ETIDIOH - NEW

  Am J Respir Crit Care Med MENDEZ R, Gonzalez-Jimenez P, Latorre A, Piqueras M, et al The Long-term Pneumonia Mortality Index. An International Multicenter Derivation and Validation Study for Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2026 Feb 21:aamag060. doi: 10.1093. PubMed           Abstract available GAERTNER VD, Ramin-Wright L, Waldmann AD, Belting C, et al The first breaths after birth-early lung function in healthy term infants. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2026 Jan 30:aamag008. doi: 10.1093. PubMed           Abstract available Ann Intern Med QASEEM A, Obley AJ, Harrod CS, Wilt TJ, et al COVID-19 Vaccines for 2025-2026 in Adults Who Are Not Pregnant or Immunocompromised: Rapid Practice Points From the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2026 Feb 24. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-05026. PubMed           Abstract available Ann...

  Arch Virol KOBAYASHI D, Hiono T, Adachi R, Igarashi M, et al Length and density of alpha2-3 sialyllactose-containing chains on glycopolymers determine receptor binding of avian influenza viruses. Arch Virol. 2026;171:100. PubMed          PARK SH, Lee SH, Seo YR, Kim DJ, et al Evolution and spread of H8Nx avian influenza viruses from wild birds in East Asia, 2019-2024. Arch Virol. 2026;171:95. PubMed           Abstract available NAVEED A The bovine mammary gland as a crucible for zoonotic influenza virus emergence: Receptor-mediated adaptation of HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b. Arch Virol. 2026;171:89. PubMed          Biochem Biophys Res Commun SINGH VA, Nehul S, Saha A, Singh V, et al Bioengineered chimeric VLPs targeting chikungunya virus and SARS-CoV-2 show high immunogenicity in mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2026;805:153346. PubMed        ...

  By Horace L.Arnold - "Modern Machine-Shop Economics." in Engineering Magazine 11. 1896, Public Domain,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36887873 Source:  Link:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_Locomotive_Works ____

  Abstract Mpox is a zoonosis caused by the monkeypox virus . Here, we report Mali’s index Mpox case , which was clinically identified at the Mali–Guinea border by the national telemedicine center and confirmed by PCR . The library prepared with NextGenPCR™ MPXV Sequencing Library Prep and sequenced on Minion MK1C revealed a genome length of 197,122 bp with an average depth of 1284.4×. The strain belonged to Clade IIb G1 lineage and exhibited 85 mutations relative to NC_063383.1. To decipher genomic epidemiology, genomes ≥ 195 kb were retrieved from NCBI and aligned with MAFFT. Time-resolved phylogenetic reconstruction and ancestral trait inference were performed with TreeTime v0.11.4. A median joining network was built with Popart v1.7. Phylogeographic analysis revealed clustering with Clade IIb (G.1 lineage) linked to the May 2025 outbreak in Sierra Leone . Source:  Link:  https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/18/3/294 ____

  February 2026  WHO convenes technical consultations {1} in February and September each year to recommend viruses for inclusion in influenza vaccines {2} for the northern hemisphere (NH) and southern hemisphere (SH) influenza seasons, respectively.  This recommendation relates to the influenza vaccines for use in the NH 2026-2027 influenza season .  A recommendation will be made in September 2026 relating to vaccines that will be used for the SH 2027 influenza season.  WHO guidance for choosing between the NH and SH formulations for countries in tropical and subtropical regions is available on the WHO Global Influenza Programme website {3}.   National or regional authorities approve the composition and formulation of influenza vaccines used in each country.  National public health authorities are responsible for making recommendations regarding the use of the vaccine.  WHO has published recommendations on the prevention of influenza {4}....

  ABSTRACT In this study, the infection dynamics, replication, and pathogenicity of a recombinant virus containing a deletion of ORF6 (rWA1ΔORF6) on the backbone of the highly virulent SARS-CoV-2 WA1 virus (rWA1) were investigated and compared to the parental rWA1 virus. While both rWA1 and rWA1ΔORF6 viruses replicated efficiently in cultured cells , the rWA1ΔORF6 virus produced smaller plaques, suggesting reduced cell-to-cell spread. Luciferase reporter assays revealed immune-suppressing effects of ORF6 on interferon (IFN) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways. Pathogenesis assessment in cats revealed that animals inoculated with rWA1 were lethargic and presented with fever on days 2 and 4 post-infection (pi), whereas rWA1ΔORF6-inoculated animals developed subclinical infection . Additionally, animals inoculated with rWA1ΔORF6 presented reduced infectious virus shedding in nasal and oral secretions and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid when compared with the rWA1-inocu...

