Assessment of Quantitative #Genetic #Distances Supports the Separation of #H17N10 and #H18N11 Subtypes of #Influenza a Virus into a Distinct Species

 

Abstract

The taxonomic status of the H17N10 and H18N11 influenza A viruses isolated from bats remains unclear due to the absence of quantitative classification criteria at this taxonomic level. A total of 3328 representative IAV genomes, encompassing all eight protein-coding segments, were analysed. Various genetic distance-based metrics were assessed at the pairwise level, including intra- and intergroup nucleotide distances, dN/dS ratios, and transition/transversion ratios, to facilitate the differentiation of the Alphainfluenzavirus genus into distinct taxa. Pairwise distances for seven of the eight segments (PB2, PB1, PA, NP, M, NA, NS) consistently differentiated the H17–H18 group from H1–H16. Across segments, intergroup nucleotide divergence was consistently above a lower bound of ~25%, with segment-specific values extending to higher levels (up to ~40% in PB2 and PA), while intragroup divergence remained substantially lower. The HA segment did not conform to this pattern, which is consistent with the hypothesis of ancient reassortment. The distribution of pairwise dN/dS values for the PB2, PB1, PA, and NP segments is evidently bimodal. Intergroup comparisons were consistently higher across all segments, whereas intragroup values remained lower. A similar lower boundary of approximately 0.12 was observed across segments, while the upper range of intergroup values varied by gene. Overall, the results support a consistent gene-specific separation pattern. Previously demonstrated absence of reassortment compatibility between bat viruses (H17–H18) and canonical influenza A (H1–H16) viruses indicates that these lineages have evolved independently over an extended period. These consistent genomic patterns provide support for the hypothesis that H17N10 and H18N11 viruses may represent a separate species within the genus Alphainfluenzavirus.

Source: 

Link: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/18/8/838

____

#Losartan and #prednisolone for #postCOVID syndrome and cardiac inflammation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

 

Abstract

Persistent cardiac symptoms are common in post-COVID syndrome, even without structural heart disease. Evidence implicates immune dysregulation, endothelial dysfunction and low-grade cardiovascular inflammation. Yet no targeted treatment exists. Myoflame-19 is a multicenter, double-blind clinical trial of 279 participants with inflammatory cardiac involvement defined by cardiovascular magnetic resonance, randomized 1:1 to losartan plus prednisolone (n = 139) or matching placebos (n = 140) for 16 weeks. The modified intention-to-treat population comprised 124 and 122 participants. The primary endpoint, change in left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, was neutral: between-group difference 0.74 percentage points (pp), 95%CI −0.14 to 1.62, p = 0.10, unpaired t-test; supportive baseline-adjusted ANCOVA 0.99, 95%CI 0.15-1.83, p = 0.021. Among prespecified secondary endpoints, several symptom and imaging measures showed numerical differences favoring intervention, including Average Symptom Score components (modified Canadian Chest Pain Scale −4.8 pp, 95%CI −17.3 to 7.6; NYHA class −8.1 pp, −20.6 to 4.3; Long COVID symptom burden −7.7 pp, −18.9 to 3.6), native T1 and T2 values (native T1 −2.46 ms, −8.35 to 3.42; native T2 −0.31 ms, −1.16 to 0.53), and LV end-diastolic volume ( + 1.45 ml/m², −0.09 to 3.00); however, confidence intervals included the null value and these findings should be regarded as hypothesis-generating.Treatment was safe and well-tolerated. These findings indicate a neutral treatment effect on the primary endpoint. They inform targeted immunomodulation and design of future trials in post-COVID syndrome and inflammatory cardiac involvement. Trial registration: EudraCT 2022-001682-12; NCT05619653.

