Virology Journal最新文献

The norovirus (NoV) genome is diverse. Therefore, this study explored the epidemiological characteristics and genetic features of NoV in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China, from 2011 to 2022 to clarify the genetic diversity in this region. Stool samples were screened for NoV and then sequenced and genotyped. In total, 1,788 of 13,083 specimens were NoV -positive (13.67%); 204 (1.56%) and 1,584 (12.11%) cases were GI and GII, respectively. Additionally, 559 were NoV infection with other viruses (4.27%), primarily with rotavirus (277/559, 49.55%). The NoV incidence rate was the highest among children aged 0-2 years (18.09%, 1054/5,828) and lowest among adults aged 45-64 years (110/1,495, 7.36%); it was also higher in the winter and spring than in the other seasons. GI.3[P3] was the dominant GI genotype. The dominant GII genotype changed roughly every two years. In the GII group, GII.4 was the most common genotype (46.79%), followed by GII.3 (21.34%), GII.2 (12.34%), and GII.17 (9.77%). There were three variants of GII.4 Den Haag, GII.4 New Orleans and GII.4 Sydney identified in the detected GII.4 strains, with GII.4 Sydney dominating. The GII.4 (87.36%), GII.3 (86.35%), and GII.2 (72.92%) strains were primarily detected in children, whereas it was the GII.17 (52.63%) strain in adults. Overall, the NoV genotypes in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region were diverse. Primarily, GII groups were dominant, but this changed over time.

Purpose: Peginterferon alfa-2b (Peg-IFN α-2b) has demonstrated superior efficacy over nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), particularly among patients with low levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). This study aims to determine whether patients with ultra-low HBsAg levels (< 200 IU/mL) can achieve significantly higher clinical cure rates with abbreviated courses of Peg-IFN α-2b therapy.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis, CHB patients with HBsAg levels below 200 IU/mL were categorized into a Peg-IFN α-2b group and a control group. The Peg-IFN α-2b group received Peg-IFN α-2b for a minimum of 24 weeks, with the possibility of early discontinuation upon achieving HBsAg clearance, and were followed through week 48. The control group remained untreated for hepatitis B virus (HBV), and was observed for 24 weeks. HBsAg clearance rates were compared between groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with HBsAg clearance .

Results: By week 24, the HBsAg clearance rate in the Peg-IFN α-2b group was notably 52.1% (38/73), contrasting sharply with the mere 1.3% (1/77) observed in the control group. Within the Peg-IFN α-2b group, a substantial 97.3% (71/73) of patients noted a reduction in HBsAg levels. Besides, the decision to continue or discontinue treatment after the 24-week mark had no significant impact on the HBsAg clearance rate at week 48. Multivariable analysis pinpointed baseline HBsAg levels (OR = 0.984, p = 0.001) and the presence of fatty liver (OR = 5.960, p = 0.033) as independent predictors of HBsAg clearance.

Conclusion: Our findings confirm that a 24-week course of Peg-IFN α-2b yields robust efficacy in CHB patients with ultra-low HBsAg levels. Prolonging treatment beyond the 24-week threshold is deemed unnecessary. Both baseline HBsAg level and the presence of fatty liver emerged as significant predictors for HBsAg clearance.

Porcine circoviruses, particularly porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3), significantly impact the global pig industry due to their high prevalence and pathogenicity. Conversely, porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1) and porcine circovirus type 4 (PCV4) currently have low positivity rates. This study aimed to characterize the distribution and epidemiology of porcine circoviruses in Xinjiang, while also analyzing the genetic diversity and evolution of PCV2 and PCV3, which pose the greatest threats to the industry. In this study, we collected blood and tissue samples from 453 deceased pigs across eight regions in Xinjiang Province from 2022 to 2024. We utilized real-time PCR to detect the presence of PCV1, PCV2, PCV3, and PCV4. The positive rates were 15%, 71%, 25%, and 17%, respectively. Genetic analysis showed 9 PCV2 sequences and 12 PCV3 sequences. The capsid protein of PCV2 showed significant variability. In contrast, the amino acid sequences of capsid in PCV3 were relatively stable. Moreover, we predicted antigenic epitopes for PCV3 capsid using IEDB and ElliPro. The findings from this study provide valuable epidemiological data on PCV coinfection in the Xinjiang region and enhance the understanding of virus diversity nationwide. This research may serve as an important reference for the development of strategies to prevent and control porcine circovirus infections.

