ETIDIOH - NEW

  Abstract Human non-polio enteroviruses (NPEVs) cause a plethora of infections in humans, ranging from mild to severe neurological diseases including aseptic meningitis . NPEVs are the leading cause of aseptic meningitis in both children and adults worldwide . In Russia , reports of NPEV infections have surged, especially in the post-COVID era starting in 2022, with elevated infection rates into 2023 . A comprehensive examination of the whole genome is crucial for understanding the evolution of NPEV genes and for predicting potential outbreaks. This study focused on identifying the circulating NPEV strains in the Ural Federal District and Western Siberia , using Sanger sequencing and next-generation sequencing (NGS) methodologies. Biological samples were collected from (n = 225) patients diagnosed with aseptic meningitis. Bioinformatics analysis targeted the nucleotide sequences of the major capsid protein (partial VP1) gene fragment, and the assembly of whole NPEV genomes. A tota...

Abstract Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), a neurotropic respiratory pathogen, poses a considerable clinical threat through its link to pediatric acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) and severe respiratory illness . The possibility of recurrent epidemics , evidenced since the 2014 outbreak, remains a major concern . Genomic determinants of virulence are central to this threat. Sequence variations that affect host–receptor interactions , immune evasion, and replication efficiency serve as critical modifiers of pathogenicity. This article systematically reviews the evidence for specific genomic sites that enhance EV-D68 virulence , focusing on three critical regions: the VP1 receptor-binding site , the 2Apro/TRAF3 cleavage site, and the 3Cpro immunoregulatory region . Mutations in the VP1 receptor-binding site can alter affinity for host receptors such as sialic acid, heparan sulfate, and MFSD6 , thereby shaping viral entry and tissue tropism . Alterations in the 2Apro/TRAF3 cleavage site may impair pro...

Summary Background The Pandemic Response Repository through Microbial and Immune Surveillance and Epidemiology (PREMISE) programme was established to translate knowledge gained from global immunoepidemiological surveillance into a better understanding of population-level dynamics of emerging and re-emerging infections , as well as into the discovery and development of biomedical countermeasures against potential pandemic threats. As proof of principle for this approach, we conducted a longitudinal immunoepidemiological study in children in the USA, focusing on enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infection dynamics but also capturing surveillance of a broad array of other endemic respiratory pathogens. Serendipitously, our sampling spanned the lifting of widespread COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in 2022–23, following a unique period during which virus exposure markedly diminished. Methods This prospective, multicentre, longitudinal, immunoepidemiological surveillance study enroll...

Abstract Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) caused large biennial cyclical outbreaks of respiratory disease and cases of acute flaccid myelitis from 2014 to 2018 in the USA . An anticipated outbreak did not occur in 2020, likely due to non-pharmaceutical interventions targeting the COVID-19 pandemic. A large respiratory disease outbreak occurred again in 2022 , but uncertainty remained regarding if circulation of EV-D68 would return to the pre-pandemic patterns. We conducted prospective active surveillance of clinical respiratory specimens from Colorado children for EV-D68 in 2023 and 2024. A subset of residual specimens positive for rhinovirus/enterovirus (RV/EV) were tested for EV-D68 via a validated in-house EV-D68 reverse transcription–PCR assay. During epi weeks 18–44 in 2023, 525 residual specimens positive for RV/EV all tested negative for EV-D68. In 2024, during epi weeks 18–44 , 10 ( 1.8% ) of the 546 RV/EV-positive specimens were EV-D68-positive . The EV-D68-positive cases were predomi...

Highlights •  Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) was circulating in Europe in 2023 •  Most EV-D68 cases were captured through clinical EV surveillance •  Phylogenetic analysis of the VP1 region revealed a distinct B3-derived lineage •  The identified B3 lineage presented a previously undescribed residue change, D554E Abstract Background Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) causes respiratory disease ranging from mild to severe and in rare cases a paralytic syndrome, called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). Since the global EV-D68 outbreak in 2014, the virus has mainly circulated in biennial epidemic cycles with peaks detected during even years. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the seasonal pattern of EV-D68 has been characterized by large yearly upsurges . Here, we describe the circulation of EV-D68 in Europe in 2023 and track its genetic evolution. Study design Data was compiled from members of the European Non-Polio Network (ENPEN). This included monthly data on the total number of...