Source: 

Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-75991-w

____

Estimating the #infection #fatality #ratio of zoonotic avian #influenza viruses with #pandemic potential using an evolutionary epidemiological model

 

Abstract

The risk of zoonotic avian influenza (AIV) infection to humans is challenging to estimate as many human avian influenza virus infections are undetected because infections may be asymptomatic, symptomatic but not tested, and difficult to identify through contact tracing, as human-to-human transmission is rare. We derive equations that consider the evolutionary mechanisms that give rise to pandemics and are parameterized to be consistent with records of past pandemics. We estimate that thousands of human infections with AIVs possessing pandemic potential occur worldwide in an average year. Combining these estimates with H5N1 fatality data, we estimate a historical average infection fatality ratio of 32 (95% uncertainty interval: 9.6-75) deaths per 10,000 infections. This estimate is comparable to SARS-CoV-2 during the recent pandemic and higher than seasonal human influenza. We estimate that preventing animal-to-human influenza spillovers would delay pandemic emergence by several years. Preventing human infections with AIVs is necessary given the high risk of severe outcomes to individuals and to reduce the risk of pandemics occurring in the future.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Source: 

Link: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.21.26344526v3

____

#Climatechange as an amplifier of #hantavirus #risk in South #Asia: a neglected nexus

 

Abstract

Hantavirus is seroepidemiologically established in South Asian human populations and rodent reservoirs, with anti-hantavirus antibodies confirmed in occupational risk groups in India, an independent association with chronic kidney disease demonstrated in Sri Lanka, and co-infection with leptospirosis identified in more than one-fifth of hospitalized leptospirosis patients. Despite this, the intersection of these findings with the region’s intensifying monsoon floods, rapid urbanization, and climate-driven rodent ecology remains entirely unexamined. This letter highlights the neglected climate−hantavirus nexus, identifies structural vulnerabilities that amplify transmission risk in South Asia, and calls for integrated flood-response surveillance and One Health coordination across the region.

Source: 

Link: https://academic.oup.com/trstmh/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/trstmh/trag082/8746591?redirectedFrom=fulltext

____

#SARS-CoV-2 #Surveillance in Free-Ranging #Wildlife in New England and #Virginia, #USA, 2022–2025

 

Abstract

Since its emergence in 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected a wide range of animal species, including wildlife. Although SARS-CoV-2 infection has been widely reported in wildlife, particularly in white-tailed deer (WTD; Odocoileus virginianus) across the United States, data on viral circulation in New England wildlife remain limited. Here, we investigated active SARS-CoV-2 infection and serological evidence of previous exposure in free-ranging wildlife from New England and Virginia. We examined samples from 1646 animals representing 29 wildlife species, collected through wildlife rehabilitation centers, clinics, and hunter harvests in New England and Virginia between 2022 and 2025. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in three WTD from Massachusetts and Vermont. Phylogeographic analysis showed that the Vermont WTD SARS-CoV-2 sequences were closely related to contemporaneous human SARS-CoV-2 sequences from the same region, consistent with a possible human-to-deer spillover event. Serological screening by ELISA detected SARS-CoV-2 reactive samples in nine individuals from three species, including Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), Eastern coyote (Canis latrans), and raccoon (Procyon lotor), providing putative evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 exposure. However, neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant were detected in only a single Eastern cottontail. Overall, these findings indicate sporadic SARS-CoV-2 detection and limited serological evidence of prior exposure among wildlife sampled in New England and Virginia, and highlight the importance of continued surveillance to detect spillover events, monitor viral evolution, and assess the potential risks associated with wildlife reservoirs.

Source: 

Link: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/18/8/832

____

#Baloxavir, #favipiravir, or #oseltamivir in patients with non-severe symptomatic seasonal #influenza (AD ASTRA): a phase 2, open-label, adaptive, RCT

 

Summary

Background

The oral antiviral therapies baloxavir marboxil (hereafter baloxavir), favipiravir, and oseltamivir have not been simultaneously compared for the treatment of seasonal influenza. We aimed to determine their relative efficacies in accelerating viral clearance in patients with symptomatic influenza virus infection at low risk of progression to severe disease.

