ETIDIOH - NEW

Abstract The zoonotic transmission of bat coronaviruses poses a threat to human health. However, the diversity of bat-borne coronaviruses remains poorly characterized in many geographical areas. Here, we recovered eight coronavirus genomes by performing a metagenomic analysis of fecal samples from hundreds of individual bats captured in Spain , a country with high bat diversity. Three of these genomes corresponded to potentially novel coronavirus species belonging to the alphacoronavirus genus . Phylogenetic analyses revealed that some of these viruses are closely related to coronaviruses previously described in bats from other countries, suggesting a shared viral reservoir worldwide. Using viral pseudotypes, we investigated the receptor usage of the identified viruses and found that one of them can use human ACE2 , albeit with lower affinity than SARS-CoV-2. However, the receptor usage of the other viruses remains unknown. This study broadens our understanding of coronavirus diversity...

  On 30th July 2025 HPAI H5N1 was confirmed in a young chicken in a backyard flock in Co Donegal . The bird was submitted to the Regional Veterinary Laboratory and virological testing confirmed HPAI at the CVRL. Control measures were put in place following detection on 30th July 2025. The 7 remaining birds of the backyard flock were euthanised and have tested negative for AI PCR. Further results to follow. Update: report updated to reflect the control measures applied (stamping out applied) as per the above report. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6691 ____

{Scotland, Aberdeenshire} Commercial layer flock with approx. 88,000 laying hens. Increased mortality and other clinical signs reported. Samples taken were found positive for HPAI H5N1. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6695 ____

Abstract Background :  The Liao ning virus (LNV), belonging to the genus Seadornavirus within the family Sedoreoviridae , is a mosquito-borne virus . It was originally isolated from Aedes dorsalis mosquitoes in China . The original LNV strain, LNVS-NE97-31, was reported to infect several mammalian cell lines and cause hemorrhagic symptoms in mice . Subsequently, another LNV strain, LNV NSW B115745, was isolated from Australian mosquitoes ; it was reported to exhibit insect-specific infection. Materials and Methods :  Virus isolation was performed on mosquitoes collected in northern Hokkaido, Japan, in 2022 . The isolated virus was subjected to genomic and growth kinetics analyses. Results :  A LNV strain was isolated from Aedes vexans mosquitoes . Genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed the new strain as 22WN03, and it formed a robust clade with the original Chinese strain, LNVS-NE97-31. Growth kinetics analysis did not reveal any mammalian or avian cell lin...

ABSTRACT Seasonal influenza causes 290,000–650,000 deaths annually, with vaccination efficacy ranging from 10 to 60%. The emergence of drug-resistant and highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses underscores the urgent need for novel protective strategies . Epidemiological observations have long suggested that certain vaccines, such as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), can provide protection against diverse pathogens (S. Biering-Sørensen, P. Aaby, N. Lund, et al., Clin Infect Dis 65:1183–1190, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cix525 ; M.-L. Garly, C. L. Martins, C. Balé, et al., Vaccine 21:2782–2790, 2003, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0264-410x(03)00181-6 ; C. A. G. Timmermann, S. Biering‐Sørensen, P. Aaby, et al., Trop Med Int Health 20:1733–1744, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.12614 ). While the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying such protection remain incompletely understood, emerging research offers critical insights into innate immune system modulation (B. Cirovic, L. C. J...

Abstract Effective and reliable treatments for SARS-CoV-2 infections are a key part of global COVID-19 management . Based on vitro studies, niclosamide has been considered as a potential drug candidate for SARS-CoV-2, but its clinical development has been limited due to poor solubility and bioavailability. Here we report results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 300 patients (Clinical Trial Registration Number: KCT0007307) that assessed the efficacy and safety of the niclosamide nanohybrid CP-COV03 at two different doses. Oral CP-COV03 was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported in any treatment group. The primary endpoints demonstrated that CP-COV03 significantly alleviated all 12 FDA-recommended COVID-19 symptoms , with symptom improvement sustained for more than 48 h. Additionally, CP-COV03 reduced SARS-CoV-2 viral load by 56.7% within 16 h of the initial dose compared to baseline. Secondary endpoints, including time to sust...

