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Abstract We report widespread detection of parvovirus B19 in Texas Wastewater using hybrid-capture virome sequencing across 43 sites. Wastewater signal correlated with clinical cases at institutional, county, and state levels and preceded case surges by one month . Full-genome coverage enabled real-time mutation tracking, highlighting wastewater's utility for epidemiologic surveillance. Source: MedRxIV,  https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.07.25331044v1 ____

Abstract Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b cause sporadic human infections and currently raise concerns about a new influenza pandemic . Heterogeneities in disease severity and outcome have been observed in the past and are currently reported among infected farm workers in the US. These may be attributed to differences in pre-existing H5N1 cross-reactive antibodies . In this study, we characterize H5N1 cross-reactive antibody landscapes in the current population and assess the effect of pH1N1/AS03 and non-adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccination on H5N1 cross-neutralizing and IgG antibody titers targeting a range of influenza virus-derived antigens. We were able to detect H5N1 cross-neutralizing antibodies using a VSV-based pseudovirus system that correlated well with antibodies inhibiting the spread of authentic H5N1 viruses. Additionally, we found that pH1N1/AS03 vaccination increases H5N1 cross-reactive antibodies significantly, while non-adjuvanted i...

ABSTRACT Recently, human infections with H10 influenza viruses, including H10N8 and H10N3, have been reported. In January 2024 , a case of H10N5 and H3N2 co-infection was reported in Zhejiang Province, China , which is the first human infection with H10N5 avian influenza virus (AIV) globally. Almost simultaneously, we isolated a wild bird-derived H10N5 strain similar to the human H10N5 strain. To assess the public health risk , it is necessary to understand the zoonotic characteristics of these novel H10N5 viruses. Here, we evaluated the biological characteristics of human H10N5 , wild bird H10N5, as well as poultry H10N8 in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrate that the novel H10N5 isolates infected and replicated effectively in human lung epithelial cells . They infected BALB/c mice without adaptation , which exhibited robust pathogenicity and caused mouse death. In guinea pig transmission experiments , the H10N5 strain spread through neither direct contact nor airborne exposure , wherea...

LETTER Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of genotype B3.13 were first reported in dairy cattle in March 2024 and, by 4 March 2025, had infected at least 989 cattle herds in 17 states in the US ( https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/hpai-confirmed-cases-livestock ; accessed on March 24, 2025). Importantly, spillover infections of poultry and mammalian species , including cats and humans , have occurred ( https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html ; accessed on 4 March 2025). Texas reported several infected herds in the spring (1) and early summer of 2024 but saw fewer outbreaks during the second half of 2024, with reported outbreaks in July and December (2). Since September 2024, almost all reported outbreaks of genotype B3.13 viruses in dairy cattle have occurred in California . Here, we characterized self-submitted samples from a farm in Texas that experienced an outbreak in December 2024. This farm ha...

Highlights •  This study evaluated differences in SARS-CoV-2 variant severity from 2020-2023 •  SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequencing from 6,916 respiratory swabs was performed •  Four conserved kmer sequences associated with severity were identified •  Infections from the Delta variant had highest likelihood of severe infection •  Omicron BA.4/5 variant was more severe than BA.1 in children, vice-versa in adults Abstract We performed virus whole-genome sequencing of 6,916 upper respiratory swabs from adults and children from March 2020 through May 2023 and collected clinical metadata to assess differences in SARS-CoV-2 variant severity and symptomatology. Multivariable logistic regression showed a severity peak with Delta , which had the highest likelihood of severe infection. In children , another peak was observed with BA.4/BA.5 , which was associated with more severe infection than both prior ( BA.1 ) and later ( BQ.1, BF.7, and XBB ) Omicron variants . In cont...

