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Parasit Vectors 2022 May 10;15(1):102. Epub 2022 May 10.

The Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, 761001, Rehovot, Israel.

Background: Relapsing fever borreliosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Borrelia, inflicting recurrent episodes of fever and spirochetemia in humans. Borrelia persica, the causative agent of relapsing fever in Israel, is prevalent over a broad geographic area that extends from India to Egypt. It is transmitted by the soft tick Ornithodoros tholozani and causes disease in humans as well as domestic cats and dogs. Read More

Mikrobiyol Bul 2022 Apr;56(2):288-303

University of Health Sciences Gülhane Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey.

Additional or different test procedures can be applied to maximize transfusion safety by reducing the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections. Antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) is one of the most commonly used serologic marker in this context. The aim of the study was to analyse anti-Hbc test results performed within the scope of routine screening tests in our center and to examine the effect of the donor re-entry protocol established. Read More

Transfus Clin Biol 2022 Apr 24. Epub 2022 Apr 24.

Clinical Services at Vitalant San Antonio, Texas, United States.

Objectives: The International Haemovigilance Network's (IHN) ISTARE database collects surveillance data on all adverse reactions (AR) associated with transfusion of blood and blood components, facilitating the sharing of best practice and benchmarking for improving blood safety and quality. Up to 2012 no publications discussed certain rare AR. The aim of this study is to examine ISTARE data on AR from 2012 to 2016, focusing on hypotensive reactions, post-transfusion purpura (PTP), transfusion-associated graft versus host disease (TA-GvHD), hyperkalemia and hypocalcemia. Read More

Pathogens 2022 Apr 18;11(4). Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, No. 29 Wangjiang Road, Chengdu 610064, China.

The CTX-M-55 type extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing is increasing in prevalence worldwide without the transmission mechanism being fully clarified, which threatens public and livestock health. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) have been shown to mediate the gene horizontal transmission in some species. However, whether can be transmitted horizontally through OMVs in (APEC) has not been reported yet. Read More

Pathogens 2022 Apr 2;11(4). Epub 2022 Apr 2.

Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Disease, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA.

Leishmaniasis, caused by an infection of the protozoa, is a neglected tropical disease and a major health problem in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, with approximately 350 million people worldwide at risk and 2 million new cases occurring annually. Current treatments for leishmaniasis are not highly efficacious and are associated with high costs, especially in low- and middle-income endemic countries, and high toxicity. Due to a surge in the incidence of leishmaniases worldwide, the development of new strategies such as a prophylactic vaccine has become a high priority. Read More

Transfus Apher Sci 2022 Apr 4:103442. Epub 2022 Apr 4.

Department of Transfusion Medicine ABVIMS & Dr.RMLH, Baba Khadak Singh Marg, New Delhi 110001, India. Electronic address:

Objective: Transfusion transmitted infection (TTI) is a major hazard for blood transfusion. The present retrospective chart review was undertaken to study the demographic profile and TTI trends among blood donors to see impact of interventions on blood safety.

Methods: Data of donors and TTI screening results from 2010 to 2019 were analyzed. Read More

Front Immunol 2022 28;13:864031. Epub 2022 Mar 28.

Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD, United States.

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease transmitted through the bite of a sand fly with no available vaccine for humans. Recently, we have developed a live attenuated gene-deleted parasite strain ( ) that induced protection against homologous and heterologous challenges. We demonstrated that the protection is mediated by IFN (Interferon) γ-secreting CD4 T-effector cells and multifunctional T cells, which is analogous to leishmanization. Read More

Vox Sang 2022 Apr 12. Epub 2022 Apr 12.

NHSBT, Microbiology Services Laboratory, London, UK.

Background And Objectives: Bacterial contamination of platelet components (PCs) poses a safety challenge for transfusion patients. Despite mitigation interventions, the residual risk of transfusion-transmitted bacterial infections remains predominant. PC safety can be improved either by pathogen reduction or by implementation of bacterial detection methods. Read More

Trials 2022 Apr 4;23(1):257. Epub 2022 Apr 4.

Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Background: Transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) are a global health challenge. One new approach to reduce TTIs is the use of pathogen reduction technology (PRT). In vitro, Mirasol PRT reduces the infectious load in whole blood (WB) by at least 99%. Read More

Front Microbiol 2022 4;13:862580. Epub 2022 Mar 4.

Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chengdu, China.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in regulating virus infection and replication. However, the mechanism by which miRNA regulates Zika virus (ZIKV) replication remains elusive. We aim to explore how the differentially expressed miR-103a-3p regulates ZIKV replication and to clarify the underlying molecular mechanism. Read More

Vox Sang 2022 Mar 21. Epub 2022 Mar 21.

