ETIDIOH - NEW

  Abstract In a new study, Zhao et al. (2025) obtain 959 whole genome sequences of H1N1 subtype swine influenza virus (SIV) isolated from China . Their analysis of the sequences , isolated between 1977 and 2020, reveals how H1N1 lineages have co-evolved and contributed to instances of zoonotic transmission within the region. This study’s findings characterize the long-term evolutionary effects of frequent viral reassortment in SIV and highlight its potential to drive future pandemics. Source:  Link:  https://academic.oup.com/evolut/advance-article/doi/10.1093/evolut/qpaf262/8400336 ____

{Summary} Highlights     • All clades of monkeypox virus (MPXV) continue to circulate.  - Unless mpox outbreaks are rapidly contained and human-to-human transmission is interrupted , there is a risk of sustained community transmission .   • In November 2025, 48 countries across all WHO regions reported a total of 2150 new confirmed mpox cases , including five deaths ( case fatality ratio [CFR] 0.2%).  - About 68% of these cases were reported in the African Region .  - Four regions observed a decline in confirmed cases in November, compared to October 2025, while the European and Western Pacific regions reported more cases than the previous month.      • Nineteen countries in Africa reported active transmission of mpox in the last six weeks (2 November– 14 December 2025), with 1435 confirmed cases , including seven deaths (CFR 0.5%).  - Countries reporting the highest number of cases in this period are the Democratic Republic of the ...

  Influenza at the human-animal interface  Summary and risk assessment, from 6 November to 19 December 2025 {1} -- New human cases {1,2}:  - From 6 November to 19 December 2025, based on reporting date , the detection of influenza A( H5N1 ) in one human , A( H5N5 ) in one human , A( H9N2 ) in seven humans , and an influenza A( H1N1 ) variant virus in one human were reported officially.  - In addition , one human case of infection with an influenza A( H1N2 ) variant virus was detected.  -- Circulation of influenza viruses with zoonotic potential in animals :  - High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) events in poultry and non-poultry animal species continue to be reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).{3}  - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) also provides a global update on avian influenza viruses with pandemic potential.{4}  - Additionally, low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses as well a...

  ~155K laying chickens’ flock. Samples taken were positive for HPAI H5N1. Birds presented clinical signs prior to testing. Source:  Link:  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7139 ____

  Highlights •  We generated a recombinant reporter OROV that expresses the eGFP fluorescent protein in infected cells. •  We found that remdesivir efficiently inhibited the replication of Oropouche virus (OROV) using this reporter OROV. •  We demonstrated strain-dependent differences in the replication efficiency of OROV. Abstract The Oropouche virus (OROV), an orthobunyavirus transmitted by biting midges, is the causative agent of Oropouche fever , which has caused multiple outbreaks in South and Central America . During the most recent epidemic in 2023–2025, more than 25,000 laboratory-confirmed cases were reported in Brazil , and no licensed antivirals have been reported to be effective date. In this study, we generated a recombinant OROV-expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (rOROV/GFP) to facilitate rapid and sensitive antiviral evaluation . Growth kinetics demonstrated that rOROV/GFP replicated less efficiently than wild-type rOROV and that the histori...

  Public Domain. Source:  Link:  https://www.wikiart.org/en/ende/the-angel-of-the-abyss-and-the-infernal-locusts-975 ____

  Abstract We characterized influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), and B/Victoria viruses circulating in Japan during 2023–2024 , focusing on lineage placement relative to WHO-recommended vaccine strains and on baloxavir resistance (PA/I38T substitutions). We enrolled 210 outpatients with influenza-like illness across eight clinics in six prefectures (October 2023–September 2024). Of these, 209 had an analyzable pre-treatment respiratory specimen for RT-PCR; hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes were sequenced by next-generation sequencing (NGS). PA/I38T substitutions that confer baloxavir resistance were assessed by cycling-probe RT-PCR, Sanger sequencing, and NGS. HA phylogenies were constructed with global datasets and WHO vaccine reference strains. Of 209 pre-treatment specimens, 181 were influenza-positive (A(H1N1)pdm09 44.2%, A(H3N2) 37.6%, B/Victoria 18.2%); 51 follow-up specimens were collected ≈4–5 days after baloxavir or neuraminidase inhibitor therapy . HA phylogeny ...

  Abstract Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic pathogen that causes severe encephalitis and respiratory disease in humans and multiple mammalian species. However, no licensed vaccines or therapeutics are currently available against NiV infection. In this study, we developed three mRNA vaccine candidates using a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery platform : mRNA-F-LNP, comprising mRNA encoding the fusion protein (F); mRNA-G-LNP, containing mRNA encoding the attachment glycoprotein (G); and mRNA-GF-LNP, in which mRNAs encoding both F and G proteins were co-encapsulated at a 1:1 molar ratio. All three mRNA-LNPs induced robust and sustained immune responses in both mice and Syrian hamsters . Sera from immunized Syrian hamster showed high levels of cross-neutralizing antibodies against both NiV-Malaysia (NiV-M) and NiV-Bangladesh (NiV-B) strains. Notably, all three mRNA-LNPs conferred complete protection against a lethal challenge with NiV-M in Syrian hamsters. These findings demonstrate tha...