Summary The recent emergence of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus infections in dairy cows and humans in the U.S. has raised alarms regarding the potential for a pandemic . Over 995 dairy cow herds and at least 70 humans have been affected, including cases of severe disease and the first reported H5N1-related death in the U.S . Sporadic human infections with no known contact with infected animals highlight the possibility of viral adaptation for efficient human-to-human transmission. Concurrently, the virus continues to circulate in wild birds, backyard flocks, and hunted migratory species , further amplifying the risk to humans and domestic animals. This article provides an overview of the current outbreak status , emphasizes the importance of robust surveillance systems to detect emerging strains with pandemic potential, and highlights risks to the U.S. dairy and poultry industries. Recommendations for risk mitigation include enhanced biosecurity measures, improved surveil...

Summary Background mRNA-1283 is an investigational, next-generation COVID-19 vaccine that encodes only the immunodominant regions of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein —the receptor-binding domain (RBD) and the N-terminal domain rather than the full-length spike used in currently authorised mRNA vaccines. We evaluated the relative vaccine efficacy (rVE), immunogenicity, and safety of mRNA-1283 compared to the first-generation vaccine (mRNA-1273). Methods This randomised, observer-masked, active-controlled, phase 3 trial (NextCOVE) was conducted in individuals (aged ≥12 years) with no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection within 90 days of screening in the USA, the UK, and Canada. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive one 10 μg dose of the bivalent formulation of mRNA-1283 (original plus omicron BA.4/BA.5) or 50 μg of the bivalent mRNA-1273, encoding the same variants. Randomisation was stratified by age (12–17 years, 18–64 years, and ≥65 years). Primary objectives comparin...

Abstract Collection of systemic tissues from influenza A virus (IAV)-infected ferrets at a fixed timepoint post-inoculation represents a frequent component of risk assessment activities to assess the capacity of IAV to replicate systemically. However, few studies have evaluated how the frequency and magnitude of IAV replication at discrete tissues contribute to within-host phenotypic outcomes, limiting our ability to fully contextualize results from scheduled necropsy into risk assessment settings. Employing aggregated data from ferrets inoculated with > 100 unique IAV ( both human- and avian-origin viruses, spanning H1, H2, H3, H5, H7, and H9 subtypes ), we examined relationships between infectious virus detection in four discrete tissue types ( nasal turbinate, lung, brain, and olfactory bulb [BnOB]) to clinical outcomes of IAV-inoculated ferrets, and the utility of including these discrete tissue data as features in machine learning (ML) models. We found that addition of viral ti...

Abstract Panzootic spillover of H5N1 virus clade 2.3.4.4b has resulted in expanded host range among placental mammals , with lactation transmission via milk documented. Whether infection during pregnancy leads to in utero or lactational vertical transmission remains unknown. Pregnant outbred mice were infected with A/bovine/Ohio/B24OSU-472/2024 during the second or third trimester equivalent. Second trimester infection caused in utero infection , with infectious virus detected in the uterus, placenta, and fetus . Birth following third trimester infection resulted in offspring with decreased size and neurodevelopmental delays , with infectious virus detected in the neonatal milk ring and lungs as well as mammary tissues . Ongoing H5N1 infections present increased risk for human exposure and an H5N1 vertical transmission model in placental mammals is essential for understanding viral spread and evaluating treatments during pregnancy. Source: BioRxIV,  https://www.biorxiv.org/content/...

Abstract Despite identification of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza viruses nearly 75 years ago, the transmission pathways among wild animals remain incompletely described. We propose the use of social networks , to complement phylodynamic modeling , for better surveillance, prediction, and prioritization of HPAI. Source: PLoS Pathogens,  https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1013233 ____

  {Excerpt} Time Period: June 22, 2025 - June 28, 2025 -- H5 Detection :  3 sites ( 0.8% ) -- No Detection :  370 sites ( 99.2% ) -- No samples in last week :  52 sites (...) Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/wwd-h5.html ____

By © Giles Laurent, gileslaurent.com, License CC BY-SA, CC BY-SA 4.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=142133890  A wild Golden Eagle in Lapin aluehallintovirasto Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6597 ____

  By Andreas Trepte - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10944563 A Great black-backed Gull in Nordland Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6594 ____

