosystem. This series of webinars begins to explore what is known about the ecological relationships of mosquito vectors with regard to major types of species interactions. The speakers also will describe some of the methods by which potential interactions that may impact human or animal health and the environment can be examined in the context of case-by-case risk assessment and safety testing.
Each seminar will consist of two 30-minutes presentation followed by questions and answers.

There will be two speakers per meeting.  Each will speak for 30 minutes followed by a joint question and answer session.

Not a convenient time?  Each webinar will be recorded and promptly posted on the GeneConvene Virtual Institute

REFERENCES

References Related Dr. Juliano’s Presentation

Fader, J. E., & Juliano, S. A. (2013). An empirical test of the aggregation model of coexistence and consequences for competing container-dwelling mosquitoes. Ecology, 94(2), 478-488. https://doi.org/10.1890/12-0123.1Gorman, K., Young, J., Pineda, L., Marquez, R., Sosa, N., Bernal, D., . . . Caceres, L. (2016). Short-term suppression of Aedes aegypti using genetic control does not facilitate Aedes albopictus. Pest Management Science, 72(3), 618-628. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.4151

Kraemer, M. U. G., Sinka, M. E., Duda, K. A., Mylne, A. Q. N., Shearer, F. M., Barker, C. M., . . . Hay, S. I. (2015). The global distribution of the arbovirus vectors Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Elife, 4, 18. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08347

Leisnham, P. T., LaDeau, S. L., & Juliano, S. A. (2014). Spatial and Temporal Habitat Segregation of Mosquitoes in Urban Florida. Plos One, 9(3), 10. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0091655

Murrell, E. G., Damal, K., Lounibos, L. P., & Juliano, S. A. (2011). Distributions of Competing Container Mosquitoes Depend on Detritus Types, Nutrient Ratios, and Food Availability. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 104(4), 688-698. https://doi.org/10.1603/an10158

References Related Dr. Connolly’s Presentation

Gillies, M. T., & Smith, A. (1960). The effect of a residual house-spraying campaign in East Africa on species balance in the Anopheles funestus group. The replacement of A. funestus Giles by A. rivulorum Leeson. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 51(2), 243-252. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485300057953

Qureshi, A., & Connolly, J. B. (2021). A systematic review assessing the potential for release of vector species from competition following insecticide-based population suppression of Anopheles species in Africa. .Parasites Vectors,  14, 462 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04975-0

Russell, T. L., Govella, N. J., Azizi, S., Drakeley, C. J., Kachur, S. P., & Killeen, G. F. (2011). Increased proportions of outdoor feeding among residual malaria vector populations following increased use of insecticide-treated nets in rural Tanzania. Malaria Journal, 10, 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-10-80

Sougoufara, S., Harry, M., Doucoure, S., Sembene, P. M., & Sokhna, C. (2016). Shift in species composition in the Anopheles gambiae complex after implementation of long-lasting insecticidal nets in Dielmo, Senegal. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 30(3), 365-368. https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12171

Zhou, G. F., Afrane, Y. A., Vardo-Zalik, A. M., Atieli, H., Zhong, D. B., Wamae, P., . . . Yan, G. Y. (2011). Changing Patterns of Malaria Epidemiology between 2002 and 2010 in Western Kenya: The Fall and Rise of Malaria. Plos One, 6(5), 12. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0020318

References Related Dr. Rwomushana’s Presentation

Barratt, B. I. P., Moeed, A., & Malone, L. A. (2006). Biosafety assessment protocols for new organisms in New Zealand: Can they apply internationally to emerging technologies? Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 26(4), 339-358. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2005.11.008

Cock, M. J. W., Lenteren, J. C. v., Brodeur, J., Barratt, B. I. P., Bigler, F., Bolckmans, K., . . . Parra, J. R. P. (2009). The use and exchange of biological control agents for food and agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization, Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE.

Neuenschwander, P., Herren, H. R., Harpaz, I., Badulescu, D., Akingbohungbe, A. E., Wood, R. K. S., & Way, M. J. (1988). Biological control of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti by the exotic parasitoid Epidinocarsis lopezi in Africa. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. B, Biological Sciences, 318(1189), 319-333. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.1988.0012

Russell, T. L., Govella, N. J., Azizi, S., Drakeley, C. J., Kachur, S. P., & Killeen, G. F. (2011). Increased proportions of outdoor feeding among residual malaria vector populations following increased use of insecticide-treated nets in rural Tanzania. Malaria Journal, 10, 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-10-80

Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention. (2005). ISPM 3: Guidelines for the export, shipment, import and release of biological control agents and other beneficial organisms. International Plant Protection Convention.

References Related Dr. Collins’ Presentation

American Mosquito Control Association. (2021). Do purple martins help reduce mosquitoes? Retrieved from https://www.mosquito.org/page/FAQ#Do%20Purple%20Martins%20help%20reduce%20mosquitoes?

