ETIDIOH - NEW

  Key points: -- The WHO Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition ( TAG-CO-VAC ) held its twice-yearly decision-making meeting in December 2025 to review the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, the performance of currently approved COVID-19 vaccines and the implications for COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition. -- The objective of an update to COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition is to enhance vaccine-induced immune responses to circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. -- Following this meeting, the TAG-CO-VAC advises vaccine manufacturers that monovalent LP.8.1 is the recommended vaccine antigen. -- The previously recommended JN.1 lineage (JN.1 or KP.2) antigens remain suitable alternatives and vaccination should not be delayed in anticipation of access to vaccines with the LP.8.1 composition. -- Other approaches that demonstrate broad and robust neutralizing antibody responses or efficacy against currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants could also be considered. -- Vaccination rema...

  Clin Infect Dis BIEBELBERG B, Chen T, McKenna C, Kanjilal S, et al Associations between antibiotic use and outcomes in patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia and positive respiratory viral assays. Clin Infect Dis. 2025 Dec 11:ciaf687. doi: 10.1093. PubMed           Abstract available Emerg Infect Dis BRAUNFELD JB, Traub E, Chiou H, Amoon AT, et al Community-Driven, Text Message-Based COVID-19 Surveillance System, Los Angeles County, California, USA, 2020-2024. Emerg Infect Dis. 2025;31:2109-2117. PubMed           Abstract available Int J Infect Dis LI H, LiuPhD J, Fang Q, Li Z, et al Pathogen-specific immunity debt in children after prolonged nonpharmaceutical interventions: a cross-sectional study in China. Int J Infect Dis. 2025 Dec 3:108278. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2025.108278. PubMed           Abstract available JIANG Z, Shan T, Li Y, Han F, et ...

  Biochem Biophys Res Commun HU J, Li J, You W, Liu L, et al Disruption of the local vRNA structure at the end of HA encoding region interferes with the selective packaging of influenza A virus genome. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2025;795:153082. PubMed           Abstract available BANGARU MLY, Raghavendra NK Helix alpha1 of human ACE2 mimics dsDNA and Spike of SARS-CoV-2 binds DNA. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2025;793:153020. PubMed           Abstract available Cell WASDIN PT, Johnson NV, Janke AK, Held S, et al Generation of antigen-specific paired-chain antibodies using large language models. Cell. 2025;188:7206-7221. PubMed           Abstract available YAN L, Huang Y, Liu Y, Ge J, et al Structural basis for the concurrence of template recycling and RNA capping in SARS-CoV-2. Cell. 2025;188:7194-7205. PubMed           Abs...

  Highlights •  Infectious SARS-CoV-2 were detected in nasopharynx and on the surface of corpses •  Viral load and symptom-to-discovery time are linked to viral infectivity •  Infectious viruses were not found in the body fluids •  Our findings highlight strict infection control for COVID-19 corpse handling Abstract Objectives The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in millions of deaths worldwide . However, the risk of transmission from COVID-19 corpses remain unclear, posing challenges for forensic medicine in establishing effective infection control measures during autopsies . This study aimed to investigate the presence of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in corpses and identify factors affecting viral infectivity. Methods External examinations of 76 corpses with COVID-19 were performed, and nasopharyngeal, perioral, hand swabs, serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and urine samples were collected. Viral RNA was quantified by using digital PCR, and infectious viruses were as...

  Am J Respir Crit Care Med SARMA A, Christenson SA, Shoshana BZ, Oliveira AP, et al Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Molecular Phenotypes Have Distinct Lower Respiratory Tract Transcriptomes. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2025;211:2352-2362. PubMed           Abstract available Ann Intern Med SOUMARE A, Kapfer T, Botrel T, Adda L, et al Systemic Corticosteroids, Mortality, and Infections in Pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome : A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2025 Dec 2. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-03055. PubMed           Abstract available BMJ LOGAN M FDA claims 10 child deaths caused by covid-19 vaccine, vows to tighten vaccine approvals. BMJ. 2025;391:r2546. PubMed          Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol NEO YN, Martinez-Alvarez L, Davagnanam I, Girafa G, et al Treatment of post-vaccination optic neuritis: implications from the glob...

  Antiviral Res XIONG R, Wu Y, Wang Y, Qu Z, et al Rapid generation of a murine RSV infectious model by transducing a conditional knock-in mouse harboring human IGF1 receptor with adenoviral vector. Antiviral Res. 2025;244:106304. PubMed           Abstract available SUTTO-ORTIZ P, Selisko B, Ferron F, Sommadossi JP, et al Mapping the impact of 1'-, 2'- and 4'-nucleotide modifications on the Respiratory Syncytial Virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Antiviral Res. 2025;244:106298. PubMed           Abstract available Biochem Biophys Res Commun MOHAMMED A, Ibrahim NA, Basher NS Innovations and challenges in vaccine development: Lessons from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and prospects. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2025;792:152947. PubMed           Abstract available J Gen Virol METAXAKI M, Ram R, Perera M, Wills M, et al Robust antibody and T cell responses tracked longitudin...