Abstract Wild waterbirds are circulating important RNA viruses, such as avian coronaviruses, avian astroviruses, avian influenza viruses, and avian paramyxoviruses . Waterbird migration routes cover vast territories both within and between continents. The breeding grounds of many species are in the Arctic, but research into this region is rare. This study reports the first Newcastle disease virus (NDV) detection in Arctic Russia . As a result of a five-year study (from 2019 to 2023) of avian paramyxoviruses and avian influenza viruses in wild waterbirds of the Taimyr Peninsula , whole-genome sequences of NDV and H3N8 were obtained . The resulting influenza virus isolate was phylogenetically related to viruses that circulated between 2021 and 2023 in Eurasia, Siberia, and Asia. All NDV sequences were obtained from the Herring gull, and other gull sequences formed a separate gull-like clade in the sub-genotype I.1.2.1, Class II. This may indirectly indicate that different NDV variants ad...

Abstract Since Spring 2024, new genotypes of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b have been identified in the United States (US). These HPAI H5N1 genotypes have caused unprecedented multi-state outbreaks in poultry and dairy farms , and human infections . Here, we discuss the current situation of this outbreak and emphasizes the need for pre-pandemic preparedness to control HPAI H5N1 in both poultry and dairy farms in the US. Source: npj Viruses,  https://www.nature.com/articles/s44298-025-00138-5 ____

Abstract H5N1 influenza outbreaks have been reported on more than 1,070 dairy farms across 17 states in the US . Damage to the mammary gland and high levels of virus in milk were common features of the infected cattle, but it is unclear how the virus initially invades the mammary glands, and no control strategy is currently available. Here, we found that cattle oral tissues support H5N1 virus binding and replication , and virus replicating in the mouth of cattle transmitted to the mammary glands of dairy cattle during sucking . We also found that an H5 inactivated vaccine or a hemagglutinin-based DNA vaccine induced sterilizing immunity in cows against challenges with different H5N1 viruses. Our study provides insights into H5N1 virus transmission and control in cattle. Source: National Science Review,  https://academic.oup.com/nsr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/nsr/nwaf262/8180392?searchresult=1 ____

  Public Domain. Source: WikiArt,  https://www.wikiart.org/en/joshua-reynolds/three-ladies-adorning-a-term-of-hymen-1773 ____

Abstract Highly pathogenic avian influenza of the H5N1 subtype has shown recent unprecedented expansion in its geographic and host range , increasing the pandemic threat . The younger age of H5N1 versus H7N9 avian influenza in humans has previously been attributed to imprinted pre-immunity to hemagglutinin stalk (HA2) epitopes shared with group 1 ( H1N1, H2N2 ) versus group 2 ( H3N2 ) influenza A subtypes predominating in the human population before versus after 1968, respectively. Here we review the complex immuno-epidemiological interactions underpinning influenza risk assessment and extend the imprinting hypothesis to include a potential role for cross-protective neuraminidase (NA) imprinting . We compare H5N1 distributions and case fatality ratios by age and birth cohort (as proxy for HA2 and/or NA imprinting epoch) not only to H7N9 but also H5N6 and H9N2 avian influenza, representing more varied conditions of zoonotic influenza relatedness to human subtypes of the past century. We...

  Di Johannes Smit - https://www.flickr.com/photos/johannes-j-smit/3336090235/ , CC BY-SA 2.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=112400120 Source: Wikipedia,  https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotrice_FS_ALe_582 ____

  Am J Respir Crit Care Med MICHELS EHA, Peters-Sengers H, de Brabander J, Schuurman AR, et al The Plasma Proteome in Community-acquired Pneumonia: Pathophysiology, Outcome and 10-Year Risk. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2025 Jul 2. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202502-0325. PubMed           Abstract available Ann Intern Med CROSLEY E, Martin GS In COVID-19 acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, awake prone positioning vs. supine positioning increases survival without intubation. Ann Intern Med. 2025 Jul 1. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-02004. PubMed           Abstract available BMJ COOPER N, Agius S, Freeman K, Church H, et al Impact of physician assistants on quality of care: rapid review. BMJ. 2025;390:e086358. PubMed           Abstract available KIRKLAND A, Greer SL The antivaccine movement threatens health in the US and worldwide. BMJ. 2025;390:r1383. PubMed     ...