Methods

We conducted a phase 2, open-label, randomised, controlled, adaptive platform trial in patients aged 18–60 years in Thailand, Laos, Nepal, and Brazil, recruited in four hospital outpatient or primary care departments with acute influenza (≤ 4 days of symptoms) and a low risk of progression to severe disease. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1:1:1:1 using a centralised online app to receive baloxavir (single oral dose of 40 mg if bodyweight <80 kg or 80 mg if bodyweight ≥80 kg), favipiravir (oral loading dose of 1800 mg, followed by 1800 mg 12 h later, and then 800 mg twice daily for 4 days), oseltamivir (oral dose 75 mg twice daily for 5 days), no study drug, or another ongoing intervention (reported separately). Randomisation was stratified by site and used block sizes of 15. The primary endpoint was the rate of oropharyngeal influenza viral RNA clearance, estimated under a Bayesian hierarchical linear model fitted to the daily log10 oropharyngeal viral densities from day 0 to day 5. Analyses were conducted in the modified intention-to-treat population (mITT), defined as patients with PCR-confirmed influenza with more than 250 viral RNA copies per mL at randomisation. Intervention groups were assessed for superiority over the no study drug group (posterior probability >0·9 that the relative increase in viral clearance was ≥20%); if superiority was met, intervention groups were assessed for non-inferiority relative to baloxavir (posterior probability >0·9 that the relative reduction in viral clearance was ≤10%). Secondary outcomes included time to resolution of fever and time to resolution of all symptoms. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05648448) and is ongoing.

Findings

Between Feb 22, 2023, and Dec 12, 2025, 944 patients with influenza virus infection were randomly assigned to baloxavir (n=199; mITT 163 [82%]), favipiravir (n=223; mITT 196 [88%]), oseltamivir (n=200; mITT 170 [85%]), no study drug (n=228; mITT 200 [88%]) or other interventions (n=94). 120 patients were excluded based on baseline viral density (≤250 copies per mL), and one participant withdrew before collection of quantitative PCR results on day 0. 457 (63%) patients in the mITT population were female and 272 (37%) were male. Compared with no study drug, viral clearance rates were accelerated by 86% (95% credible interval [CrI] 60–117) with baloxavir, 66% (45–94) with favipiravir, and 49% (28–74) with oseltamivir. For all interventions, the posterior probability that the relative increase in viral clearance was 20% or more was 1·0. Compared with baloxavir, oseltamivir was inferior (20% slower clearance, 95% CrI 6 to 32; posterior probability 0·93 that the relative reduction in viral clearance was <10%); non-inferiority could not be shown for favipiravir (10% slower clearance, 95% CrI –4 to 22; posterior probability 0·55 that the relative reduction in viral clearance was <10%). Median time to fever resolution was accelerated with all three antivirals compared with no study drug (absolute differences ranging from 0·5 days to 0·9 days), whereas time to resolution of all symptoms was not significantly different between groups. 31 adverse events of grade 3 or above occurred, five of which were considered severe (one in the favipiravir group, one in the oseltamivir group, and three in the no study drug group).

Interpretation

Oral baloxavir, favipiravir, and oseltamivir accelerated influenza viral clearance rates in adults with early non-severe seasonal influenza at low risk of progression to severe disease. Baloxavir had the greatest in-vivo antiviral efficacy, followed by favipiravir and oseltamivir. These antivirals shortened fever duration but showed no clear effects on time to complete symptom resolution. This pharmacometric approach can inform prioritisation of antiviral agents for further study and potential inclusion in pandemic stockpiles.

Funding

Wellcome Trust.

Source: 

Link: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(26)00255-0/fulltext

____

#Seroprevalence of #Influenza #H5N1 Virus in Domestic #Cats at Epicenter of Dairy #Cattle #Outbreaks, #California, #USA, 2024–2026

 

Abstract

We conducted a serologic study of domestic cats near the epicenter of the dairy cattle outbreaks of influenza A(H5N1) in California, USA. Three of the 12 cats sampled within 2 km of farms had neutralizing antibodies against H5N1 virus. Proximity to dairy farms was a statistically significant risk factor for seropositivity.