  {Excerpt} Time Period: February 15, 2026 - February 21, 2026 -- H5 Detection :  4 site(s) ( 0.8% ) -- No Detection :  495 site(s) ( 99.2% ) -- No samples in last week :  110 site(s) (...) Source: US CDC,  https://www.cdc.gov/ Link:  https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/wwd-h5.html ____

  Note 27/02/2026: the number of dead animals in this outbreak was lowered after the country provided additional information. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7309 ____

  This is a farm with broiler parents, housed in 3 barns. Clinical signs of increased mortality and severely depressed general condition were observed. Euthanization is in progress. A protection zone (3 km) and a surveillance zone (10 km) have been put in place around the infected farm and all other restrictions and necessary measures according to Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and EU DR 2020/687 are applied. Source: WOAH. Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7313 ____

  Abstract The H7N9 avian influenza virus (AIV) has posed a major global public health concern since its first detection in China in 2013 . Transmitted among wild birds and poultry , this virus has crossed the species barrier to infect humans , causing severe respiratory disease and high mortality . Although the widespread use of H7 vaccines has markedly reduced human infections , the ongoing circulation and adaptive evolution of the virus in poultry remain a serious threat . In this study, we analyzed three highly pathogenic H7N9 isolates collected in China in 2022, representing two hemagglutinin (HA) gene evolutionary lineages : Group.y.2.3 (isolate 229-4, chicken origin; isolate 782-2, quail origin) and Group.y.2.4 (isolate 621, quail origin). Pathogenicity was compared through phylogenetic analysis , molecular characterization, and infection experiments in both avian and mammalian models . Group.y.2.3 isolates displayed stronger replication and pathogenicity in chickens and mic...

  Abstract Influenza A virus is a highly contagious respiratory pathogen, and its rapid and continuous adaptive mutations for immune escape have limited the efficacy of existing vaccines and antiviral drugs. Here, we report a multimechanism anti-influenza platform based on the conjugation of zanamivir (ZMV) with amantadine (Aman). Aman acts as a hydrophobic tag that promotes the degradation of neuraminidase and concurrently enhances the physicochemical properties of ZMV , leading to improved membrane permeability and a significantly prolonged half-life. Meanwhile, the ZMV moiety counteracts Aman-induced cytotoxic autophagy . The resulting conjugate, compound 7j , exhibits potent activity against a wide range of neuraminidase and M2 ion channel mutations . Notably, a single intravenous dose of 7j fully protected mice from a lethal H1N1 challenge . Our work demonstrates that the rational fusion of ZMV and Aman achieves synergistic multimechanistic antiviral activity with enhanced eff...

  ABSTRACT An outbreak of H3N1 low-pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) in Belgium in 2019 caused unexpected levels of mortality and morbidity in poultry . These viruses possess an NA polymorphism associated with plasminogen (PLG) binding , as well as an atypical sequence around the HA cleavage site ; accordingly, HA cleavage mediated by NA-driven PLG recruitment has been proposed to underlie their systemic spread and pathogenicity. To test this, we established a reverse genetics system for A/chicken/Belgium/460/2019 and created single mutations in HA (K345R) and NA (S122N) that restored the viruses to normal consensus, as well as an HA/NA double mutant. Confirming previous work, trypsin-independent spread and HA cleavage of wild-type Ck/Belgium were observed in the presence of fetal bovine serum containing PLG in vitro. Dose-dependent HA cleavage and trypsin-independent spread were also observed in the presence of purified chicken PLG . Compared to the wild-type virus, both HA...

  Abstract Background Tecovirimat is approved for smallpox treatment under the Food and Drug Administration Animal Rule on the basis of efficacy in nonhuman primate models of mpox (previously known as monkeypox). However, the clinical efficacy of tecovirimat against human clade II mpox is unclear . Methods In a phase 3, international, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, we evaluated the efficacy of oral tecovirimat in adults with laboratory-confirmed clade II mpox. Participants were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive tecovirimat or placebo for 14 days. The primary outcome was clinical resolution, assessed in a time-to-event analysis in participants with active skin or mucosal lesions. Secondary outcomes included reduction in pain, assessed in all participants with laboratory-confirmed mpox and in those with severe pain at baseline (pain score, 7 to 10; scale, 0 [no pain] to 10 [worst pain imaginable]); complete lesion healing (assessed in a time-to-event an...

  Abstract Wastewater testing for SARS-CoV-2 provided useful public health information during the COVID-19 pandemic yet was underutilized in rural communities . We addressed this gap by implementing wastewater surveillance and assessing its performance in 10 communities in Eastern Kentucky . We collected wastewater samples 1–2 times weekly at 10 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) from May 2021 until April 2023 and measured SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations using polymerase chain reaction testing . We calculated time-lagged correlations between wastewater concentrations and county-level reported COVID-19 cases by site. We developed a generalized linear model to estimate COVID-19 incidence from wastewater SARS-CoV-2 concentrations. The 10 participating WWTPs served 2430 to 35,575 customers , and 90% were in rural counties. We cumulatively analyzed 818 wastewater samples . Correlations between wastewater SARS-CoV-2 concentrations and COVID-19 cases were significant at seven of the WWTPs ...

  ABSTRACT The ease with which emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants escape neutralizing antibodies limits the protection afforded by a prior exposure , be it infection or vaccination. While rare, broadly neutralizing antibodies with activity toward diverse sarbecoviruses have been detected in convalescent serum . Motivated by findings that plasma responses show increased neutralization breadth and potency with continued antigen exposure , we isolated monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) after a SARS-CoV-2 re-infection and compared them to those isolated 1 year prior, after the first breakthrough infection. Among clonal lineage members identified at both time points, mAbs from the later time point showed improved neutralization potency and breadth . One mAb isolated after re-infection, C68.490, targets a conserved region in the receptor binding domain and shows remarkable activity not only against SARS-CoV-2 variants, but also diverse sarbecoviruses from more distant clades present in animal reserv...