Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Environ Int 2018 Dec 12;123:282-291. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Laboratory of Comparative and Environmental Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

Noroviruses are a leading cause of epidemic and pandemic acute gastroenteritis (AGE) worldwide, and contaminated food and water are important routes for its transmission. Raw sewage has been used for viral surveillance to monitor the emergence of new norovirus strains with the potential to cause epidemics. In this study, we investigated norovirus occurrence and norovirus RNA levels in 156 samples collected from May 2013 to May 2014, across three different stages (52 samples each) of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Read More

Virology 2018 Dec 12;528:19-29. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, USDA, ARS, Ames, IA 50010, USA.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a ubiquitous pathogen of cattle, causes subclinical to severe acute disease. Two species of BVDV are recognized, BVDV1 and BVDV2 with BVDV1 divided into at least 21 subgenotypes and BVDV2 into 3-4 subgenotypes, most commonly using sequences from the 5' untranslated region (5' UTR). We report genomic sequencing of 8 BVDV2 isolates that did not segregate into the 2a subgenotype; but represented two additional BVDV2 subgenotypes. Read More

Clin Microbiol Infect 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Miami, FL, 33133 USA.

Background: Since its sudden appearance and link to microcephaly in 2015, the number of PubMed references for Zika virus (ZIKV) has risen from 181 to 5,163, as of writing, with a vast proportion focused on the consequences of ZIKV infection during pregnancy. This level of attention underlies increased demand for sensitive and specific diagnostic tools able to assess risk to an unborn child, as well as to understand the dynamics and consequences of viral persistence.

Aim: Review the expanding knowledge on ZIKV persistence and diagnostic challenges and summarize current advancements in detection. Read More

Gene 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:

Given the multifactorial state of autoimmune complex diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), it is not clear if different risk factors act jointly or independently. Despite intensive studies investigating multi aspects of MS risk factors, findings with regards to potential biomarkers that may link these risk factors remained largely inconclusive. System biology or data integration utilizes different validated datasets to extract meaningful information and map the plausible biological pathways and networks. Read More

Genomics 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Genetics Program, Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address:

Scarce data are available on the expression of Papillomavirus genome and the frequency of alternatively spliced E6/E7 mRNAs in invasive cervical cancer. We carried out a comprehensive characterization of HPV expression by RNA-Seq analysis in 22 invasive cervical cancer with HPV16 or HPV18, characterizing the presence of integrated/episomal viral DNA, the integration sites in human genome and the proportion of alternative splicing products of E6 and E7 genes. The expression patterns suggested the presence of episomal and/or integrated viral DNA, with integration detected in most tumors, frequently occurring within human genes in HPV18+ and in intergenic regions in HPV16+ tumors. Read More

J Control Release 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Electronic address:

Albumin is a highly successful tool of drug delivery providing drastically extended body and blood residence time for the associated cargo, but it only traffics single drug copies at a time. In turn, macromolecular prodrugs (MP) are advantaged in carrying a high drug payload but offering only a modest extension of residence time to the conjugated drugs. In this work, we engineer MP to contain terminal groups that bind to albumin via non-covalent association and reveal that this facile measure affords a significant protraction for the associated polymers. Read More

Acta Trop 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Departamento de Ciências Básicas em Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Av. Fernando Correa da Costa, n. 2367, CCBS-I, sala 82, CEP 78060-900, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Electronic address:

Arboviruses have become a major public health concern in Brazil, especially after Zika virus (ZIKV) and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) introduction, leading to massive epidemics. We conducted an investigation of arboviruses in patients with acute febrile illness for less than five days in Mato Grosso state (MT) during the period of ZIKV and CHIKV dissemination in Brazil. To achieve that, 453 human serum samples of patients suspected of Dengue (DENV), Yellow Fever (YFV), ZIKV or CHIKV collected in health units of 31 cities of MT were subjected to RT-PCR protocols for 10 flaviviruses, 5 alphaviruses and orthobunyaviruses from Simbu serogroup, nucleotide sequencing and viral isolation. Read More

Swiss Med Wkly 2018 Nov 2;148:w14687. Epub 2018 Dec 2.

Laboratory of Virology, Division of Laboratory Medicine and Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Geneva Hospitals, Switzerland; University of Geneva Medical School, Switzerland.

Purpose: Eight confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease were identified at the Geneva University Hospitals between 28 July 2017 and 02 August 2017, leading to a detailed outbreak investigation.

Methods: Legionnaires’ disease cases were defined according to Swiss and European (ELDSNet) consensus guidelines. An outbreak investigation task force was put in place. Read More

Head Neck 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Gustave Roussy Institute, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France.