Source: 

Link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/32/9/26-0785_article

____

#Mutations in severe #human #H5N1 cases facilitate #evasion from human mucus and #antivirals

 

Abstract

In late 2024, two individuals in Canada and the United States were treated in intensive care for acute respiratory distress caused by infection with the avian Influenza A Virus H5N1 2.3.4.4b genotype D1.1. Viral sequence data obtained from sampling these patients indicated mixed alleles at haemagglutinin (HA) positions 190 and 226. Mutations at these positions are key determinants of HA usage of α2,6-linked sialic acids (SA), the most abundant influenza receptors in human upper respiratory tracts. Thus, these mutations raised concerns about human adaptation and pandemic potential of the H5N1 virus. In this study, we investigated the impact of the mutations at residues 190 and 226 in H5 HA. We studied the receptor binding properties, cell entry phenotypes and fitness impacts of the mutations using recombinant proteins, pseudotyped lentiviruses, and in the context of influenza viruses using reverse genetics. The mutations did not confer any detectable α2,6-linked sialic acid receptor usage either alone or in combination. Rather, viruses carrying these mutations exhibit weakened binding towards α2,3-linked sialic acid receptors. This correlated with an enhanced capacity to evade human airway mucus, and a reduced susceptibility to oseltamivir and zanamivir. This research underscores that in addition to the way HA interacts with SA as entry receptors, other factors that impact the HA/NA balance might influence the evolutionary trajectory of a zoonotic virus in the human respiratory tract. This study presents a new paradigm for the evolutionary drivers of HA, where reduced sialic acid binding can serve as an advantage for escape from host barriers and antivirals.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Funder Information Declared

Medical Research Council, https://ror.org/03x94j517, MR/Y03368X/1, MR/Y015061/1, CC2127

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, BB/Y007298/1, APP104179, BBS/E/PI/23NB000, BBS/E/PI/23NB0003

Wellcome Trust, https://ror.org/029chgv08, CC2127, 218304/Z/19/Z

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, BB/Y007298/1

The Pirbright Institute, BBS/E/PI/230002A, BBS/E/PI/230001C, BBS/E/PI/230002B

Cancer Research UK, CC2127

UK Research and Innovation, https://ror.org/001aqnf71, UKRI3602

Source: 

Link: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.28.740943v1

____

HPAI #H5N1 #risk in #Australia: a model for the prediction of #poultry #outbreaks

 

Abstract

The panzootic highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus has now been detected on the Australian mainland, with incursions from the sub-Antarctic region posing an increasing threat to domestic wildlife and poultry populations. Our study aimed to predict the risk of HPAI H5N1 poultry outbreaks across Australia at the local government area (LGA) level using a range of influential risk factors. We first used a Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model to estimate the environmental suitability for HPAI H5N1 occurrence across Australia. The resulting suitability layer was then integrated with five additional predictor layers, including abundance data for two Southern Ocean wild birds, one of which has introduced HPAI H5N1 into Australia; abundance data for 28 native Australian wild birds; native bird flyways across Australia; Australian chicken density; and poultry farm density. The six layers were aggregated and averaged to generate an HPAI H5N1 risk map for poultry outbreaks across Australian LGAs. Although most incursions have occurred in Western Australia (WA) and South Australia (SA), we identified New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria (VIC) as having the highest predicted risk of HPAI H5N1 poultry outbreaks. Additional high-risk areas were identified in WA, SA, and Tasmania (TAS). In contrast, the Northern Territory (NT) and large parts of Queensland (QLD), WA, and SA were predicted to be at low risk. These findings provide a spatially explicit framework to support targeted surveillance, preparedness, and biosecurity measures aimed at mitigating the impact of future HPAI H5N1 outbreaks in Australian poultry.

