ETIDIOH - NEW

  Abstract Climate change is increasingly recognized as a major driver of emerging infectious diseases, particularly vector-borne diseases (VBDs), which are expanding in range and intensity worldwide. Europe , traditionally considered low-risk for many arboviral infections , is now experiencing autochthonous transmission of pathogens such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika virus, West Nile virus, malaria, and leishmaniasis . Rising temperatures , altered precipitation patterns , and milder winters have facilitated the establishment and spread of competent vectors , including Aedes, Anopheles, Phlebotomus, and Culex species , in previously non-endemic areas. These climatic shifts not only impact vector survival and distribution but also influence vector competence and pathogen development , ultimately increasing transmission potential. This narrative review explores the complex relationship between climate change and VBDs, with a particular focus on pediatric populations . It highlights h...

  ABSTRACT Influenza viruses utilize host proteases to activate the viral fusion protein, hemagglutinin (HA), into its fusion-competent form. Although proteolytic activation of HA is essential for virus replication, the cell-type dependence of HA activation within the airway epithelium and the subcellular location(s) in which it occurs are not well established. To address these questions, we investigated the proteolytic activation of HA in differentiated human airway epithelial cells using contemporary and historical H1N1 and H3N2 strains . We find that activation is efficient across viral strains and subtypes but depends on cellular tropism , with ciliated cells activating HA more effectively than non-ciliated cells. Similar to prior observations in immortalized cell lines, we find that HA activation occurs intracellularly, constraining the antiviral activity of host-directed protease inhibitors . These results establish that HA activation within the airway epithelium depends on c...

  Abstract Monkeypox virus (MPXV) experienced an unprecedented global outbreak in 2022, characterized by a significant departure from historical patterns: a rapid spread of the epidemic to more than 110 non-traditional endemic countries , with more than 90,000 confirmed cases; a fundamental shift in the mode of transmission , with human-to-human transmission (especially among men who have sex with men (MSM)) becoming the dominant route (95.2%); and genetic sequencing revealing a key adaptive mutation in a novel evolutionary branch ( Clade IIb ) that triggered the outbreak. These features highlight the significant evolution of MPXV in terms of host adaptation, transmission efficiency, and immune escape ability . The aim of this paper is to provide insights into the viral adaptive evolutionary mechanisms driving this global outbreak, with a particular focus on the role of immune escape (e.g., novel mechanisms of M2 proteins targeting the T cell co-stimulatory pathway) in enhancing vi...

  Abstract Stabilizing the pre-fusion structures of antigenic proteins can enhance the effectiveness of antiviral vaccines . The pre-fusion form of hemagglutinin (HA) from the influenza virus typically adopts a stable trimeric structure . However, the recombinant ectodomain of HA from the A/California/04/2009 (H1N1) influenza virus formed a monomer in solution rather than the expected trimer. To promote trimer formation in the pre-fusion conformation, we redesigned five amino acid residues in the stem region of HA that are involved in trimerization. The engineered HA protein formed a stable trimer at both pH 8.0 and pH 5.5. Additionally, the thermal stability of the modified protein improved, as indicated by an approximately ten-degree increase in its denaturation temperature. Cryo-EM analysis at 2.2 angstrom resolution confirmed that the mutant HA protein adopted the pre-fusion structure. Furthermore, the stabilized mutant exhibited enhanced immunogenicity in mice . We applied the...

  By Florian Pépellin - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36916592 Source: Wikipedia,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SNCF_Class_X_4500 ____

  Br J Anaesth STEPHENS JR, Iki Y, Yasuda T, Brown E, et al Human neutrophil-derived extracellular vesicles induce renal endothelial inflammation in critical illness: an ex vivo investigation. Br J Anaesth. 2025 Aug 27:S0007-0912(25)00448-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2025. PubMed           Abstract available Clin Infect Dis YONG MK, Thursky K, Crane M, Spelman T, et al Interferon-alpha Nasal Spray Prophylaxis Reduces COVID-19 in Cancer Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2025 Aug 28:ciaf409. doi: 10.1093. PubMed           Abstract available Emerg Infect Dis DRATCH AH, Le M, Zahn M Increased Incidence of Candida auris Colonization in Early COVID-19 Pandemic, Orange County, California, USA. Emerg Infect Dis. 2025;31:1747-1754. PubMed           Abstract available J Med Virol CHAUVEL C, Casalegno JS, Visseaux B, Vieillefond V, e...

  Arch Virol HU Y, Hu C, Su J, Zhu B, et al Two cross-neutralizing antibodies isolated from a COVID-19 convalescent via single B cell sorting. Arch Virol. 2025;170:199. PubMed           Abstract available Biochemistry ADEWOYE A, Ezeigbo E, Vo QH, Legleiter J, et al Amyloidogenic SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-Derived Peptides Form Oligomers and Selectively Damage Lipid Membranes. Biochemistry. 2025;64:3610-3622. PubMed           Abstract available Epidemiol Infect PARRADO R, Cuba-Grandy CX, Fuentes-Luppichini E, Torrico Villarroel NG, et al Multiplex RT-qPCR strategy for SARS-CoV-2 variants detection in developing countries without ngs: The Bolivian experience. Epidemiol Infect. 2025;153:e94. PubMed           Abstract available BUBAR K, Middleton C, Larremore D, Gostic K, et al A fundamental limit to the effectiveness of traveller screening with molecular tests. Epidemi...