ETIDIOH - NEW

  ABSTRACT For over two decades, avian influenza virus (AIV) has significantly impacted the Egyptian poultry population , with multiple subtypes and genotypes contributing to significant economic and agricultural losses. As part of an ongoing national surveillance effort , this study aimed to monitor and genetically characterize AIV circulation across various poultry sectors in Egypt . Between 2022 and 2024, a total of 446,790 swab samples were collected, representing commercial farms (n = 25,057), backyard flocks (n = 403), and live bird markets “LBM” (n = 1250) to assess the prevalence and genetic diversity of circulating AIV strains. A total of 173 sampling units were found positive for high pathogenicity (HP) AIV H5 , including farms (n = 17), backyards (n = 11), and LBMs (n = 145). The HPAIV of H5N8 subtype was dominant (n = 75) over the H5N1 (n = 27) subtypes among all sectors and bird species ( chickens, ducks, turkeys ). Whole genome sequence analysis of positive H5 samples...

Poultry farms in Warmińsko-Mazurskie Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6807 ____

  Abstract The polymerase acidic (PA) protein is a subunit of the trimeric influenza A virus (IAV) RNAdependent RNA polymerase and the target of the anti-influenza drug baloxavir marboxil (BXM). As with other direct-acting antivirals , treatment with BXM can lead to selection of viruses carrying resistance mutations . If these mutations have negligible fitness costs , resistant viruses can spread widely and render existing treatments obsolete. Multiple BXM resistance mutations in the nuclease domain of PA have been identified, with I38T and I38M amino acid substitutions occurring frequently. These mutations have minimal to no effects on viral polymerase activity , virus replication , or transmission . However, for reasons that are not well understood, viruses with BXM resistance substitutions have not been able to compete with parental wild-type strains . The IAV genome segment encoding PA also encodes the host shutoff nuclease PA-X , which shares the endonuclease domain with PA bu...

  Abstract Since its discovery in U.S. dairy cattle in early 2024, the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (clade 2.3.4.4b) has spread widely among herds, causing major economic losses. This zoonotic event emphasizes the urgent need for H5 vaccines that elicit strong, durable, cross-reactive immune responses in cattle , especially young calves. To address this, we immunized mice and cattle with a centralized consensus H5 vaccine, designed to localize to the central node of the human H5 phylogenetic tree . The vaccine was delivered using serotype-switched adenoviral vectors in a prime:boost regimen , combined with intramuscular and intranasal coadministration to target systemic and mucosal immunity and elicit strong humoral and cellular immune responses. This approach strategically integrates multiple innovative features: centralized consensus immunogens, mucosal targeting, and vector serotype switching that are aimed at maximizing immune protection against H5N1 viruses . Our res...

  Abstract Background :  Avian influenza of the H5N1 subtype shares substantial relatedness in its neuraminidase (NA) surface protein with human influenza A H1N1 viruses of the past century. Understanding variation in pre-existing anti-N1 antibodies against H5N1 is critical to pandemic risk assessment and preparedness.  Methods :  We used anonymized, residual sera collected equally from ten age groups spanning one to >80 years during an August 2024 cross-sectional serosurvey in British Columbia, Canada . We assessed NA inhibition antibody titres by enzyme-linked lectin assay against H5N1 (N=575), H1N1pdm09 (N=250) and H3N2 (N=205). We compared anti-NA titres by birth (imprinting) cohorts defined in relation to historic N1 and/or N2 exposure opportunities.  Results :  Among participants with median age 32 (IQR: 15-62) years, 404 ( 70%) had cross-reactive anti-N1 titre ≥10 against H5N1 , with 260 (45%), 182 (32%) and 98 (17%), having titres ≥40, ≥80 and ≥...

  Abstract Since winter 2022/23, high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype euBB, has caused extensive mortality among wild birds . This genotype emerged in France in spring 2022 through reassortment between a gull-adapted low-pathogenicity virus and HPAIV H5N1. Phylogeographic and spatiotemporal analyses show that transmission into German breeding colonies of black-headed gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and common terns (Sterna hirundo) involved multiple independent incursions, likely via black-headed gulls returning from wintering grounds in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France . It spilled over into common terns, which breed in shared colonies with black-headed gulls, and led to high adult mortality in both species in 2023 (at least 8,137 black-headed gulls and 614 common terns; >3% of the breeding population), followed by significant breeding pair declines in 2024 (-15.9% in black-headed gulls, -5.8% in common terns). Increased immunity...

