Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

PLoS One 2022 12;17(5):e0268131. Epub 2022 May 12.

Centre for Academic Primary Care, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.

Background: The association between upper respiratory tract microbial positivity and illness prognosis in children is unclear. This impedes clinical decision-making and means the utility of upper respiratory tract microbial point-of-care tests remains unknown. We investigated for relationships between pharyngeal microbes and symptom severity in children with suspected respiratory tract infection (RTI). Read More

Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022 25;12:873304. Epub 2022 Apr 25.

School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the main pathogenic virus that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). Studies have reported that EV71-induced infections including aseptic meningitis, acute flaccid paralysis, and even neurogenic pulmonary edema, can progress to severe neurological complications in infants, young children, and the immunosuppressed population. However, the mechanisms through which EV71 causes neurological diseases have not been fully explored. Read More

Microb Genom 2022 May;8(5)

School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) has recently been identified in biennial epidemics coinciding with diagnoses of non-polio acute flaccid paralysis/myelitis (AFP/AFM). We investigated the prevalence, genetic relatedness and associated clinical features of EV-D68 in 193 EV-positive samples from 193 patients in late 2018, UK. EV-D68 was detected in 83 (58 %) of 143 confirmed EV-positive samples. Read More

Front Immunol 2022 19;13:843891. Epub 2022 Apr 19.

Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Myocarditis is the common cause of sudden cardiac death, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and heart failure (HF) in young adults. The most common type of myocarditis is viral myocarditis (VMC). Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are vital to identify pathogens . Read More

Sci Rep 2022 May 4;12(1):7304. Epub 2022 May 4.

Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Center for Vascular and Molecular Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Viral myocarditis (VM) is an important cause of heart failure (HF) in children and adults. However, the molecular determinants involved in cardiac inflammation and cardiomyocyte necrosis remain poorly characterized, and cardioprotective molecules are currently missing. Here, we applied an in vivo method based on the functional selection (FunSel) of cardioprotective factors using AAV vectors for the unbiased identification of novel immunomodulatory molecules in a Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)-induced myocarditis mouse model. Read More

Bull Math Biol 2022 May 4;84(6):62. Epub 2022 May 4.

Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.

Polio can circulate unobserved in regions that are challenging to monitor. To assess the probability of silent circulation, simulation models can be used to understand transmission dynamics when detection is unreliable. Model assumptions, however, impact the estimated probability of silent circulation. Read More

Andes Pediatr 2022 Feb 14;93(1):123-133. Epub 2022 Apr 14.

Hospital Clínico Dra. Eloísa Díaz I., Santiago, Chile.

The birth of intensive care was a process that took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, during and after the polio epidemic of 1952-1953. The fact that marks its beginning was that anesthesiologist Björn Ibsen was asked to help and "came out of the operating room", not without some controversy. Ib sen proposed and advocated the use of tracheostomy, suctioning and ventilation. Read More

Eur J Med Res 2022 May 3;27(1):63. Epub 2022 May 3.

Department of Internal Medicine II, Center for Complementary Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.

Background: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by low platelet counts and increased bleeding risk. The disease may be induced by other disorders, including malignancies, autoimmune diseases, infectious agents or drugs. However, ITP has also been described following vaccinations, such as the measles-mumps-rubella vaccination. Read More

Transbound Emerg Dis 2022 May 3. Epub 2022 May 3.

State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, P. R. China.

Aichivirus C is an emerging virus in goats, but its biological significance remains unknown. In this study, 18 diarrheic and 16 non-diarrheic faecal samples of kids were collected from a farm with an on-going diarrheic outbreak in Sichuan Province, China in May 2021. Of these samples, 77. Read More

J Infect Public Health 2022 May 22;15(5):594-598. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Children's Hospital, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Taiwan.

Background: Appropriate mitigation strategy to minimize enterovirus (EV) transmission among children is essential to control severe EV epidemics. Scientific evidence for the effectiveness of case isolation and class suspension is lacking.

Methods: EV-infected children ≤ eight years are asked to stay at home for seven days. Read More

Front Microbiol 2022 14;13:875485. Epub 2022 Apr 14.

Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.

Coxsackievirus group B (CVB) is a member of the genus in the family . CVB infection has been implicated as a major etiologic agent of viral myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, meningitis, and pancreatitis among children and young adults. Until date, no antiviral agent has been licensed for the treatment of Coxsackievirus infection. Read More

J Pediatr (Rio J) 2022 Apr 19. Epub 2022 Apr 19.

Social Responsibility, Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Electronic address:

Background: Changes in the epidemiology of respiratory infections during the restrictions imposed as a response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have been reported elsewhere. The present study's aim was to describe the prevalence of a large array of respiratory pathogens in symptomatic children and adolescents during the pandemic in Southern Brazil.