Background: We investigated the survival of patients with a p16-positive N3 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and the prognostic significance of patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients treated at our Cancer Center for a p16-positive N3 OPSCC between 2003 and 2016. End points were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Read More

Hepatology 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Molecular Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Entecavir is a widely used nucleoside analogue for antiviral therapy against chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Despite its remarkable efficacy in suppressing HBV replication, a substantial proportion of cirrhotic patients still developed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after entecavir treatment (1). Presumably, it is largely attributed to the existing precancerous hepatocytes, which sturdily progresses into cancer despite effective viral suppression. Read More

Virol Sin 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is one of the main pathogens that causes hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD). HFMD caused by EV71 infection is mostly self-limited; however, some infections can cause severe neurological diseases, such as aseptic meningitis, brain stem encephalitis, and even death. There are still no effective clinical drugs used for the prevention and treatment of HFMD. Read More

Bull Math Biol 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Departamento de Informática em Saúde, Laboratório de Biocomplexidade e Genômica Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

RNA viruses comprise vast populations of closely related, but highly genetically diverse, entities known as quasispecies. Understanding the mechanisms by which this extreme diversity is generated and maintained is fundamental when approaching viral persistence and pathobiology in infected hosts. In this paper, we access quasispecies theory through a mathematical model based on the theory of multitype branching processes, to better understand the roles of mechanisms resulting in viral diversity, persistence and extinction. Read More

Immunol Res 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Rheumatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Arthritis Center, 72 E. Concord Street, E-5, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.

EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus) and other human DNA viruses are associated with autoimmune syndromes in epidemiologic studies. In this work, immunoglobulin G response to EBV-encoded proteins which share regions with human immune response proteins from the human host including ZEBRA (BZLF-1 encoded protein), BALF-2 recombinase expressed primarily during the viral lytic replication cycle, and EBNA-1 (Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen) expressed during the viral latency cycle respectively were characterized using a laser-printed micro-array ( PEPperprint.com ). Read More

Trop Anim Health Prod 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

School of Management, University of the Philippines Mindanao, Mintal, 8022, Davao City, Philippines.

Rotavirus A is one of the leading etiological agents of porcine gastroenteritis, a condition which results to stunted growth among piglets. Moreover, there is increasing evidence for zoonosis of rotavirus A (RVA), which is also the principal cause of diarrhea in children. In the absence of rigorous animal health monitoring in Philippine backyard farms, there is therefore a strong need for RVA surveillance. Read More

J Clin Immunol 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Haematology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, France et Université Paris Descartes, 149 rue de Sèvres, 75015, Paris, France.

Purpose: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare but severe demyelinating disease caused by the polyomavirus JC (JCV) in immunocompromised patients. We report a series of patients with primary immune deficiencies (PIDs) who developed PML.

Methods: Retrospective observational study including PID patients with PML. Read More

Neuropsychopharmacology 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.

Drug abuse is a multifaceted disorder that involves maladaptive decision making. Long-lasting changes in the addicted brain are mediated by a complex circuit of brain reward regions. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is one region in which chronic drug exposure changes expression and function of upstream transcriptional regulators to alter drug responses and aspects of the addicted phenotype. Read More

Nat Commun 2018 Dec 14;9(1):5326. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Alphaviruses are enveloped RNA viruses that contain several human pathogens. Due to intrinsic heterogeneity of alphavirus particles, a high resolution structure of the virion is currently lacking. Here we provide a 3. Read More

Emerg Microbes Infect 2018 Dec 14;7(1):214. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Center for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Nakhon, Pathom, 73170, Thailand.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) caused by enteroviruses remains a public health threat, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region during the past two decades. Moreover, the introduction of multiple subgenotypes and the emergence of recombinant viruses is of epidemiological importance. Based on either the full genome or VP1 sequences, 32 enteroviruses (30 from HFMD patients, 1 from an encephalitic patient, and 1 from an asymptomatic contact case) isolated in Thailand between 2006 and 2014 were identified as 25 enterovirus 71 (EV71) isolates (comprising 20 B5, 1 C2, 2 C4a, and 2 C4b subgenotypes) and 7 coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) isolates (comprising 6 B1a and 1 B1b subgenotypes). Read More

Mol Cancer Res 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich

Increased levels of the chemokine CCL2 in cancer patients are associated with poor prognosis. Experimental evidence suggests that CCL2 correlates with inflammatory monocyte recruitment and induction of vascular activation; but the functionality remains open. Here, we show that endothelial Ccr2 facilitates pulmonary metastasis using an endothelial-specific Ccr2-deficient mouse model (Ccr2ecKO). Read More

Appl Environ Microbiol 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

infections can present different phenotypes in hosts, including different forms of reproductive manipulation and antiviral protection, which may influence infection dynamics within host populations. In populations of two distinct strains co-exist, each manipulating host reproduction: PanCI, causes cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), whereas PanMK, causes male-killing (MK). CI occurs when a -infected male mates with a female not infected with a compatible type of leading to non-viable offspring. Read More

Biochem J 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Tumor Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama, 7008558, Japan.