Competing Interest Statement

CR MacIntyre is funded by NHMRC and Medical Research Futures Fund and is Founding Director of EPIWATCH Global Pty Ltd.

Funder Information Declared

NHMRC, CRM funded by NHMRC Investigator Grant 2016907

Source: 

Link: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.27.740638v1

____

#H5N1 #influenza binding and cell entry via #human class II #MHC, and blocking by cross-reactive #antibodies

 

Abstract

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses are currently responsible for a multi-species outbreak affecting wild birds, poultry, numerous mammalian species, and humans. Influenza A viruses typically initiate infection through binding to sialic acid, although select bat and human influenza viruses can also exploit class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC–II) molecules for cell entry. Here we show that emerging H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses, but not historical H5 lineages, bind human MHC–II HLA-DR and mediate sialic acid-independent cell entry. Hemagglutinin binding to primary human immune cells varies with MHC–II expression and is further shaped by HLA–DR allelic variation, identifying host genetic determinants that may influence susceptibility to infection. Mammalian-adaptive substitutions within the hemagglutinin sialic acid receptor-binding domain reduce MHC–II binding, suggesting this interaction is remodeled during clade 2.3.4.4b H5 adaptation to a human host. Lastly, cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies isolated from clade 2.3.4.4b H5–naive humans can block the hemagglutinin–MHC–II interaction. These findings identify a previously unrecognized receptor pathway in contemporary H5N1 viruses and reveal that both human genetic variation and pre-existing humoral immunity can modulate this interaction, with implications for host range, cellular tropism, spillover risk, and therapeutic intervention.

Competing Interest Statement

S.D.B. has consulted for Regeneron, Sanofi, Novartis, Genentech, Pfizer, Visterra, and Otsuka on topics unrelated to the research presented here; owns stock in AbCellera Biologics; and is a scientific cofounder of Immunera, Inc.; S.E.H reports receiving consulting fees from Sanofi, Pfizer, Lumen, Novavax, and Merck.

Funder Information Declared

NIH/NIAID CEIRR contract, 75N93021C00015

NIH, 1U54CA260517

HIPC, U19AI057266

P01 grant, 5P01AI153559

David Crown Foundation endowment

Early Postdoc Mobility Fellowship Stipend from the Swiss

National Institutes of Health NRSA T32, T32OD011121

Source: 

Link: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.22.739677v1

____

The #Environmental Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) #Benzopyrene (BP) Alters #SARS-CoV-2 #Pathogenesis in a Mouse #Model of Disease

 

Abstract

Since emerging in late 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has caused over 7 million deaths globally and remains a public health concern. Understanding SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis is vital, especially as factors like environmental exposures are still poorly understood. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), like benzo[a]pyrene (BP), found in pollutants like cigarette smoke, diesel exhaust, and charcoal-broiled steaks, are known to injure the lungs. We aimed to evaluate if BP exacerbates SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis in a mouse model of disease. One day following intranasal administration of BP (20 mg/kg) or vehicle control, we infected male and female K18-hACE2 mice with ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and assessed lung viral load, weight change, clinical scores, immune cell recruitment, and survival in the presence and absence of BP exposure. We found that BP-exposed mice had decreased survival compared to mock-exposed mice. Additionally, BP did not alter innate or adaptive immune cell populations in the lungs of SARS-CoV-2-infected mice. These findings suggest that PAH exposure exacerbates severe COVID-19 outcomes by unknown mechanisms, highlighting the need to further explore environmental impacts on SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Source: 

Link: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/18/8/823

____

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#Development and Characterization of a Recombinant #Bundibugyo Virus Expressing a Fluorescent Reporter Protein

 