Methods: Hospitalized and outpatients aged 2 months to 18 years with signs and symptoms of acute COVID-19 were prospectively enrolled in the study from May to November 2020 in two hospitals in a large metropolitan area in a Brazilian city. Read More

Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol 2022 Apr 11;21(2):112-118. Epub 2022 Apr 11.

Departments of Pediatrics, Balıkesir University Faculty of Medicine, Balıkesir, Turkey.

Acute asthma exacerbations (AAE) are episodes characterized by potentially life-threatening and rapidly deteriorating asthma symptoms. Viral respiratory infections are one of the major triggers in the pathophysiology of childhood asthma exacerbations. In this study, we aimed to determine the distribution of viral agents among pediatric AAE patients. Read More

Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi 2022 Apr;56(4):459-463

Department of Science Research and Information Management, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China.

To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal clustering of hepatitis A in Zhejiang Province from 2010 to 2019. The data of hepatitis A incidence in Zhejiang Province from 2010 to 2019 were collected from the infectious disease surveillance system of China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. ArcGIS 10. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2022 Apr 29;22(1):414. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

National Polio Surveillance, Yemen Ministry of Public Health and Population, Sana'a, Yemen.

Background: Yemen has faced one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world since the start of the war in 2015. In 2020; 30 Vaccine Derived Polio Virus type 1 (VDPV1) isolates were detected in Saadah governorate. The aims are to characterize the outbreak and address the gaps predisposing the emergence and circulation of VDPV1 in Saadah governorate, Yemen. Read More

Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2022 Apr 29. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.

Background: The epidemiology, clinical features, and socioeconomic burden associated with detection of rhinoviruses (RV)/enteroviruses (EV) from individuals in the community with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are not fully understood.

Methods: To assess the clinical and socioeconomic burden associated with RV/EV, a secondary analysis of data collected during a prospective, community-based ARI surveillance study was performed. From December 2012 to September 2017, adult and pediatric participants with ARIs had nasopharyngeal specimens obtained and tested by multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay. Read More

Sante Publique 2022 Mar;Vol. 33(5):741-751

Introduction: Co-administration of the bilié de Calmette et Guérin (BCG) and birth doses of oral polio (OPV zero) and hepatitis B (HepB BD) vaccines is strongly recommended. The objective was to determine the factors associated with this co-administration in the health district of Podor (Senegal).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 726 children aged 12 to 23 months. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2022 Apr 28;22(1):411. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

Department of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.

Background: The prevalence of virus positivity in the upper respiratory tract of asymptomatic community-dwelling older people remains elusive. Our objective was to investigate the prevalence of respiratory virus PCR positivity in asymptomatic community-dwelling older people using saliva samples and nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs.

Methods: We analyzed 504 community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 65 years who were ambulatory and enrolled in a cross-sectional study conducted from February to December 2018 in Nagasaki city, Japan. Read More

PLoS One 2022 28;17(4):e0267716. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.

Background: For the past few years, only a few monovalent EV71 vaccines have been developed, while other enterovirus vaccines are in short supply. We conducted a quantitative meta-analysis to explore the epidemiological characteristics, routine laboratory diagnosis, clinical signs and risk factors for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

Methods: PubMed, Embase and the Web of Science were searched for eligible reports published before April 16, 2021, with no publication time or language restrictions. Read More

Front Public Health 2022 11;10:850369. Epub 2022 Apr 11.

State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.

Background: Hand-Foot-and-Mouth-Disease (HFMD) has been widely spread in Asia, and has result in a high disease burden for children in many countries. However, the dissemination characteristics intergroup and between different age groups are still not clear. In this study, we aim to analyze the differences in the transmissibility of HFMD, in the whole population and among age groups in Shenzhen city, by utilizing mathematical models. Read More

Infect Drug Resist 2022 20;15:1981-1994. Epub 2022 Apr 20.

Institute of Virology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.

Background: Viral gastroenteritis belongs to the major public health problems of infant and children worldwide. The largest proportion of morbidity and mortality occurs in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Purpose: Aimed to assess the burden and genetic diversity of enteric viruses among children with diarrhea. Read More

Immun Inflamm Dis 2022 May;10(5):e614

Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.

Introduction: This study aimed to explore the association between the IRAK4 polymorphism rs4251545 and the severity of enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection in Chinese children.

Methods: We analyzed the IRAK4 polymorphism rs4251545 in 617 EV71-infected patients and 410 controls using the improved multiplex ligation detection reaction. IRAK4 mRNA expression was tested by qRT-PCR. Read More

Rev Saude Publica 2022 22;56:29. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Universidade Federal de Goiás. Faculdade de Enfermagem. Goiânia, GO, Brasil.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) among immigrants and refugees in Goiás, Central Brazil.

