Reviews in Medical Virology最新文献

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Infection remains a public health problem and a threat to blood transfusion safety. The aim of this study was to summarise the scientific literature on the seroprevalence of HBV and occult HBV among blood donors in Africa. Searches were carried out in PubMed, Science Direct, Global Index Medicus and African Journals Online from 2012 to 2022. Dersimonian and Laird's random-effects model-based method was used for statistical analyses to estimate pooled seroprevalence at a 95% confidence interval (CI) using STATA version 14 software. Heterogeneity was assessed on the basis of Cochran's Q test and quantified by the I² index. The methodological quality of the articles was assessed using the Joanna Brigg Institute's critical appraisal checklist. Among 90 articles included, 86 reported data in serological test that a pooled HBV seroprevalence of 5.53% (95% CI: 4.56-6.58; I² = 99.94%) and 14 provided occult hepatitis B data. A high prevalence of 9.69% (95% CI: 8.42-11.03) was observed in the West African region. Lowest prevalence was 1.22% (95% CI: 0.74-1.83) in South Africa region. Prevalence in Africa among men was: 5.18% (95% CI: 3.97-6.54) and in women: 3.50% (95% CI: 2.45-4.71) (I² = 99.76% and p < 0.01). While the overall pooled prevalence of occult hepatitis B was 3.18% (95% CI: 1.29-5.81). HBV seroprevalence is high in low-resource areas of Africa, and the data generated by this situation calls for constant epidemiological surveillance. Emphasis must be placed on building blood donor loyalty and integrating molecular testing into the biological qualification of blood donations.

Enteroviruses (EV) initiate replication by binding to their cellular receptors, leading to the uncoating and release of the viral genome into the cytosol of the host cell. Neutralising antibodies (NAbs) binding to epitopes on enteroviral capsid proteins can inhibit this infectious process through several mechanisms of neutralisation in vitro. Fc-mediated antibody effector functions such as antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis have also been described for some EV. However, antibody binding to virions does not always result in viral neutralisation. Non-neutralising antibodies, or sub-neutralising concentrations of antibodies, can enhance infection of viruses, leading to more severe pathologies. This phenomenon, known as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection, has been described in vitro and/or in vivo for EV including poliovirus, coxsackievirus B and EV-A71. It has been shown that ADE of EV infection is mediated by FcγRs expressed by monocytes, macrophages, B lymphocytes and granulocytes. Antibodies play a crucial role in the diagnosis and monitoring of infections. They are valuable markers that have been used to establish a link between enteroviral infection and chronic diseases such as type 1 diabetes. Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies targeting enteroviral proteins have been developed and shown to be effective to prevent or combat EV infections in vitro and in vivo. In addition, vaccines are under development, and clinical trials of vaccines are underway or have been completed, providing hope for the prevention of diseases due to EV. However, the ADE of the infection should be considered in the development of anti-EV antibodies or safe vaccines.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a diverse group of proteases involved in various physiological and pathological processes through modulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, cytokines, and growth factors. In the central nervous system (CNS), MMPs play a major role in CNS development, plasticity, repair, and reorganisation contributing to learning, memory, and neuroimmune response to injury. MMPs are also linked to various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cerebral aneurysm, stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and brain cancer suggesting these proteases as key regulatory factors in the nervous system. Moreover, MMPs have been involved in the pathogenesis of neurotropic viral infections via dysregulation of various cellular processes, which may highlight these factors as potential targets for the treatment and control of neurological complications associated with viral pathogens. This review provides an overview of the roles of MMPs in various physiological processes of the CNS and their interactions with neurotropic viral pathogens.

Background and objective: The COVID-19 pandemic spread rapidly throughout the world and caused millions of deaths globally. Several vaccines have been developed to control the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce the burden it placed on public health. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of different vaccine platforms in inducing potent antibody responses. Moreover, the seroconversion rate and common side effects of vaccine platforms were evaluated.

Methods: This meta-analysis included clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines that met the eligibility criteria. Electronic databases (including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) and Google Scholar search engine were searched for eligible studies. Regarding the methodological heterogeneity between the included studies, we selected a random-effects model. The geometric mean ratio (GMR) was chosen as the effect size for this meta-analysis.

Results: Of the 1838 records identified through screening and after removing duplicate records, the full texts of 1076 records were assessed for eligibility. After the full-text assessment, 56 records were eligible and included in the study. Overall, vaccinated participants had a 150.8-fold increased rate of anti-spike IgG titres compared with the placebo group (GMR = 150.8; 95% CI, 95.9-237.1; I² = 100%). Moreover, vaccinated participants had a 37.3-fold increased rate of neutralising antibody titres compared with the placebo group (GMR = 37.3; 95% CI, 28.5-48.7; I² = 99%). The mRNA platform showed a higher rate of anti-spike IgG (GMR = 1263.5; 95% CI, 431.1-3702.8; I² = 99%), while neutralising antibody titres were higher in the subunit platform (GMR = 53.4; 95% CI, 32.8-87.1; I² = 99%) than in other platforms. Different vaccine platforms showed different rates of both anti-spike IgG and neutralising antibody titres with interesting results. The seroconversion rate of anti-spike IgG and neutralising antibody titres was more than 98% in the vaccinated participants.

Conclusion: Inactivated and subunit vaccines produced a high percentage of neutralising antibodies and had a low common adverse reaction rate compared to other platforms. In this regard, subunit and inactivated vaccines can still be used as the main vaccine platforms for effectively controlling infections with high transmission rates.