Abstract

Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), caused by Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, with previous outbreaks reporting case fatality rates of 30%–50%. The ongoing BDBV outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda highlights the urgent need for virus-specific research tools and medical countermeasures. Unlike Ebola virus disease caused by Zaire ebolavirus, no licensed vaccines or specific therapeutics are currently available for BVD. The lack of research tools has limited studies with BDBV. To facilitate antiviral testing and neutralization studies, we developed the first recombinant BDBV expressing the fluorescent reporter protein ZsGreen (rBDBV-ZsG). As a proof of concept, we tested a set of previously characterized antiviral compounds and demonstrated comparable inhibitory profiles between rBDBV-ZsG and the wild-type BDBV parental strain. Furthermore, the utility of rBDBV-ZsG was successfully evaluated in neutralization assays, demonstrating robust sensitivity and specificity using monoclonal antibodies and convalescent serum samples.

Source: 

Link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22221751.2026.2709847

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Mapping Reported Modes of #Transmission of Highly Pathogenic Avian #Influenza #H5N1 to #Humans: A Scoping Review

 

Abstract

Background

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (subtype H5N1) poses a threat to human health, and its pandemic potential emphasizes the need to better understand detailed reported transmission pathways to humans. Existing literature is outdated or lacks detailed, comprehensive analysis of the range of transmission routes and how the virus may enter the human body.

Objective

To comprehensively map all reported H5N1 transmission pathways to humans, as well as viral entry routes.

Methods

CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus, PubMed, grey literature, and reference lists (of included studies) were searched up to October 29th, 2025, with no language restrictions. Observational studies and grey literature reporting H5N1 transmission evidence to humans were included. Two reviewers conducted duplicate screening independently (two of three reviewers per record). One reviewer completed data extraction, which was cross-verified for accuracy by a second. Findings were summarized narratively.

Results

120 sources met inclusion criteria (70 studies, 50 grey literature). Reported H5N1 transmission pathways were classified into animal-to-human (109 of 120 sources, 90.8%; including poultry-to-human in 100 sources [83.3%] and cattle-to-human in nine sources [7.5%]), environment-to-human (32 of 120 sources, 26.7%), and human-to-human (14 of 120 sources, 11.7%). Reported transmission pathways were further classified as direct or indirect contact, synthesized, and linked to suspected routes of human entry, including mucosal entry (eyes, nose, mouth), inhalation of aerosols or droplets, ingestion, and percutaneous exposure. Entry routes are biologically plausible and do not imply relative likelihood or causal attribution.

Conclusions

There are multiple reported pathways of H5N1 exposure, and a single pathway may involve multiple ways to infect humans. Further research is needed to determine causal mechanisms, identify specific risk factors and measures of association, and strengthen evidence-based prevention strategies.

Source: 

Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235277142600176X?via%3Dihub

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#Oseltamivir #Resistance in #Human #Influenza #H5N1 and #H7N9 Infections: A Mini Review

 

Abstract

Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have been reported to cause infections in humans following avian-to-human transmission, resulting in a range of clinical outcomes. A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) infections, which constitute the majority of human AIV cases, are responsible for severe infections leading to high mortality. The neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir is expected to play a major role for the control of AIV infections in humans. However, the emergence of resistance may compromise the impact of antiviral therapy. The objective of this article is to review human cases of A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) infections for which mutations of oseltamivir resistance were detected. Neuraminidase mutations rapidly occurred in a subtype-specific manner, with H274Y and N294S substitutions predominating in A(H5N1) cases and the R292K substitution in A(H7N9) cases. Serious clinical outcomes and mortality were seen in most A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) cases despite oseltamivir therapy, thus highlighting the need for improving antiviral strategies against these AIVs.

