ETIDIOH - NEW

  Key points   -- At the present time , based on available information, FAO-WHO-WOAH assess the global public health risk of influenza A(H5) viruses to be low , while the risk of infection for occupationally or frequently exposed (e.g., with backyard poultry) persons is low to moderate depending on the risk mitigation and hygiene measures in place and the local avian influenza epidemiological situation.  -- Transmission between animals continues to occur and, to date, a growing yet still limited number of human infections are being reported. Although additional human infections associated with exposure to infected animals or contaminated environments are expected to occur, the overall public health impact of such infections at a global level , at the present time, is considered minor . The assessment could change if and when additional epidemiological or virological information becomes available.  -- This risk assessment from FAO, WHO and WOAH updates the assessment ...

Abstract Recent investigations have demonstrated a relationship between the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 and post-COVID-19 conditions . Building upon a potential connection between SARS-CoV-2 persistence and early virologic rebound, we examine the association of early virologic rebound with post-acute mortality and hospitalization due to post-acute sequelae among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Hong Kong . Our study includes 13,859, 3959, and 4502 patients in the all-patient, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, and molnupiravir group , respectively. Results show that patients who experienced virologic rebound exhibited a significantly higher risk of post-acute mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36–1.70) with a risk difference [RD] of 7.19%, compared with patients without virologic rebound. A similar increase in the risk of post-acute mortality is also observed in nirmatrelvir/ritonavir-treated patients (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.41–2.25; RD, 12.55%) and molnupiravir-...

  Backyard poultry operation in Chobe Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6676 ____

Abstract The emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype B3.13) in dairy cattle presents substantial challenges to the agricultural sector and public health. Mechanistic studies of infection and transmission in cattle have proven difficult due to animal handling restrictions as well as limited availability of established cell culture models. Primary Bovine Embryonic Fibroblasts (BeEFs) were collected from a Montana cow and are investigated here as a model to study influenza A virus (IAV) infection dynamics . We compared sialylation profiles, infectious virus production, viral replication, and plaque morphology in both BeEFs and chicken DF-1 cells following infection with the bovine HPAI H5N1 and an earlier 2.3.4.4b genotype (B1.1) isolated in 2022. The data presented here show increased viral fitness of the bovine origin HPAI H5N1 strains across multiple species and bovine susceptibility to human seasonal IAV. This study highlights the ability o...

  Public Domain. Source: WikiArt,  https://www.wikiart.org/en/peter-paul-rubens/the-judgment-of-paris-1636 ____

ABSTRACT The ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b has affected at least 989 dairy herds across 17 states in the United States (U.S.) and resulted in 70 confirmed human infections , underscoring the urgent need to understand the pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions of emerging H5N1 viruses. In this study, we modelled infection with a highly pathogenic recombinant human A/Texas/37/2024 H5N1 (rHPh-TX H5N1) strain using human airway organoids (HAO) to investigate viral replication, innate immune response , infection-induced fibrogenesis, and potential therapeutic interventions . rHPh-TX H5N1 replicated efficiently in HAO, eliciting a robust interferon (IFN) response and pro-inflammatory cytokine production . Prolonged infection led to the accumulation of fibroblast-like cells surrounding infected regions, marked by increased alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression and upregulation of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), indicative ...

Abstract The structural instability of influenza hemagglutinin (HA) is related to its function in low pH-mediated membrane fusion , which requires prior cleavage of the premature HA0 by a host protease . The precise determinants underlying the stability and cleavability of HA remain to be fully understood and have implications for risk assessment of zoonotic influenza A viruses (IAV), viral transmissibility and vaccine production. To address this, we conducted random mutagenesis on early 2009 pandemic H1 HA, followed by selection of acid-stable viruses and detailed profiling of the mutant HAs. This resulted in identification of four mutations , which increase the acid-stability and decrease the fusion-promoting activity of H1 HA, without compromising viral entry and replication in cells. The newly recognized mutations are situated in the globular head , vestigial esterase and membrane-proximal part of H1 HA, in regions involved in the refolding of HA at low pH. A fifth mutation, D346N,...

Di Elio Cossetta - Ricordo quel binario, Alberto Cordara, Calosci-Cortona, Pubblico dominio,   https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34088072 Source: Wikipedia,  https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locomotiva_FS_E.333 ____

  Am J Respir Crit Care Med LAUTRETTE A, Cadoret M, Richard JC, Schwebel C, et al Impact of Visitation Restrictions in ICU on Psychological Symptoms in Family Members: Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2025 Jul 23. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202412-2470. PubMed           Abstract available Clin Infect Dis AKANDE ET, Fowotade AA, Odih EE, Oaikhena AO, et al Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Clin Infect Dis. 2025;80. PubMed           Abstract available STREINU-CERCEL A, Castagna A, Chang SC, Chen YS, et al Efficacy and Safety of Obeldesivir in High-Risk Nonhospitalized Patients with COVID-19 (BIRCH): a Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Clin Infect Dis. 2025 Jul 22:ciaf406. doi: 10.1093. PubMed           Abstract available BOSCOLO-RIZZO P, Spinato G, De Colle R, Maniaci A, et al Five-Year...

  Biochem Biophys Res Commun KUSUMOTO T, Yotsukura M, Asakura T, Namkoong H, et al Induced lung epithelial-like cells derived by direct reprogramming rescue influenza virus-induced lung injury in mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2025;778:152384. PubMed           Abstract available J Infect SAITO R, Chon I, Sato I, Kawashima T, et al Impact of polymerase acidic subunit (PA) substitutions on fever and symptoms in pediatric influenza A patients treated with baloxavir: A pooled four-season analysis. J Infect. 2025;91:106555. PubMed           Abstract available J Infect Dis SIMOES EAF, Suss RJ, Raje DV Human Metapneumovirus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza Associated Pneumonia Hospitalizations in Colorado Adults Aged Over 50 Years: 2016-2023. J Infect Dis. 2025 Jul 21:jiaf381. doi: 10.1093. PubMed           Abstract available J Virol MANNSVERK S, Villamil Gi...