ETIDIOH - NEW

Abstract Mpox was first identified against the backdrop of the smallpox eradication campaign. Monkeypox virus (MPXV), the causative agent of mpox, has been maintained in animal reservoirs in the forested regions of West and Central Africa as 2 distinct clades ; clade I has historically caused more severe infection in Central Africa than clade II , historically found in West Africa . However, rapid reemergence and spread of both MPXV clades through novel routes of transmission have challenged the known characteristics of mpox. We summarize mpox demographic distribution , clinical severity , and case-fatality rates attributed to genetically distinct MPXV subclades and focus on MPXV clade Ib, the more recently identified subclade. Broad worldwide assistance will be necessary to halt the spread of both MPXV clades within mpox endemic and nonendemic regions to prevent future outbreaks. Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/8/24-1551...

ABSTRACT Tumors of infectious origin globally represent 13%. Oncogenic DNA viruses such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are responsible for approximately 60% of these tumors . These oncoviruses are extensively studied to understand their role in cancer development, particularly through viral genome integration into the host DNA . Retroviruses require integration mediated by viral integrase for persistence, whereas DNA oncoviruses do not need integration for replication ; instead, integration occurs incidentally. This process often targets fragile sites in the human genome, causing structural rearrangements that disrupt genes, activate proto-oncogenes, and increase genomic instability , all contributing to tumorigenesis. Integration near promoter regions and active genes is closely linked to carcinogenesis, highlighting its importance in developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes viral integration’s role ...

Abstract Nipah virus (NiV) causes a severe neurological disease in humans . The first NiV outbreak, in Malaysia , involved pig-to-human transmission , that resulted in significant economic losses to the local pig industry. Despite the risk NiV poses to pig-dense regions, no licensed vaccines exist . This study therefore assessed three NiV vaccine candidates in pigs: (1) adjuvanted soluble NiV (s)G protein, (2) adjuvanted pre-fusion stabilised NiV (mcs)F protein, and (3) adenoviral vectored NiV G (ChAdOx1 NiV G). NiV sG induced the strongest neutralising antibody response , NiV mcsF induced antibodies best able to neutralise cell-cell fusion, whereas ChAdOx1 NiV G elicited CD8+ T-cell responses. Despite differences in immunogenicity, prime-boost immunisation with all candidates conferred a high degree of protection against NiV infection. Follow-up studies demonstrated longevity of immune responses and broadly comparable immune responses in Bangladeshi pigs under field conditions. These ...

Abstract In March 2024, clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses were first detected in U.S. dairy cattle . Similar viruses have since caused 70 zoonotic human infections . To assess changes to zoonotic potential , we characterized A( H5N1 ) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses isolated from cows’ milk and birds . Bovine-derived viruses are lethal in mice and ferrets and transmit to direct but not airborne contact ferrets. All viruses replicate in human bronchial epithelial cells despite preferentially binding avian virus-like receptors. The bovine-derived viruses remain susceptible to FDA-approved antivirals , and they are inhibited by sera from ferrets vaccinated with WHO-recommended candidate vaccine viruses (CVV) or human sera from clade 2.3.4.4c vaccinees. While 2.3.4.4b viruses induce severe disease in mammalian models , they retain many avian virus-like characteristics. Combined, we conclude that the risk of contemporary bovine-derived viruses to humans not in contact ...

ABSTRACT Many difficult-to-understand clinical features characterize COVID-19 and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC or long COVID [LC]). These can include blood pressure instability, hyperinflammation, coagulopathies , and neuropsychiatric complaints . The pathogenesis of these features remains unclear. The SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) binds angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the surface of host cells to initiate infection. We hypothesized that some people convalescing from COVID-19 may produce anti-RBD antibodies that resemble ACE2 sufficiently to have ACE2-like catalytic activity , that is, they are ACE2-like proteolytic abzymes that may help mediate the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and LC . In previous work, we showed that some people with acute COVID-19 had immunoglobulin-associated ACE2-like proteolytic activity , suggesting that some people with COVID-19 indeed produced ACE2-like abzymes . However, it remained unknown whether ACE2-like abzymes wer...