Methods: Overall, 355 individuals were interviewed, and blood samples were tested for anti-HAV and anti-HEV IgG. Anti-HEV-positive samples were similarly tested for HEV RNA. Read More

J Med Virol 2022 Apr 26. Epub 2022 Apr 26.

Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.

Cell pyroptosis has received increased attention due to the associations between innate immunity and disease, and it has become a major focal point recently due to in-depth studies of cancer. With increased research on pyroptosis, scientists have discovered that it has an essential role in viral infections, especially in the occurrence and development of some picornavirus infections. Many picornaviruses, including Coxsackievirus, a71 enterovirus, human rhinovirus, encephalomyocarditis virus, and foot-and-mouth disease virus induce pyroptosis to varying degrees. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2022 Apr 26;22(1):408. Epub 2022 Apr 26.

School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Background: Little research has been conducted on the spatio-temporal relationship between the severe cases and the enteroviruses infections of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). This study aimed to investigate epidemic features and spatial clusters of HFMD incidence rates and assess the relationship between Enterovirus 71 (EV71) and Coxsackievirus A16 (CoxA16) and severe cases of HMFD in Gansu province, China.

Methods: Weekly county-specific data on HFMD between 1st January and 31st December 2018 were collected from the China Infectious Disease Information System (CIDIS), including enterovirus type (EV71 and CoxA16), severe and non-severe cases in Gansu province, China. Read More

Microbiol Immunol 2022 Apr 24. Epub 2022 Apr 24.

Centre for Molecular Biology, Central University of Jammu, Samba, 181143, Jammu and Kashmir (UT), India.

Respiratory diseases are responsible for a greater mortality rate around the world. Viral or bacterial infections in the respiratory tract have been identified as major causative agents for death and disability among the population. Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) cause severe respiratory ailments starting from cold-like symptoms, eventually affecting the lungs and other viscera, and are mainly categorized by two types depending on the affected area: Upper respiratory tract infections and Lower respiratory tract infections. Read More

Virol J 2022 Apr 22;19(1):72. Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Beijing Key Laboratory of Paediatric Respiratory Infection Diseases, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of Education, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, National Key Discipline of Paediatrics (Capital Medical University), National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Beijing Paediatric Research Institute, Department of Paediatric Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China.

Background: Rhinovirus is a common viral aetiology of upper respiratory infection and is mostly associated with common cold or flu-like illness. Although rhinovirus has been recognized as a pathogen for lower respiratory infections in severe cases credited to advances in molecular detection, central nervous system involvement and multiorgan dysfunction are extremely rare.

Case Presentation: A previously healthy 10-year-old girl developed fever, sore throat and conjunctive injection after contact with an upper respiratory infection patient, followed by seizures, haematuria, and severe diarrhoea. Read More

Viruses 2022 Apr 18;14(4). Epub 2022 Apr 18.

State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China.

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is one of the major pathogens of acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis. Due to the lack of a robust and reproducible in vitro culture system and an appropriate animal model, the mechanism underlying HuNoV-caused diarrhea remains unknown. In the current study, we found that HuNoV transfection induced the expression of aquaporin 1 (AQP1), which was further confirmed in the context of virus infection, whereas the enterovirus EV71 (enterovirus 71) did not have such an effect. Read More

Viruses 2022 Apr 7;14(4). Epub 2022 Apr 7.

Institute of Biochemistry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.

Enteroviruses (EV) are implicated in an extensive range of clinical manifestations, such as pancreatic failure, cardiovascular disease, hepatitis, and meningoencephalitis. We recently reported on the biochemical properties of the highly conserved cysteine residue at position 38 (C38) of enteroviral protein 3A and demonstrated a C38-mediated homodimerization of the Coxsackievirus B3 protein 3A (CVB3-3A) that resulted in its profound stabilization. Here, we show that residue C38 of protein 3A supports the replication of CVB3, a clinically relevant member of the enterovirus genus. Read More

Viruses 2022 Mar 22;14(4). Epub 2022 Mar 22.

Microbiology Department, Virology/Serology Section, Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand.

Here, we describe a small enterovirus outbreak including nine cases of aseptic meningitis in a New Zealand hospital in 2017. Most patients had a lymphocytic predominance in the CSF, their length of stay was short, and there were no paediatric cases or ICU admissions. VP1 genotyping revealed that the outbreak was caused by an echovirus E30 strain closely related to strains reported from the US, UK, Brazil, and Denmark. Read More