Blood Cell Research, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Platelet components are commonly transfused to patients for a variety of indications, including patients with low platelet counts or patients with platelet dysfunction who are bleeding or at high risk of bleeding. Although the risk of pathogen contamination of platelet components has declined significantly over the last 40 years, it remains a concern for the patients, for blood banks and for physicians. Pathogen inactivation (PI) technologies have been developed to mitigate this risk. Read More

Transfus Apher Sci 2022 Apr 11;61(2):103404. Epub 2022 Mar 11.

Cerus Corporation, 1220 Concord Avenue, Concord, CA, USA. Electronic address:

Transfusion-associated graft versus host disease (TA-GVHD) is a highly morbid and often fatal adverse event associated with transfusion of cellular blood products [platelets, red blood cells (RBCs) and whole blood] and more rarely with never-frozen plasma products. It is caused by residual viable donor T-lymphocytes that proliferate and actively target recipient tissues. Selective or universal irradiation of blood components using gamma-irradiation and more recently, X-ray irradiation, are the most commonly applied interventions and have been validated by the demonstration of in vitro T-lymphocyte inactivation, in murine models of TA-GVHD and by years of clinical experience. Read More

Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022 21;10:845688. Epub 2022 Feb 21.

Provincial Key Laboratory for Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases, Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chengdu, China.

is a serious threat to global public health, and a rapid detection method is urgently needed. The CRISPR/Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated) system is widely used in gene editing, gene therapy, and diagnosis. Here, we combined loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and CRISPR/Cas12a to develop a novel diagnostic test (CRISPR/Cas12a-E-LAMP) for the diagnosis of . Read More

J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022 Mar 9. Epub 2022 Mar 9.

Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.

Background: This systematic review was aimed to estimate hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroprevalence and burden in disease in WHO South East Asia Region (SEAR).

Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar) and websites of non-indexed national medical journals, government and international health agencies were searched to identify English language literature published between 1991 and June 2020. We selected the studies reporting HCV seroprevalence in asymptomatic general (low-risk) and high-risk adult populations, that is, persons living with HIV (PLHIV), persons who inject drugs (PWID), sex workers, persons on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), people in prison, and men sex with men (MSM). Read More

NPJ Vaccines 2022 Mar 2;7(1):32. Epub 2022 Mar 2.

Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected protozoan disease affecting over 12 million people globally with no approved vaccines for human use. New World cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by L. mexicana is characterized by the development of chronic non-healing skin lesions. Read More

Parasitol Res 2022 May 1;121(5):1455-1465. Epub 2022 Mar 1.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.

Blood transfusion practice is an essential medical intervention; however, it poses problems of transmissibility of infectious diseases including malaria. This study was designed to determine the potential of transfusion-transmitted malaria (TTM) by detecting malaria antigens and parasites in recipients of infected donor blood. After successful blood transfusion, remnants of transfused blood were screened for Plasmodium falciparum HRP2 antigen and parasitemia using CareStart malaria RDT and 10% Giemsa stain microscopy respectively according to established protocols. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022 02 22;16(2):e0010224. Epub 2022 Feb 22.

Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Disease, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America.

Background: Neutrophils are involved in the initial host responses to pathogens. Neutrophils can activate T cell responses either independently or through indirect involvement of Dendritic cells (DCs). Recently we have demonstrated direct neutrophil-T cell interactions that initiate adaptive immune responses following immunization with live attenuated Leishmania donovani centrin deleted parasite vaccine (LdCen-/-). Read More

Vox Sang 2022 May 17;117(5):647-655. Epub 2022 Feb 17.

NHSBT, Microbiology Services Laboratory, London, UK.

In 2014, the bacterial subgroup of the Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases working party of ISBT published a review on the International Experience of Bacterial Screen Testing of Platelet Components (PCs) with an Automated Microbial Detection System. The purpose of this review, which is focused on publications on or after 2014, is to summarize recent experiences related to bacterial contamination of PCs and the use of an automated culture method to safeguard the blood supply. We first reviewed septic transfusion reactions after PC transfusion as reported in national haemovigilance systems along with a few reports from various countries on bacterial contamination of blood products. Read More

Am J Trop Med Hyg 2022 Feb 14. Epub 2022 Feb 14.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail, Bangladesh.