  {Excerpt} Avian influenza A(H9N2) :  -- Guangdong Province : - 1) An individual with onset on May 28, 2025.  -- Hubei Province :  - 2) An individual with onset on June 21, 2025.  (...) Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong PRC SAR,  https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/resources/29/332.html ____

  WHO condemns in the strongest terms the attacks on a building housing WHO staff in Deir al Balah in Gaza, the mistreatment of those sheltering there, and the destruction of its main warehouse . Following intensified hostilities in Deir al Balah after the latest evacuation order issued by Israeli military, the WHO staff residence was attacked three times today.  Staff and their families, including children , were exposed to grave danger and traumatized after airstrikes caused a fire and significant damage.  Israeli military entered the premises , forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward Al-Mawasi amid active conflict .  Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and screened at gunpoint .  Two WHO staff and two family members were detained .  Three were later released , while one staff member remains in detention.  Thirty-two people , including women and children, were collected and evacuated to the...

Abstract The H1N1 virus commonly causes symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, which have a self-limited course in most cases . Neurological complications are rare, especially in adults. This case illustrates H1N1-associated acute leukoencephalopathy in a young adult with a favorable outcome and no lasting neurological deficits . The initial presentation included fever, sore throat, and myalgia , evolving into neurological symptoms , including dysarthria, nystagmus, and left-sided motor weakness . Comprehensive laboratory tests ruled out common bacterial, viral, or autoimmune causes, while MRI findings suggested acute leukoencephalopathy of infectious or toxic etiology. Although the urine toxicology screen showed traces of phenol , clinical evidence did not correlate with toxic exposure and pointed towards an infectious origin. A throat swab for Influenza/H1N1 PCR confirmed the diagnosis. Treatment with oseltamivir and methylprednisolone led to symptomatic improvement with no sequ...

Abstract Introduction :  In 2023 and 2024, mass mortalities of swans occurred on the Caspian coast of Kazakhstan , which affected more than seven hundred birds of a local population of 10–15 thousand. It is widely known that viral infections significantly affect the microbiome content of various organisms , but the influence of H5N1 infection in the gut microbiota of wild birds remains little studied. Almost no information is available on postmortem microbial changes after the devastating impact of H5N1 influenza. Methods :  In addition to standard routine virological studies , we were interested in investigating the microbiological changes resulting from infection with the highly pathogenic H5N1 using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results :  Virological studies of samples taken from the dead swans identified the highly pathogenic influenza virus H5N1 subtype as the primary cause of mortality. 16S analysis of samples from freshly dead swans revealed patterns of microbial dysb...

Abstract The H1N1 swine influenza viruses CQ91 and CQ445, isolated from pigs in China, exhibited distinct virulence in mice despite sharing similar genomic constellations. CQ91 demonstrated higher pathogenicity (MLD50: 5.4 log10 EID50) and replication efficiency in mice compared to CQ445 (MLD50: 6.6 log10 EID50). Through reverse genetics, we found that the attenuation of CQ445 was due to a single substitution of glutamic acid (E) with lysine (K) at position 343 in the PB2 protein . Introducing the CQ445-PB2 (343K) into CQ91 significantly reduced viral replication and pathogenicity in mice, while replacing CQ445-PB2 with CQ91-PB2 (343E) restored virulence. In vitro studies showed that the K343E mutation impaired viral replication in MDCK and A549 cells and reduced polymerase activity in minigenome assays. Mechanistically, the amino acid at position 343 in the PB2 affects the transcription stage of the viral replication process . Structural modeling indicated that the charge reversal cau...

  Public Domain. Source: WikiArt,  https://www.wikiart.org/en/el-greco/christ-driving-the-traders-from-the-temple-1600 ____

Abstract With the recent rise in cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b infection in humans and animals , there is an associated increase in the risk of human-to-human transmission . In this study, we characterize a recombinant A(H5N1) A/American Wigeon/South Carolina/22/000345-001/2021 (A/AW/SC/2021) clade 2.3.4.4b vaccine . Purified recombinant A/AW/SC/2021 HA trimers formulated with Matrix-M® adjuvant, saponin-cholesterol-phospholipid combination arranged in cage-like particles, are found to non-covalently anchor to the vertices of the Matrix-M and form A(H5N1) HA–Matrix-M nanoparticles (H5-MNPs). In naïve female mice , two intranasal (IN) or intramuscular (IM) doses of A/AW/SC/2021 H5-MNP vaccine induces robust antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses , including neutralizing antibodies against A(H5N1). In non-human primates (NHPs) primed with seasonal influenza vaccine , a single IM or IN dose of the A/AW/SC/2021 H5-MNP vaccine induces geometr...