Source: 

Link: https://academic.oup.com/ofid/article/13/7/ofag393/8722865

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Evolving #dynamics of #H5Nx avian #influenza in #China revealed by long-term wild bird #surveillance

 

Abstract

H5Nx highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses pose persistent threats to poultry, wildlife, and public health. Over the past two decades, their geographic and host ranges have expanded across migratory networks whose epidemiological connectivity has become increasingly apparent through recent surveillance and genomic analyses. To elucidate these dynamics, we conduct long-term nationwide wild-bird surveillance in China, integrating active and passive monitoring. Our analyses reveal the maintenance, reassortment, and transmission of H5Nx viruses in wild birds, highlighting the value of sustained surveillance in capturing viral evolution. We identify distinct ecological patterns among major clades, with 2.3.4.4b showing the widest distribution and acting as the main lineage mediating intercontinental spread. Since 2020, most 2.3.4.4b viruses detected in wild birds in China have clustered with lineages originating outside China, consistent with repeated reintroduction rather than sustained local circulation. This shift underscores the growing role of migratory connectivity in shaping global viral exchange and the need for coordinated international active surveillance.

Source: 

Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-76039-9

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Identifying the viral and #epidemiological factors behind the apparent global #extinction of #influenza B/Yamagata

 

Abstract

Until 2020, two lineages of the influenza B virus had co-circulated globally. Measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic led to a near-absence of influenza infections. While B/Victoria reemerged in late 2021, there have been no reports of B/Yamagata since the pandemic. To investigate which epidemiological and immunological factors were primarily responsible for the extinction of B/Yamagata, we developed a global model for the two influenza B lineages. To mimic the transmission impacts of the pandemic, we implemented a transient reduction in contacts and identified parameter values that recapitulated viral coexistence dynamic before the pandemic and the qualitative post-pandemic outcomes of B/Victoria (reemergence in late 2021) and B/Yamagata (extinction). Our results suggest that, rather than immunological or evolutionary mechanisms, the extinction of B/Yamagata was mainly driven by its lower basic reproduction number making the virus particularly vulnerable during the early phase of the pandemic. Stochastic simulations of our best-fitting model suggest that B/Victoria was also close to extinction during this period. We investigate the model to assess the feasibility of B/Victoria eradication through vaccination and the potential for a sustained re-emergence of B/Yamagata in the 2026-27 flu season, thus highlighting important considerations for biosafety.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Source: 

Link: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.22.26358639v1

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Characterization and evolutionary history of novel #SARS-CoV-2-related viruses in #bats from #Cambodia

 

Abstract

Circulating bat coronaviruses present a significant pandemic threat, yet our understanding of their genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics remains limited. Over 3 years, we sampled 1,462 bats in Cambodia’s Steung Treng province, identifying extensive and diverse coronaviruses co-circulation. Using metatranscriptomic and amplicon sequencing, we generated 33 complete sarbecovirus genomes sequences, revealing novel lineages that cluster into four distinct groups, each associated with different Rhinolophus bat species. Our analysis highlights rapid migration and recombination of sarbecovirus lineages over short distances and timescales. Of note, the receptor-binding domains of two novel viral groups exhibit high similarity to SARS-CoV-2, and pseudovirus assays confirmed the ability of this spike protein to mediate entry into cells expressing human ACE2, suggesting a potential zoonotic risk. The observed genetic diversity underscores the urgent need for continuous surveillance to identify high-risk animal-to-human interfaces and inform pandemic preparedness.

Source: 

Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-75954-1

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#SARS-CoV-2 BA.3.2.2 is more evasive of #neutralisation by #plasma from young #children

 

{Excerpt}

(...)

These findings suggest that susceptibility to emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants could diverge across age groups with different exposure histories. Adults in the USA and other countries have accumulated broader immunity through repeated infection and vaccination across antigenically distinct lineages, starting with the ancestral strain, whereas younger children and infants possess narrower exposure histories that are largely shaped by recent variants. The continued surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants should consider age-stratified differences in immunity, to anticipate or explain disproportionate burden of infections in some populations. Furthermore, studies of potential age-specific vaccine formulations targeting different variants are warranted, to investigate whether age-specific target selection could lead to broader protection across subpopulations with known differences in their exposure histories and susceptibility to co-circulating variants.

(...)

Source: 

Link: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(26)00349-X/fulltext?rss=yes

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