Influenza A virus (IAV) remains a significant global public health threat, causing substantial illness and economic burden. Despite existing antiviral drugs, the emergence of resistant strains necessitates alternative therapeutic strategies. This review explores the complex interplay between the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) and IAV pathogenesis. We discuss how IAV manipulates the UPS to promote its lifecycle, while also highlighting how host cells utilise the UPS to counteract viral infection. Recent research on deubiquitinases as potential regulators of IAV infection is also addressed. By elucidating the multifaceted role of the UPS in IAV pathogenesis, this review aims to identify potential targets for novel therapeutic interventions.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) represents a significant burden on older adults (aged ≥ 50 years) globally and can lead to acute respiratory tract infections with substantial morbidity and mortality. However, there is a significant gap in knowledge regarding RSV infection in older adults, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. This knowledge gap underscores the need for targeted and comprehensive studies to fully understand the nuanced epidemiology of RSV in ageing populations. This review synthesises data from various countries, emphasising the impact of RSV on older populations in the Asia-Pacific region. The overall proportions of RSV-related ARIs among older patients ranged from 0.2% to 5.6%. Among older adult patients with CAP, RSV accounted for 1.1%-10.3% of cases. However, it is crucial to note that the diversity in reported percentages highlights the influence of factors such as geographic location, health care settings and diagnostic practices. The most common symptoms observed in older adults with RSV infection were cough, sputum production and fever, followed by dyspnoea, sore throat and rhinorrhoea. Most of the old adults with RSV infection had underlying diseases, and RSV can cause significant morbidity and mortality in old adults. Treatment of RSV infections predominantly involve supportive care, with aerosolised ribavirin reserved for severe cases, especially immunocompromised patients. Emerging antiviral agents, including fusion and nucleoprotein inhibitors, offer promising avenues for future therapeutics. The recent approval of the bivalent RSV prefusion F protein-based vaccine for individuals aged 60 and older represents a milestone in preventive strategies. In conclusion, RSV infection remains a significant threat to older adults in the Asia-Pacific region, necessitating ongoing research and surveillance efforts. The recent vaccine approval marks a positive milestone, but further studies are crucial for refining prevention and treatment approaches.

Infertility affects approximately one-sixth of couples worldwide, with male factors contributing to half of all cases. However, infections, particularly those of reproductive tract, are increasingly recognized as important contributors to male infertility. Therefore, in this meta-analysis, we focused on the impact of various viral infections on male infertility. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library on 20 October 2023. And included 135 studies involving 30,298 men of reproductive age. We found that the human papilloma virus (HPV)-infected group had a significantly higher DNA fragmentation index (DFI) than the non-infected group, with a mean difference (MD) of 5.64 (95% CI: 3.74-7.54). Conversely, the HPV-infected group had significantly lower sperm count, concentration, viability and normal morphology. Other viruses that affect semen quality include hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). HBV significantly decreased fertilization rate, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.76-0.99). HPV associated with lower clinical pregnancy rate (OR: 0.31 [95% CI: 0.16-0.62]) and higher miscarriage rate (OR: 5.28 [95% CI: 2.02-13.78]). Additionally, the fertility treatment group had a significantly higher rate of HPV infection (OR: 1.85 [95% CI: 1.10-3.12]) and adeno-associated virus (AAV) infection (OR: 8.49 [95% CI: 2.66-27.10]) than the fertility group. Conclusively, most viral infections affect semen quality, while HBV and HPV may affect assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. HPV and AAV are risk factors for infertility.

The World Health Organisation has set targets of reducing the transmission of new hepatitis C (HCV) infections by 90%, and ending human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) as a public health threat, by 2030. To achieve this, efficient and timely viral surveillance, and effective public health interventions, are required. Traditional epidemiological methods are largely dependent on the recognition of incident cases with symptomatic illness; acute HIV and HCV infections are commonly asymptomatic, which may lead to delays in the recognition of such new infections. Instead, for these viruses, molecular epidemiology may improve the detection of, and response to, clusters of viral transmission. Molecular epidemiology using historical datasets has highlighted key populations that may have benefitted from a timely intervention. Similar analyses performed on contemporary samples are needed to underpin the 2030 targets, but this requires the generation of a cohesive dataset of viral genome sequences in near-real-time. To generate such data, methodologies harnessing next-generation sequencing (NGS) should be utilised. Here we discuss the opportunity presented by NGS for public health surveillance of HIV and HCV, and discuss three methods that can generate sequences for such analysis. These include full-length genome amplification, utilised for analysis of HCV in the research space; tiling PCR, which was the method of choice for many diagnostic laboratories in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic; and bait-capture hybridisation, which has been utilised in local HIV outbreaks. These techniques could be applied for near-real-time HIV and HCV surveillance, informing public health strategies that will be key to achieving 2030 targets.

The persistent challenge posed by viruses that infect the central nervous system lies in their sophisticated ability to evade the host immune system. This review explores into the complex mechanisms of immune evasion employed by these neurotropic viruses, focussing on their modulation of host immune responses, evasion of adaptive immunity, and the cellular and molecular strategies that enable their persistence. Key areas explored include viral latency and reactivation, the inhibition of apoptosis, and antigenic variation, with a detailed examination of viral proteins and their interactions with host cellular processes.