  Abstract While treatment with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir or molnupiravir is effective in lowering the rate of severe COVID-19 , the effectiveness of these antivirals in reducing the risk of cardiovascular outcomes, especially among the hospitalized population, remains largely unknown . In this study, we assessed the real-world effectiveness of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir on short- and long-term cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 using a target trial emulation design. Two target trials of COVID-19 antivirals were emulated by using a territory-wide, population-based, retrospective cohort of hospitalized patients in Hong Kong . Nine cardiovascular outcomes were evaluated in both short-term (day 0–21) and long-term (day 22–365) post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. Compared with the control group , the use of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir was associated with a significantly lower one-year risk of cardiovascular mortality , composite cardiovascular complications, major adverse cardiac eve...

  Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in infectious disease surveillance , especially in West Africa where endemic viruses including Lassa fever persist. The overlapping clinical symptoms of these two infections create diagnostic challenges and the possibility of undetected co-infections. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using archived serum samples from a nationwide SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence survey in Ghana . 434 samples across six regions were tested for SARS-CoV-2 total antibodies (IgG/IgM) using the WANTAI ELISA kit and Lassa virus IgG using ReLASV Pan-Lassa-NP-IgG ELISA. Results SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence was 64.29% (n = 279) and Lassa virus IgG prevalence was 20.28% (n = 88). Of the cohort of subjects who were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2, 20.79% were also seropositive for LASV IgG . Multivariate analysis revealed household size as a strong risk factor of dual exposure . Individuals from medium-sized households (...

  Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol LI Q, Novosad S, Rha B, Hua H, et al Trends of bloodstream infection incidence rates among patients on outpatient hemodialysis, National Healthcare Safety Network, 2012-2021. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2025 Dec 18:1-7. doi: 10.1017/ice.2025. PubMed           Abstract available Int J Infect Dis CHOI WS, Kim KH, Kim DS, Lee SH, et al Increased 30-day Mortality Risk in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Compared to Seasonal Influenza. Int J Infect Dis. 2025 Dec 17:108312. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2025.108312. PubMed           Abstract available RODGERS MA, Averhoff F, Berg MG, Anderson M, et al Robust mission-driven responses to infectious disease threats delivered by the Abbott pandemic defense coalition. Int J Infect Dis. 2026;162:108162. PubMed           Abstract available J Med Virol WU Y, Yang C, Wei X, Xiao T, et al Albendazole Suppresses S...

  Antimicrob Agents Chemother LEONARD VHJ, Vidales DB, Taft BR, Hesse MJ, et al Identification and characterization of a novel inhibitor of influenza A virus that acts by blocking nucleoprotein oligomerization. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2025 Dec 19:e0114925. doi: 10.1128/aac.01149. PubMed           Abstract available Arch Virol BEDAIR NM, Sakr MA, Mourad A, Eissa N, et al Genetic characterization of highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N8 virus isolated from commercial poultry farms in Egypt reveals zoonotic potential. Arch Virol. 2025;171:29. PubMed           Abstract available Biochemistry WESTMAN H, Hammarstrom P, Nystrom S SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Amyloid Fibrils Impair Fibrin Formation and Fibrinolysis. Biochemistry. 2025;64:4818-4829. PubMed           Abstract available Epidemiol Infect STADHOUDERS L, Hoogteijling EM, Duijts L, Lebon A, et al Trends in a...

By Thierry Leleu - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2390060 Source:  Link:  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Renfe_class_307 ____

  Abstract Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 poses an increasing public health risk, particularly following its spillover into dairy cows and associated human infections in the U.S. since March 2024. Here, we systematically identified critical PB2 mutations emerged during avian-to-cattle transmission and subsequent adaptation in cattle , notably PB2 M631L, which conferred pathogenicity in mice comparable to the well-characterized PB2 E627K mutation . Retrospective analysis reveals that PB2 631L also circulated in avian and human H5N1 strains during the 2013–2014 outbreaks in Cambodia and Vietnam . Additional adaptive mutations include established markers ( E627K, Q591R, D701N ), and novel variants ( I647V, G685R, K736R ). These mutations enhance polymerase activity by improving the utilization of both bovine and human ANP32A proteins , thereby increasing viral fitness and pathogenicity in mammals . The convergence of these adaptations highlights the elevated zoonotic risk of c...

  Par SylvainAmbert — Travail personnel, CC BY-SA 4.0,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=111556121 Source:  Link:  https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_5800 ____

  Abstract Farmed mink are frequently exposed to circulating influenza A viruses (IAVs), as confirmed by viral isolation and serological evidence. Previous work reveals that naïve mink serve as susceptible hosts for both avian and human influenza strains , highlighting their potential role in influenza ecology . In this study, we investigated whether farmed mink naturally pre-exposed to H9 retain the capacity to serve as “mixing vessels” for reassorting human and avian IAVs. Our results demonstrate that they remain fully susceptible and permissive to infection by both avian H6N6 and human H1N1 influenza strains . Notably, efficient transmission of these viruses occurred among farmed mink, confirming their potential to sustain viral exchange . These findings indicate that farmed mink represent highly permissive hosts capable of facilitating reassortment between circulating human and avian IAVs. Given this risk, current mink farming practices may substantially increase the likelihood...