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Showing posts from July 1, 2025

A 15-year study of #neuraminidase #mutations and the increasing of S247N mutation in #Spain

Highlights •  In a landscape of a very narrow arsenal of influenza antivirals, resistance mutations are a significant threat. •  Resistance mutations were present in 0.5-5% in A and B influenza viruses during the last 15 years. •  However, S247N resistance mutation in the NA gene sharply increased during 2023-2024 season. •  While this mutation does not confer strong resistance by itself, their fixation could increase the risk of resistance in the future if other resistance mutations appears or get fixed together with it. Abstract The therapeutic arsenal against influenza is extremely limited and resistance often arises due to the emergence of mutations , especially in the neuraminidase (NA) gene. This study aimed to evaluate the evolution of NA mutations over 15 years in Spain . To do so, we used the GISAID database from which we downloaded a total of 11,125 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), B/Victoria and B/Yamagata NA virus sequences , and analyzed the resistance m...

A single-dose #intranasal #immunization with a novel #bat #influenza A virus-vectored #MERS #vaccine provides effective protection against lethal MERS-CoV challenge

ABSTRACT The threat to global health security posed by Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and emerging MERS-like coronaviruses highlights the need to develop safe and efficient vaccines. Viral vector vaccines have been shown to be effective and are widely used to prevent various viral diseases because they mimic natural infection and induce a more comprehensive immune response. Herein, we developed a novel bat influenza A virus-based vaccine vector by replacing the open reading frame of either bat influenza hemagglutinin or neuraminidase with that of the hemagglutinin-esterase-fusion gene from influenza D virus , which can infect multiple species, including humans and camels . We then generated a temperature-sensitive, cold-adapted, and attenuated MERS vaccine candidate expressing the clade A MERS-CoV spike S1, referred to as Len_S1, using the developed bat influenza vector and demonstrated its safety and immunogenicity. A single-dose intranasal immunization with L...

#Genetic #resilience or #resistance in #poultry against avian #influenza virus: mirage or reality?

ABSTRACT The unprecedented global spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in wild birds, poultry, and mammalian species has challenged our control efforts. Alternative approaches to limit avian influenza viruses (AIV) include the development of resilient or resistant chickens . Genetically resilient birds may become infected but can overcome disease, whereas resistant birds prevent virus attachment or entry and do not become infected. The most intensively studied host gene is myxovirus-resistance (Mx), which is expressed via the interferon pathway . Both sensitive and resistant chicken Mx genotypes have been described, but this only provides limited resilience . Acidic nuclear phosphoprotein 32 family member A (ANP32A) has been demonstrated as a host cofactor for AIV replication via interaction with the polymerase. Small nucleotide changes within this gene have demonstrated some promise for the establishment of disease resilience. Certain MHC-defined genetic chicke...

#Cambodia records 11th #human case of #H5N1 #birdflu in 2025

  PHNOM PENH, July 1 (Xinhua) -- A 36-year-old woman from northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap province has been confirmed for H5N1 human avian influenza, raising the number of the cases to 11 so far this year , the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Tuesday. "A laboratory result from the Pasteur Institute in Cambodia showed on June 30 that the woman was positive for H5N1 virus," the statement said. "The patient has the symptoms of fever, cough, and dyspnea , and she is currently being rescued by a team of doctors." The victim lives in Doun Keo village of Puok district. There were sick and dead chickens at the patient's home. She had been in contact with those dead chickens and took them to bury. Health authorities are looking into the source of the infection and are examining any suspected cases or people who have been in contact with the victim in order to prevent an outbreak in the community. Tamiflu (oseltamivir), an antiviral drug to prevent the bird f...

#Cambodia reported four additional #human cases of #infection with #influenza A #H5N1 virus during week 26/2025 (HK CPH, July 1 '25)

  {Excerpt} [Date of report - Country - Province / Region - District - City - Sex - Age - Condition at time of reporting  - Subtype of virus]  1) 24/06/2025 - Cambodia - Siem Reap province  - F - 41 - Critical  - H5N1  2) 29/06/2025 - Cambodia -  Siem Reap province  - F - 46 - Stable - H5N1  3) 29/06/2025 - Cambodia -  Siem Reap province  - M - 16 - Stable - H5N1  4) 30/06/2025 - Cambodia -  Takeo province - M - 19 months  - Deceased - H5N1  (...) Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong PRC SAR,  https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/2025_avian_influenza_report_vol21_wk26.pdf ____