Over 1.5 million units of blood are collected in Pakistan each year, with around 65% of this donation coming from replacement donors-relatives or close friends of the affected who willingly donate blood to support the patient. Although blood transfusion is a life-saving therapy, it also involves the danger of spreading blood-borne illnesses if not appropriately screened. Read More

Front Oncol 2022 27;12:793432. Epub 2022 Jan 27.

Provincial Key Laboratory for Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases, Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chengdu, China.

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles with a diameter of 30-150 nm that are released by most types of cells and have been confirmed to be involved in many physical and pathological processes, especially in cell to cell communication. Compared with other vesicles, exosomes have a unique double-layer saclike structure that allows them to be present stably in various body fluids, including blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, saliva, and serous cavity effusion. The cargoes of exosomes reflect the characteristics of host cells. Read More

Transfusion 2022 03 11;62(3):600-611. Epub 2022 Feb 11.

Department of Transfusion Medicine and Transplantation Biology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.

Background: Patients with hematological diseases are polytransfused and often immunocompromised, therefore susceptible to transfusion reactions (TR). This study aims to document the incidence of TRs in adult hematological patients and assess the effect of changes in the production of blood components and transfusion practice on their occurrence.

Study Design And Methods: Retrospective observational analysis of TRs reported from 1993 to 2019 was performed. Read More

PLoS One 2022 10;17(2):e0263732. Epub 2022 Feb 10.

Division of Emerging and Transfusion-Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States of America.

Filoviruses are emerging pathogens that cause acute fever with high fatality rate and present a global public health threat. During the 2013-2016 Ebola virus outbreak, genome sequencing allowed the study of virus evolution, mutations affecting pathogenicity and infectivity, and tracing the viral spread. In 2018, early sequence identification of the Ebolavirus as EBOV in the Democratic Republic of the Congo supported the use of an Ebola virus vaccine. Read More

Transfusion 2022 03 12;62(3):570-583. Epub 2022 Feb 12.

Transfusion Medicine Research, Cerus Corporation, Concord, California, USA.

Background: COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP), from donors recovered from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, is one of the limited therapeutic options currently available for the treatment of critically ill patients with COVID-19. There is growing evidence that CCP may reduce viral loads and disease severity; and reduce mortality. However, concerns about the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI) and other complications associated with transfusion of plasma, remain. Read More

World J Gastroenterol 2022 Jan;28(1):47-75

Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong 852, China.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of viral hepatitis globally. There is growing concern about transfusion-transmitted HEV (TT-HEV) as an emerging global health problem. HEV can potentially result in chronic infection in immunocompromised patients, leading to a higher risk of liver cirrhosis and even death. Read More

Vox Sang 2022 May 3;117(5):656-663. Epub 2022 Feb 3.

Department of Transfusion Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India.

Background And Objectives: Blood donor deferral is an essential tool for blood safety. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected blood transfusion services all over the world. But its impact on donor deferral rate and the pattern is unclear in light of the new donor deferral policy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

J Infect Dis 2022 May;225(9):1497-1499

Department of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.

J Infect Dis 2022 May;225(9):1504-1512

Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Background: Evidence for mitigation of transfusion-transmitted dengue informed by surveillance data is lacking. In this study, we evaluated the risk of positive dengue viral (DENV) ribonucleic acid (RNA) from blood transfusions during a large outbreak in Taiwan.

Methods: Serum collected from blood donors living in districts experiencing the dengue epidemic were tested for DENV RNA using a qualitative transcription-mediated nucleic acid amplification assay (TMA). Read More

PLoS One 2022 27;17(1):e0262990. Epub 2022 Jan 27.

Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Republic of Korea.

Whether having a tattoo increases the risk of transfusion-transmitted diseases (TTDs) is controversial. Although a few studies have suggested a strong association between having tattoos and TTDs, other studies have not shown the significance of the association. In addition, previous studies mainly focused only on hepatitis C viral infections. Read More

Viruses 2022 01 6;14(1). Epub 2022 Jan 6.

Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, USA.

The impact of steroid hormones estrogen and progesterone on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication is well documented. However, the exact mechanism involved in the regulation of HIV-1 replication by estrogen and progesterone is still unclear. In the present study, we wanted to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the modulation of HIV-1 replication by estrogen and progesterone. Read More

Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2022 Jan;53(1):1-6

Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chengdu 610052, China.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has caused a global pandemic since its outbreak in 2019, presenting serious threats to public health and the health of the people. As one of the main components of the host innate immune system, type-Ⅰ interferon (IFN) plays a critical role in the defense against viral infections. The battle between the virus and the host innate immune system determines the disease progression. Read More