{England, Norfolk} Commercial indoor unit with 59562 turkeys. Increased mortality and other clinical signs were reported. Samples were taken and were tested positive for HPAI H5N1. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6693 ____

By Diliff - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1385555 ___ Two wild Greylag Geese in Győr-Moson-Sopron Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6687?reportId=175652&fromPage=event-dashboard-url ____

Abstract Mycoplasma pneumonia pneumonia(MPP) is a common respiratory disease that often occurs in children . The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics of children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, the first outbreak after the prevalence of COVID-19 epidemic . Meanwhile, this study also analyzed the predictive value of serum protein indicators and coagulation parameters in the MPP group, as well as the correlation between these indicators. Children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae admitted to the pediatric ward of Chengdu Fifth People’s Hospital from May 2023 to March 2024 were selected. After screening, 411 children who met the research criteria were selected as the study subjects. All of the blood samples were tested for coagulation function , procalcitonin, serum protein and glucose among MPP group and control group. All data were processed for statistical analysis using GraphPad Prism 10.2.3. Comparison of the serum proteins and coagulation function between...

  Public Domain. Source: WikiArt,  https://www.wikiart.org/en/titian/venus-anadyomene _____

Abstract The global burden of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), an immune-mediated neuropathy, remains poorly characterized during the COVID-19 pandemic . We analyzed age-standardized years lived with disability (YLD) for GBS from 1990 to 2021 using GBD 2021 data and COVID-19 vaccination coverage from Our World in Data, focusing on 2020–2021. During the pandemic, GBS YLD rates rose dramatically , with greater increases seen in low-SDI regions, females and individuals aged 15–29 years. Higher vaccination coverage was inversely associated with GBS disability burden , exhibiting a non-linear protective effect at moderate to high coverage levels. Causal mediation analysis indicated that 44.6% of this association was mediated by reductions in COVID-19 incidence, highlighting both direct and indirect neuroprotective benefits of vaccination programs . These results underscore the importance of sustaining and expanding the vaccine rollout to mitigate the secondary neurological burden associated w...

Abstract Transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza from H5 clade 2.3.4.4b has expanded in recent years to infect large populations of birds and mammals , heightening the risk of a human pandemic . Influenza viruses adapted to transmission in birds and some other animals tend to have a less stable hemagglutinin (HA) than seasonal influenza viruses , enabling membrane fusion at comparatively high pH levels. Here, we combine five mutations within H5 HA that dramatically increase its melting temperature and promote stable closure of the HA trimer . Structural analysis by cryo-electron microscopy revealed that the stabilizing mutations create several new hydrophobic interactions , while maintaining local HA structure. We found that vaccinating mice with stabilized H5 HA immunogens resulted in higher hemagglutination inhibition and neutralization titers than non-stabilized comparators. Epitope mapping of vaccine-elicited polyclonal antibody responses using negative stain electron mic...

  Di PetrS. - Opera propria, CC BY-SA 3.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12034659 Source: Wikipedia,  https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locomotiva_FS_E.636 ____

  {Excerpt} Time Period: July 20, 2025 - July 26, 2025 -- H5 Detection :  4 sites ( 1.0% ) -- No Detection :  391 sites ( 99.0% ) -- No samples in last week :  38 sites (...) Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/wwd-h5.html ____

Abstract Transmission routes of highly pathogenic H5N1 between cows or to humans remain unclear due to limited data from affected dairy farms. We performed extensive air, farm wastewater, and milk sampling on 14 H5N1 positive dairy farms across two different California regions. Virus was detected in the air in milking parlors and from exhaled breath of cows . Infectious H5N1 virus was detected in the air and water streams ; sequence analysis revealed viral variants on a farm in these locations. Longitudinal analysis of milk from the individual quarters of cows revealed a high prevalence of subclinical H5N1 positive cows and a heterogeneous distribution of infected quarters that maintained a consistent pattern over time. Our data highlight potential modes of H5N1 transmission on dairy farms. Competing Interest Statement SSL and LCM receive funds from Flu Lab and NIH. ASL receives funds from Flu Lab, NIH, and CDC. ASL receives consulting fees and research support from Roche, outside of t...