Bohmann, K., Monadjem, A., Lehmkuhl Noer, C., Rasmussen, M., Zeale, M. R. K., Clare, E., . . . Gilbert, M. T. P. (2011). Molecular Diet Analysis of Two African Free-Tailed Bats (Molossidae) Using High Throughput Sequencing. Plos One, 6(6), e21441. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0021441

Collins, C. M., Bonds, J. A. S., Quinlan, M. M., & Mumford, J. D. (2019). Effects of the removal or reduction in density of the malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae s.l., on interacting predators and competitors in local ecosystems. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 33(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12327

Jackson, R. R., Deng, C., & Cross, F. R. Convergence between a mosquito-eating predator’s natural diet and its prey-choice behaviour. Royal Society Open Science, 3(12), 160584. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160584

Stephens, D. W., Brown, J. S., & Ydenberg, R. C. (Eds.). (2007). Foraging: Behavior and Ecology. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.

References Related Dr. Dada’s Presentation

Caragata, E. P., Tikhe, C. V., & Dimopoulos, G. (2019). Curious entanglements: interactions between mosquitoes, their microbiota, and arboviruses. Curr Opin Virol, 37, 26-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coviro.2019.05.005

Coon, K. L., Brown, M. R., & Strand, M. R. (2016). Mosquitoes host communities of bacteria that are essential for development but vary greatly between local habitats. Mol Ecol, 25(22), 5806-5826. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.13877

Gendrin, M., & Christophides, G. K. (2013). The Anopheles Mosquito Microbiota and Their Impact on Pathogen Transmission. In S. Manguin (Ed.), Anopheles mosquitoes – New insights into malaria vectors.

Guégan, M., Tran Van, V., Martin, E., Minard, G., Tran, F. H., Fel, B., . . . Valiente Moro, C. (2020). Who is eating fructose within the Aedes albopictus gut microbiota? Environ Microbiol, 22(4), 1193-1206. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.14915

Krajacich, B. J., Huestis, D. L., Dao, A., Yaro, A. S., Diallo, M., Krishna, A., . . . Lehmann, T. (2018). Investigation of the seasonal microbiome of Anopheles coluzzii mosquitoes in Mali. Plos One, 13(3), e0194899. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0194899

References Related Dr. Foster’s Presentation

Foster, W. A. (2020). Pollination of plants by disease vectors: an assessment. Retrieved from https://www.geneconvenevi.org/pollination-of-plants-by-disease-vectors-a-risk-assessment/

Gary Jr, R. E., & Foster, W. A. (2004). Anopheles gambiae feeding and survival on honeydew and extra-floral nectar of peridomestic plants. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 18(2), 102-107. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0269-283X.2004.00483.x

Gouagna, L.-C., Poueme, R. S., Dabiré, K. R., Ouédraogo, J.-B., Fontenille, D., & Simard, F. (2010). Patterns of sugar feeding and host plant preferences in adult males of An. gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae). Journal of Vector Ecology, 35(2), 267-276. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1948-7134.2010.00082.x

Müller, G. C., Beier, J. C., Traore, S. F., Toure, M. B., Traore, M. M., Bah, S., . . . Schlein, Y. (2010). Field experiments of Anopheles gambiae attraction to local fruits/seedpods and flowering plants in Mali to optimize strategies for malaria vector control in Africa using attractive toxic sugar bait methods. Malaria Journal, 9(1), 262. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-9-262

References Related Dr. Besansky’s Presentation

Fontaine, M. C., Pease, J. B., Steele, A., Waterhouse, R. M., Neafsey, D. E., Sharakhov, I. V., . . . Besansky, N. J. (2015). Extensive introgression in a malaria vector species complex revealed by phylogenomics. Science, 347(6217), 1258524. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1258524

Mallet, J., Besansky, N., & Hahn, M. W. (2016). How reticulated are species? Bioessays, 38(2), 140-149. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.201500149

Pombi, M., Kengne, P., Gimonneau, G., Tene-Fossog, B., Ayala, D., Kamdem, C., . . . Costantini, C. (2017). Dissecting functional components of reproductive isolation among closely related sympatric species of the Anopheles gambiae complex. Evolutionary Applications, 10(10), 1102-1120. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12517

Small, S. T., Labbé, F., Lobo, N. F., Koekemoer, L. L., Sikaala, C. H., Neafsey, D. E., . . . Besansky, N. J. (2020). Radiation with reticulation marks the origin of a major malaria vector. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(50), 31583. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2018142117

Thawornwattana, Y., Dalquen, D., & Yang, Z. (2018). Coalescent Analysis of Phylogenomic Data Confidently Resolves the Species Relationships in the Anopheles gambiae Species Complex. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 35(10), 2512-2527. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msy158

References Related Dr. Yan’s Presentation

Hemming-Schroeder, E., Lo, E., Salazar, C., Puente, S., & Yan, G. (2018). Landscape Genetics: A Toolbox for Studying Vector-Borne Diseases. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 6(21). https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2018.00021

Hemming-Schroeder, E., Zhong, D., Machani, M., Nguyen, H., Thong, S., Kahindi, S., . . . Yan, G. (2020). Ecological drivers of genetic connectivity for African malaria vectors Anopheles gambiae and An. arabiensis. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 19946. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76248-2