Abstract Seasonal influenza vaccines are most frequently delivered as intramuscular inactivated vaccines which elicit systemic responses against the immunodominant hemagglutinin (HA) head domain . An intranasally administered, live-attenuated influenza vaccine designed to stimulate mucosal immunity , FluMist, is the sole intranasal vaccine approved in the United States. However, FluMist has lower systemic immunogenicity and efficacy in adults compared to intramuscular formulations. In this study, human mucosal and systemic immunity were examined following seasonal intramuscular or intranasal vaccination. Nasopharyngeal swabs of adenoid tissue were used to longitudinally sample the upper airway. Notably, FluMist induced substantial increases in upper respiratory tract IgG+ and IgA+ HA-specific memory B cells , which displayed an activated CD27+CD21- phenotype. H1, H3, and influenza B virus HA-specific memory B cells were all detected in the upper airway after intranasal immunization and...

  Di Gianni Careddu - Opera propria, CC BY-SA 3.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38983387 Source: Wikipedia,  https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotrice_ARST_ADe ____

  Antiviral Res LEBEDIN M, Petrovsky N, Tabynov K, Tabynov K, et al SARS-CoV-2 neutralization and protection of hamsters via nasal administration of a humanized neutralizing antibody. Antiviral Res. 2025;241:106235. PubMed           Abstract available BMJ ARETOULI E, Malik M, Widmann C, Parker AM, et al Cognitive and mental health outcomes in long covid. BMJ. 2025;390:e081349. PubMed           Abstract available Clin Infect Dis SIZA C, Plucinski M, Lessa FC, Campelo E, et al Antibody Response in Healthcare Workers During the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Gamma Variant Outbreak in Manaus, Brazil. Clin Infect Dis. 2025 Jul 16:ciaf318. doi: 10.1093. PubMed           Abstract available SHOHAM S, Dioverti MV Combination Therapy for Protracted COVID-19: When More is More. Clin Infect Dis. 2025 Jul 16:ciaf384. doi: 10.1093. PubMed    ...

  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 JACOBS JW, Booth GS, Lewis-Newby M, Saifee NH, et al Medical, Societal, and Ethical Considerations for Directed Blood Donation in 2025. Ann Intern Med. 2025 May 13. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-00815. PubMed           Abstract available Arch Virol NEMOTO M, Kawanishi N, Kambayashi Y, Bannai H, et al Growth properties of recombinant equine influenza viruses with different backbones generated by reverse genetics in embryonated chicken eggs. Arch Virol. 2025;170:181. PubMed           Abstract available BMC Pediatr SOMERS J, Hansen B, Burger J, Aronoff S, et al Newborn RSV immunization rates and reasons compared...

ABSTRACT The Henipavirus genus comprises five viral species, of which the prototype members, Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV), are reported to infect humans. In humans and other spill-over hosts , HeV/NiV can cause severe respiratory and/or encephalitic disease , with mortality rates exceeding 50%; currently, there are no approved human vaccines and only limited therapeutic options . As members of the family Paramyxoviridae , henipaviruses have six “core” structural proteins and typically three additional accessory proteins that are expressed from the P gene. Several of these proteins are multifunctional, with roles in forming intracellular interfaces with the host (in particular, M, P, V, W, and C proteins), to modulate processes including antiviral responses, supporting viral replication. Understanding the molecular basis of these interfaces and their functions is critical to delineate the mechanisms of pathogenesis and may inform new strategies to combat infection and diseas...

  {Excerpt} Time Period: July 06, 2025 - July 12, 2025 -- H5 Detection :  2 sites ( 0.5% ) -- No Detection :  395 sites ( 99.5% ) -- No samples in last week :  51 sites (...) Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/wwd-h5.html _____

  A poultry farm in Extremadura Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6639 ____

Abstract Influenza D virus infects primarily cattle , but infrequent reports of infections in cats occur. We detected influenza D virus antibodies in 8 of 360 cats in northern China . Domestic cats showed higher susceptibility than strays. Our results suggest a previously overlooked aspect of epidemiology of this virus in companion animals. Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/8/25-0042_article ____