Recently we demonstrated that the anti-viral drug ribavirin (RBV) had the ability to suppress lipogenesis through downregulation of retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) under control of the intracellular GTP-level and AMP-activated protein kinase-related kinases, especially microtubule affinity regulating kinase 4 (MARK4). RXRα-overexpression attenuated but did not abolish lipogenesis suppression by RBV, implying that additional factor(s) were involved in this suppressive effect. In this study, we found that the protein level, but not the mRNA level, of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) was downregulated by RBV in hepatic cells. Read More

EBioMedicine 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Unidad de Inmunovirologia, Servicio de Biologia Molecular en Medicina, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara ″Fray Antonio Alcalde″, Mexico; Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico. Electronic address:

Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.

Background: Limited treatment data are available for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in sub-Saharan Africa, especially for genotype 4. Our objective was to establish the safety and efficacy of ledipasvir-sofosbuvir for chronic HCV genotype 1 or 4 infection in adults in Rwanda.

Methods: We did a single-arm trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ledipasvir-sofosbuvir in Rwandan adults with chronic HCV infection at a single study site (Rwanda Military Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda). Read More

Immunity 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology and Immunogen Discovery (CHAVI-ID), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center and the Collaboration for AIDS Vaccine Discovery (CAVD), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. Electronic address:

Passive administration of HIV neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) can protect macaques from hard-to-neutralize (tier 2) chimeric simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) challenge. However, conditions for nAb-mediated protection after vaccination have not been established. Here, we selected groups of 6 rhesus macaques with either high or low serum nAb titers from a total of 78 animals immunized with recombinant native-like (SOSIP) Env trimers. Read More

Bioorg Med Chem 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of System Chemotherapy and Molecular Sciences, Division of Bioinformatics and Chemical Genomics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan. Electronic address:

Hepatitis B, a viral infectious disease caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), is a life-threatening disease that leads liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Because the current treatments for HBV, such as an interferon (IFN) formulation or nucleoside/nucleotide analogues, are not sufficient, the development of a more effective agent for HBV is urgent required. CDM-3008 (1, 2-(2,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a][1,8]naphthyridin-8-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole) (RO8191)) is a small molecule with an imidazo[1,2-a][1,8]naphthyridine scaffold that shows anti-HCV activity with an IFN-like effect. Read More

Vaccine 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Neglected Zoonotic Diseases, Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Pre- as well as post-exposure prophylaxis plays an important role in controlling the number of deaths associated with human rabies. Rabies vaccines, classically injected intramuscularly, are now also administered by intradermal (ID) route. Vaccines to be administered by the ID route should meet the same quality, safety and efficacy specifications as vaccines for intramuscular (IM) use. Read More

Transfus Apher Sci 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Haematology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Universitas Hospital Haematology Academic Laboratories, Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Objective: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) results from a deficiency in the Von Willebrand factor (VWF) cleaving protease, ADAMTS13. Treatment involves plasma exchange (PEX) therapy with either fresh frozen plasma (FFP), cryosupernatant (CSP) or solvent/detergent-treated plasma (SDP), available in South Africa as Bioplasma FDP. The aim of the study was to generate in vitro data on these products, and to explore possible differences between the products that may offer treatment advantages. Read More

J Dermatol Sci 2018 Nov 13. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Department of Virology, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan.

Transplant Rev (Orlando) 2018 Oct 9. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Australia; Department of Nephrology, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia. Electronic address:

Despite improvements in graft survival, solid organ transplantation is still associated with considerable infection induced morbidity and mortality. If we were able to show that serious infection risk was associated with excessive suppression of immune capacity, we would be justified in "personalizing" the extent of immunosuppression by carefully monitored reduction to see if we can improve immune compromize without increasing the risk of rejection. Reliable biomarkers are needed to identify this patients at an increased risk of infection. Read More

Curr Opin Insect Sci 2018 Aug 24;28:90-97. Epub 2018 May 24.

Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 United States; Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 United States; Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 United States; Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 United States. Electronic address:

Mosquito specific viruses such as densonucleosis viruses ('densoviruses') have long been suggested as alternative mosquito control agents in the face of increasing insecticide resistance. Densoviruses are very species-specific and have been found to infect many important mosquito species. While some strains are highly pathogenic, other strains are more benign. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2018 Dec 14;18(1):664. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518112, China.

Background: Bacterial co-infection of patients suffering from influenza pneumonia is a key element that increases morbidity and mortality. The occurrence of Acinetobacter baumannii co-infection in patients with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus infection has been described as one of the most prevalent bacterial co-infections. However, the clinical and laboratory features of this entity of H7N9 and A. Read More

Molecules 2018 Dec 13;23(12). Epub 2018 Dec 13.

PanTherapeutics, Route de Lavaux 49, CH1095 Lutry, Switzerland.

Self-replicating single-stranded RNA viruses such as alphaviruses, flaviviruses, measles viruses, and rhabdoviruses provide efficient delivery and high-level expression of therapeutic genes due to their high capacity of RNA replication. This has contributed to novel approaches for therapeutic applications including vaccine development and gene therapy-based immunotherapy. Numerous studies in animal tumor models have demonstrated that self-replicating RNA viral vectors can generate antibody responses against infectious agents and tumor cells. Read More

Children (Basel) 2018 Dec 13;5(12). Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Pediatrics Residency Joint Programs, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy.

Obesity-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents the most common cause of pediatric liver disease due to overweight/obesity large-scale epidemics. In clinical practice, diagnosis is usually based on clinical features, blood tests, and liver imaging. Here, we underline the need to make a correct differential diagnosis for a number of genetic, metabolic, gastrointestinal, nutritional, endocrine, muscular, and systemic disorders, and for iatrogenic/viral/autoimmune hepatitis as well. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2019 Jan 5;109:770-778. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Surgical Oncology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address:

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection is linked to adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATLL) and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and several other disorders. ATLL occurs in approximately 5% of the 15-20 million people infected by HTLV-1 in the world. In general, ATLL is resistant to chemotherapy, which underlines the need for new and effective therapeutic strategies. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2019 Jan 26;109:1772-1784. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Radiation Oncology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated carcinoma. Fibronectin is regarded as a prognosticator in NPC and its involvement in cell motility has been reported in EBV infection and viral latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) overexpression NPC cell lines. However, its malignant potential in NPC cell lines without harbouring the EBV genome has not been investigated. Read More

Inflamm Bowel Dis 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Section of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Paediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Background: Data on the serologic status of childhood vaccines, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), are limited in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, we evaluated vaccine coverage and seroprotection, along with CMV and EBV seropositivity, in pediatric IBD.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, demographic data, IBD history, vaccine records, and serum for antibodies against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, varicella, hepatitis B (HBV), CMV, and EBV were collected from children with IBD. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

INRA, Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France. Electronic address:

Tripartite motif (TRIM) family or RBCC proteins comprises characteristic zinc-binding domains (a RING (R), a B-box type 1 (B1) and a B-box type 2 (B2)) and coiled-coil (CC) domain followed by a C-terminus variable domain. There are about 80 different TRIM proteins in human, but more than 200 in zebrafish with several large gene expansions (ftr >70 genes; btr >30 genes; trim35 > 30 genes). Repertoires of trim genes in fish are variable across fishes, but they have been remarkably diversified independently in a number of species. Read More

Virology 2018 Dec 11;528:7-18. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University, 701 W. 168th St., New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address:

The contributions of RIG-I and MDA5 receptors to sensing viruses of the Picornaviridae family were investigated. The picornaviruses encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) are detected by both MDA5 and RIG-I in bone marrow derived macrophages. In macrophages from wild type mice, type I IFN is produced early after infection; IFNβ synthesis is reduced in the absence of each sensor, while IFNα production is reduced in the absence of MDA5. Read More

Virology 2018 Dec 11;528:1-6. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA. Electronic address:

Horizontal transmission of virulence attenuating hypoviruses of Cryphonectria parasitica is restricted by an allorecognition system termed vegetative incompatibility (vic). A super donor formulation of two engineered C. parasitica strains (SD328/SD82) with gene disruptions at four of six vic loci transmitted hypovirus to strains in the laboratory independent of vic genotype. Read More

Pharmacol Res 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Skin Biology Group, Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology Department, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address:

Melanoma accounts for only 4% of malignant neoplasms of the skin, but is considered the most serious because it is highly deadly. Mutations in the MAPK (Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK) pathway is closely linked to the lack of control of cell proliferation. Especially in melanoma, this pathway has become a target for the development of oncogene-targeted therapies, such as the potent inhibitors of v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAFi) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEKi). Read More

Int J Infect Dis 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Virology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan980-8575; Collaborating Research Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, 9002 Research Drive, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines 1781.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality among adults worldwide. However, the distribution of etiology of CAP varies from one country to another with limited data from rural areas.