Summary Background Identifying measles transmission patterns and the most susceptible populations is crucial for anticipating and preventing outbreaks . The aim of this study was to assess the current epidemiology of measles in Italy to provide key metrics to anticipate and prevent future transmission risks. Methods In this epidemiological assessment study , we analysed measles epidemiological data from the National Integrated Measles and Rubella Surveillance System coordinated by the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità in Italy from Jan 1, 2013, to Dec 31, 2022. We analysed individual case records to assess the proportion of transmission that occurred in different settings; we also used pairs of measles cases to estimate the generation time and the proportion of transmission episodes between population groups defined by age and vaccination status. All suspected cases meeting the measles case definition were included in our analysis. Data, complemented...

Abstract Background .  Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5) viruses pose a pandemic threat , with a history of zoonotic spillovers into humans that are presumed immunologically naive. Whether the general population is currently immunologically naive to circulating A(H5) influenza viruses is unknown.  Methods .  To evaluate the presence of cross-reactive immune responses to emerging A(H5) clade 2.3.4.4b influenza viruses in the general population, we conducted comprehensive immune profiling on cross-sectional samples from healthcare workers (n=107). Samples were collected in August and September 2024 in the scope of an ongoing prospective follow-up study: Surveillance of rEspiratory viruses iN healThcare and anImal workers in the NethErLands (SENTINEL).  Findings .  Low-level antibody responses directed against the A(H5) hemagglutinin (HA) head were detected in a limited number of individuals , but without hemagglutination inhibition activity. Nevertheless, we...

Abstract Seasonal respiratory viruses, such as the Influenza A virus and the respiratory syncytial virus, are responsible for over a billion infections worldwide each year resulting in a substantial burden on health care systems . Surveillance of these viruses, including their prevalence in communities and their evolution , are essential for informing public health decisions and recommending vaccine formulations and schedules. Typically, these viruses are monitored using clinical samples from patients seeking medical attention. Recently, wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) has been leveraged to understand transmission dynamics and genome evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal respiratory viruses. To further the utility of WBS we developed and implemented novel tiled-amplicon sequencing assays to identify and track Influenza A virus H3N2 and respiratory syncytial virus A circulating in Southern Ontario, Canada . We also developed virus specific deconvolution tools to estimate the abundanc...

Abstract Influenza A virus (IAV) poses a significant global health risk, with highly pathogenic strains like H5N1 (CFR ~52%) causing severe disease compared to less lethal but more transmissible strains like H1N1 (CFR 0.01-0.03%). Although IAV primarily infects lung epithelial cells , causing cell death and tissue damage , the molecular basis of strain-specific pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Here we show that in cell culture , H5N1 induced more rapid and extensive cell death than H1N1. Since Interferon (IFN) signaling is key to innate immunity, we examined its role in virus-induced cell death using STAT1-knockout A549 cells and JAK/STAT pathway inhibitors like Baricitinib . Both approaches reduced cell death across various IAV strains, including H1N1, H5N1, H7N9 , and H3N2 . However, inhibition increased viral titers , raising concerns about its clinical use in isolation. To overcome this, we tested a combination of Oseltamivir (antiviral) and Baricitinib (anti-inflammatory). ...

Abstract In 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 caused outbreaks in wild birds, poultry, cows, and other mammals in the United States with 61 human cases also reported by the CDC. Detection of influenza A H5 RNA in wastewater has been previously reported in sewersheds in Texas and North Carolina with nearby impacted dairy herds following the emergence of H5N1 in dairy cows. Here, we conduct retrospective testing of total influenza A and H5 hemagglutinin genes in wastewater as well as present and apply new assays for detection of H1 and H3 genes across a respiratory virus season in an urban California sewershed from September 2023 to May 2024. Total influenza A, H1, and H3 were regularly detected, while H5 was first detected in March . We developed a model that uses Monte Carlo simulations and previously published parameters to estimate the numbers of infected people, poultry, wild birds, or liters of H5-contaminated milk required to result in measured H5 concentrations in wa...