Lehmann, T., Hawley, W. A., Grebert, H., Danga, M., Atieli, F., & Collins, F. H. (1999). The Rift Valley complex as a barrier to gene flow for Anopheles gambiae in Kenya. Journal of Heredity, 90(6), 613-621. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/90.6.613

North, A. R., Burt, A., & Godfray, H. C. J. (2019). Modelling the potential of genetic control of malaria mosquitoes at national scale. Bmc Biology, 17(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-019-0645-5

References Related Dr. Higgs’s Presentation

American Committee of Medical, E., American Society of Tropical, M., & Hygiene. (2019). Arthropod Containment Guidelines, Version 3.2. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 19(3), 152-173. https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2018.2431

Crampton, J. M., Beard, C. B., & Louis, C. (Eds.). (1997). The Molecular Biology of Insect Disease Vectors: A Methods Manual. Dordrecht: Springer.

Miura, K., Deng, B., Tullo, G., Diouf, A., Moretz, S. E., Locke, E., . . . Long, C. A. (2013). Qualification of Standard Membrane-Feeding Assay with Plasmodium falciparum Malaria and Potential Improvements for Future Assays. PloS One, 8(3), e57909. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0057909

References Related Dr. Hosack’s Presentation

Dutra, Heverton Leandro C., Rocha, Marcele N., Dias, Fernando Braga S., Mansur, Simone B., Caragata, Eric P., & Moreira, Luciano A. (2016). Wolbachia Blocks Currently Circulating Zika Virus Isolates in Brazilian Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes. Cell Host & Microbe, 19(6), 771-774. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2016.04.021

Hayes, K. R., Peel, D., Eagles, D., & Hosack, G. R. (2020). Structured prioritisation of human and animal pathogens for the purpose of scoping risk assessments of genetic control strategies for malaria vectors in sub-Saharan Africa. Retrieved from https://fnih.org/sites/default/files/pdf/Pathogen_prioritisation_final_report_v6.pdf

Hosack, G. R., Ickowicz, A., & Hayes, K. R. Quantifying the risk of vector-borne disease transmission attributable to genetically modified vectors. Royal Society Open Science, 8(3), 201525. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.201525

Keeney, R. L., & Raiffa, H. (1993). Decisions with Multiple Objectives: Preferences and Value Trade-Offs. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Ye, Y. H., Carrasco, A. M., Frentiu, F. D., Chenoweth, S. F., Beebe, N. W., van den Hurk, A. F., . . . McGraw, E. A. (2015). Wolbachia Reduces the Transmission Potential of Dengue-Infected Aedes aegypti. Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases, 9(6), e0003894. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003894


GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Ecological Modeling in Risk Assessment of Gene Drives

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Hector Quemada and David O'Brochta,  2021.

March 10, 17, 24, 31 2021
Washington, D.C.

Risk assessment of gene drive organisms will require the development of new tools to complement established risk assessment methodologies for genetically modified organisms with the paradigm for risk assessment agreed to by most countries in the world being the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. One recognized need is the use of models to help predict the ecological consequences of released gene drive organisms. Unlike non-gene drive organisms, which can be limited in time and space and therefore provide data in small scale tests that can be relevant to large scale releases, the potential for large-scale spread gene drive-containing organisms even from a limited release and even in well-isolated trials, means that risk assessors will need to consider models and forecasts in their decision-making.

To date, this work has only started to receive attention. This series of four presentations deals with the development and use of models in ecology generally and some of these presentations will also deal with the use of models specifically to assess the ecological impacts of gene drive organisms.

Each seminar will be 45-50 minutes in length followed by questions and answers.

Not a convenient time?  Each webinar will be recorded and promptly posted on the GeneConvene Virtual Institute, and questions will be taken for 48 hours after the initial presentation. The speaker’s responses will be attached to the original presentation.


GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Genetic Biocontrol 2021

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David O'Brochta and Hector Quemada,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2021.

Feb 3, 10, 17, 24  2021
Washington, D.C.
In the mid 20th century various ideas emerged concerning how genetics and genetic principles could be directly applied to age-old problems of managing insects that threaten food security and public health.  This series of webinars will explore the current state-of-the-art of what has been termed genetic control, genetic pest management and genetic biocontrol. It will cover the use of sterility, conditional dominant lethality and Wolbachia-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility. Gene drive, another type of genetic biocontrol, will not be covered in this series; it was recently the focus of webinar series dedicated to the topic.  This webinar series is a scientific forum where one will hear and learn about the latest research in this area of applied genetics from those conducting the research.


GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Engineered Gene Drives: Policy and Regulatory Considerations Webinar Series October-December 2020

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Hector Quemada and David O'Brochta,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2020.

October 21, 28, November 4, 18, December 2  2020
Washington, D.C.
This was a series of public seminars by experts on policy and regulatory affairs who will speak about the research and development of engineered gene drive  Presentations were aimed at scientists, policy makers, regulators and the general public.

Questions and Answers not captured in November 18 recording [PDF]


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