Methods: A prospective hospital-based study on adult CAP was conducted in Leyte, Central Philippines from May 2010 to May 2012. Read More

Brain Behav Immun 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232-2650, USA.

Background: Prenatal life stress exposure is linked to dysregulated immune function and chronic inflammatory disease in offspring, but we know little about its effects on infant immune response during viral infection.

Method: To address this issue, we examined associations between prenatal life stress exposure and infant upper-airway inflammatory markers during acute respiratory infection (ARI) using data from a prospective, population-based birth-cohort study (N=180). Infant inflammation was measured as a continuous latent factor within a structural equation modeling framework using nasal wash concentrations of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Read More

Free Radic Biol Med 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. Electronic address:

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a serious global health concern. Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent commonly used to treat various cancers. However, HBV-infected patients receiving chemotherapy are at risk of HBV reactivation via unknown mechanisms, which we aimed to elucidate in this study. Read More

Microb Pathog 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences, Medical Sciences University Islamic Azad, Tehran, Iran.

Legionella pneumophila causes a severe form of pneumonia known as Legionnaires' disease especially in patients with impaired cellular immune response. In order to prevent the disease, immunogenicity and the level of the induction of protective immunity from the recombinant peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (rPAL) against Legionella pneumophila in BALB/c mice was examined. Mice immunized with (rPAL) rapidly increased an antibody response in serum and also displayed a strong activation of both innate and adaptive cell-mediated immunity as determined by antigen-specific splenocyte proliferation, an early production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum and in the splenocyte cultures. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland. University of Iceland, Sæmundargata 2, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland. Electronic address:

Atlantic cod trypsin ZT is biochemically characterized for the first time in this report in comparison to a group I trypsin (cod trypsin I). To our knowledge, trypsin ZT is the first thoroughly characterized group III trypsin. A more detailed understanding of trypsin ZT biochemistry may give insight into its physiological role as well as its potential use within the biotechnology sector. Read More

Antiviral Res 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.

Filoviruses, which include Ebola virus and Marburg virus, are negative-sense RNA viruses associated with sporadic outbreaks of severe viral hemorrhagic fever characterized by uncontrolled virus replication. The extreme virulence and emerging nature of these zoonotic pathogens make them a significant threat to human health. Replication of the filovirus genome and production of viral RNAs requires the function of a complex of four viral proteins, the nucleoprotein (NP), viral protein 35 (VP35), viral protein 30 (VP30) and large protein (L). Read More

Antiviral Res 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

VIDO-InterVac, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E3, Canada; Microbiology & Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E3, Canada. Electronic address:

Human parainfluenza virus 3 (PIV3) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are major causative agents of serious respiratory tract illness in newborns and infants. Maternal vaccination could be a promising approach to provide immediate protection against severe PIV3 and RSV infection in young infants. Previously, we demonstrated that maternal immunization with a subunit vaccine consisting of the RSV fusion (F) protein formulated with TriAdj, an adjuvant consisting of poly(I:C), immune defense regulatory peptide and polyphosphazene, protects newborn lambs from RSV. Read More

Antiviral Res 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address:

Parechoviruses A (HPeV, Picornaviridae) are neglected human pathogens that cause sepsis-like illness and severe neurological complications in infants. There are no antivirals available for the treatment of HPeV infections. We here report on cell-based assays that allow for medium-throughput antiviral screening of compound libraries against HPeV. Read More

Antiviral Res 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Introduction: Rhinovirus (RV) infection is a major cause of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung morbidity with limited therapeutic options. Various diseases involving chronic inflammatory response and infection are associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and subsequent activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), an adaptive response to maintain cellular homeostasis. Recent evidence suggests impaired ER stress response in CF airway epithelial cells, this might be a reason for recurrent viral infection in CF. Read More

Antiviral Res 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany. Electronic address:

The summer of 2018 in Germany was the second hottest and driest on record. These generally extremely favorable climatic conditions most likely triggered the further expansion and the efficient propagation of the zoonotic arthropod-borne West Nile virus in many Southern/Southeastern and even Central European countries. WNV infections were detected for the first time in resident wild and aviary birds, such as common blackbirds, northern goshawks and great grey owls in Eastern and Southeastern Germany. Read More