  Public Domain. Source: WikiArt,  https://www.wikiart.org/en/vincent-van-gogh/still-life-with-meadow-flowers-and-roses-1886 ____

  Abstract Influenza A viruses (IAV) remain a persistent One Health threat, and whole-genome sequencing from wastewater offers a promising surveillance tool . However, IAV is at low abundance in wastewater , making it difficult to sequence. We benchmarked four targeted enrichment methods suited for whole-genome sequencing including custom and off-the-shelf amplicon and probe-based methods. Our custom HA tiled-amplicon panel was sensitive, fast, and cost-effective, making it suitable for monitoring low-abundance seasonal variants of known subtypes . However, its reliance on conserved and intact primer-binding sites limited primer design to fewer subtypes. A previously published universal amplicon method targeted all IAV subtypes , but it performed poorly in wastewater due to its reliance on intact genome segments. Probe-capture methods were resilient to RNA degradation and mismatches , potentially enabling broader surveillance and detection of emerging strains. However, probes were ...

  Abstract Influenza A viruses remain a global health threat, yet no universal antibody therapy exists . Clinical programs have centered on neutralizing mAbs , only to be thwarted by strain specificity and rapid viral escape . We instead engineered three non-neutralizing IgG2a mAbs that target distinct, overlapping epitopes within the conserved N terminus of the M2 ectodomain (M2e). Combined at low dose, this “triple M2e-mAb” confers robust prophylactic and therapeutic protection in mice challenged with diverse human and zoonotic IAV strains, including highly pathogenic variants. Therapeutic efficacy depends on Fc-mediated effector activity via FcγRI, FcγRIII, and FcγRIV, rather than in vitro neutralization. Serial passaging in triple M2e-mAb–treated immunocompetent and immunodeficient hosts failed to generate viral escape mutants. Our findings redefine the influenza-specific antibody therapeutic design and support Fc-optimized, non-neutralizing M2e-mAbs as a broadly effective, mut...

  Context and significance The avian influenza A virus subtype H10N3 is a possible candidate for causing a fatal flu and may present a serious public health threat . Research increasingly shows that the avian influenza virus H10N3 can be transmitted from birds to humans , causing severe viral pneumonia and potentially leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome and respiratory failure . Researchers at the Fourth People’s Hospital of Nanning (China) provide evidence supporting the cross-species transmission of the avian influenza virus H10N3 to humans, which can give rise to severe pneumonia. The authors report that a female patient with avian influenza virus H10N3 infection, who was suffering from severe pneumonia , respiratory failure, pneumothorax , and numbness and dysesthesia in her feet , recovered after receiving appropriate therapy and was discharged from the hospital. Highlights •  A young woman contracted the avian influenza virus H10N3 •  Secondary infections...

  Von JoachimKohlerBremen - Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 4.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50664108 Source: Wikipedia,  https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schweizerische_Lokomotiv-_und_Maschinenfabrik ____

  J Infect GRANVIK C, Persson IL, Barros GWF, Ahlm C, et al Long-term Physical Capacity Following COVID-19: A Prospective, Three-Year Study. J Infect. 2025 Sep 12:106614. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106614. PubMed           Abstract available J Med Virol BADAR N, Salman M, Ahad A, Mirza HA, et al Tracking SARS-CoV-2 Lineages in Pakistan's 2025 COVID-19 Resurgence: Insights From Genomic Surveillance. J Med Virol. 2025;97:e70607. PubMed          LIU S, Shao C, Ding Y, Wang Y, et al Ubiquitination: A Double-Edged Mechanism in Coronavirus Infections. J Med Virol. 2025;97:e70589. PubMed           Abstract available J Virol CHIOK KL, Jenik K, Fenton M, Falzarano D, et al MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 infection in diverse human lung organoid-derived cultures. J Virol. 2025 Sep 18:e0109825. doi: 10.1128/jvi.01098. PubMed           Abstract availa...

  Ann Intern Med FELDMAN CH, Santacroce L, Bassett IV, Thaweethai T, et al Social Determinants of Health and Risk for Long COVID in the U.S. RECOVER-Adult Cohort. Ann Intern Med. 2025 Jul 29. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-24-01971. PubMed           Abstract available Arch Virol PUENPA J, Dara S, Vichaiwattana P, Aeemjinda R, et al Seasonal dynamics and genetic diversity of human rhinoviruses in patients with acute respiratory infection in Bangkok in 2024. Arch Virol. 2025;170:208. PubMed           Abstract available J Gen Virol DI GENOVA C, Warren CJ, Johnson S, Riccio S, et al Pigeons exhibit low susceptibility and poor transmission capacity for H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b high pathogenicity avian influenza virus. J Gen Virol. 2025;106. PubMed           Abstract available PHAN N, Zaytseva Y, Lin CC, Mishra M, et al PUM2 binds SARS-CoV-2 RNA and PUM1 mildly reduces viral RNA levels...