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Showing posts from November 4, 2025

#Transmission of #SARS-CoV-2 between #ferrets in presence of pre-existing #immunity

  ABSTRACT Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is characterized by its high contagiousness. The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted profound impacts on human society . The persistent circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in human populations continues to pose re-exposure risks for both vaccinated individuals and those with prior natural infection. Against this epidemiological background, there is an urgent need to characterize the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in the context of pre-existing immunity . Using a ferret infection model , this study systematically addresses critical scientific questions , including viral transmission efficiency , temporal patterns of transmissibility , and the ability of pre-existing immunity to mitigate reinfection and viral shedding. The findings provide robust experimental evidence for elucidating the transmission mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 and offer scientific insights to info...

#Poland - High pathogenicity avian #influenza #H5N1 viruses (#poultry) (Inf. with) - Immediate notification

  The last outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry in Lubuskie region was confirmed on 11/03/2025. 02/05/2025 is the date of confirmation of the last outbreak in Poland in the spring of 2025. A turkeys slaughterhouse operation in Lubuskie Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6972 ____

Inverted #H1 #hemagglutinin nanoparticle #vaccines protect mice against challenges with human #H1N1 and bovine #H5N1 #influenza viruses

  Abstract Influenza is a global health concern, causing over 300,000 deaths worldwide annually . Current vaccines and natural infection mainly elicit antibodies against the variable head domain of the hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein. While these antibodies are highly neutralizing, the head domain constantly mutates due to selective pressure , causing the immune response to be strain-specific. Targeting the conserved HA stalk domain , however, has been shown to be a promising approach for a broadly protective vaccine . We previously demonstrated that presenting HA in an inverted orientation on virus-like particles (VLPs) significantly enhanced the induction of stalk-directed, cross-reactive antibodies compared to HA presented in a regular orientation. Here, we evaluated the protective efficacy of the inverted HA vaccine (VLP-HAinv) in mice against homologous, heterologous, and heterosubtypic influenza A virus challenges . VLP-HAinv vaccination in mice provided complete protection a...

Iris #Pigmentation Irregularities Following An Avian #Influenza #Outbreak: Implications For Disease #Surveillance & Population Monitoring in a Colonial #Seabird

  Abstract Emerging infectious diseases can have catastrophic impacts on wildlife populations , yet identifying individuals that survived exposure, especially when external symptoms are absent, remains challenging. Since 2021, a virulent strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b) has caused unprecedented mortality in wild birds across continents . Northern Gannets (Morus bassanus) are among the species that suffered significant population declines in Europe and North America . At North America's largest gannet colony ( Bonaventure Island ) dramatic mortality and reproductive failure occurred in 2022. Following this event, researchers noted a subset of gannets displaying irregular iris pigmentation , raising the possibility that this visible change may indicate a lasting effect of infection. Here, we build on earlier observations linking irregular iris pigmentation to HPAIV exposure in gannets using anti-nucleoprotein (NP) and anti-hemagglutinin (H...