The objective of study was to characterize HPV in vaginal samples from women being seen at the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility at Weill Cornell Medicine before and following ovarian stimulation. A total of 29 women made samples available for analysis by viral metagenomics. Eighteen women were HPV-positive, six (33.3%) at their initial visit and 15 (83.3%) following hormone stimulation (p = 0.0059). Pairwise comparison of nucleotide sequences and phylogenetic analysis showed the classification sequences into two genera: Alphapapillomavirus and Gammapapillomavirus. Sequences were from 8 HPV types: HPV 51 (n = 2), HPV 68 (n = 1), HPV 83 (n = 9), HPV 84 (n = 2), HPV 121 (n = 6), HPV 175 (n = 1) and HPV 190 (n = 1). Additionally, C16b and C30 likely represent new types. In summary, multiple HPV types are present in the vagina of reproductive age women and are induced by hormone used to stimulate ovulation.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induces immune-mediated diseases. The pathophysiology of COVID-19 uses the following three mechanisms: (1) inflammasome activation mechanism; (2) cGAS-STING signaling mechanism; and (3) SAMHD1 tetramerization mechanism, which leads to IFN-I production. Interactions between the host and virus govern induction, resulting in multiorgan impacts. The NLRP3 with cGAS-STING constitutes the primary immune response. The expression of SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a, NSP6, NSP7, and NSP8 blocks innate immune activation and facilitates virus replication by targeting the RIG-I/MDA5, TRIF, and cGAS-STING signaling. SAMHD1 has a target motif for CDK1 to protect virion assembly, threonine 592 to modulate a catalytically active tetramer, and antiviral IFN responses to block retroviral infection. Plastic and allosteric nucleic acid binding of SAMHD1 modulates the antiretroviral activity of SAMHD1. Therefore, inflammasome activation, cGAS-STING signaling, and SAMHD1 tetramerization explain acute kidney injury, hepatic, cardiac, neurological, and gastrointestinal injury of COVID-19. It might be necessary to effectively block the pathological courses of diverse diseases.

Background: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an acute-phase protein that belongs to the pentraxin family, which plays an important role in the body's defense against pathogens. PTX3 levels have been associated with inflammatory processes, and it is a possible biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of different infectious diseases, including COVID-19. The objective of this study was to analyze the potential of PTX3 as a plasma biomarker for predicting death in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Methods: The study included a total of 312 patients with COVID-19, admitted from July 2020 to August 2021 to hospital ward and intensive care unit beds at two hospitals in the Northeast Region of Brazil. PTX3 was measured using ELISA in samples collected within 24 h after hospital admission. Maximally selected rank statistics were used to determine the PTX3 cutoff point that best distinguished patients who died from those who survived. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the performance of the biomarker. Survival analysis was performed using a Kaplan-Meier curve, and a Cox regression model was used to determine predictors associated with death.

Results: Of the 312 patients included in the study, 233 recovered and 79 died. Patients who died had higher PTX3 levels at the time of admission, when compared to those who recovered (median: 52.84 versus 10.79 ng/mL; p < 0.001). PTX3 showed area under the ROC (AUC) = 0.834, higher than other markers used in clinical practice, such as C-reactive protein (AUC = 0.72) and D-dimer (AUC = 0.77). Furthermore, according to the Kaplan-Meier survival curve, patients with PTX3 concentrations above the cutoff point (27.3 ng/mL) had a lower survival rate (p = 0.014). In multivariate Cox regression, PTX3 > 27.3 ng/mL was an important predictor of death, regardless of other confounding factors (hazard ratio = 1.79; p = 0.027).

Conclusion: PTX3 can be considered as a potential biomarker for predicting death in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is often diagnosed at a very advanced stage due to its location and non-specific initial symptoms. Moreover, no clinically useful serological marker has been established so far for early detection of NPC. In this study, we have investigated the clinical significance of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA load along with interleukin-6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels to evaluate if these three all together can be useful as a strong serological marker for early detection and prediction of treatment response in patients with NPC. Plasma EBV DNA load, IL-6 level, VEGF expressions were measured in 24 patients with NPC at presentation and various time points during and after treatment. There was a positive correlation between high plasma EBV DNA load with higher IL-6 and VEGF expression, which was closely associated with therapeutic response as well. Persistent or recurrent plasma EBV load with higher IL-6 and VEGF levels can potentially predict disease progression and may be useful to select patients for additional therapy and longer follow-up.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for the most common sexually transmitted infection, particularly among sexually active individuals. Understanding the geographical distribution and epidemiology of the most prevalent HPV genotypes is essential for developing effective prevention strategies. Consequently, this study aimed to examine the distribution of HPV genotypes among HPV-positive women and men in Sari, the capital city of Mazandaran province in northern Iran.

Materials and methods: HPV DNA was extracted (PZP Company, Molecular IVD, Iran) from genital and cervical samples of the study participants. Genotyping was conducted for 90 cases utilizing the High + Low Papilloma Strip test (Operon Company, Spain). Demographic data were statistically analyzed in correlation with the virological data (STATA version 17).

Results: Overall, 67.7% (61 out of 90) of the cases tested positive for HPV, with 75% of those being classified as high-risk. The participant group consisted of 92% females (83) and 8% males (7). The highest HPV prevalence, 75% (36), was observed in females and males aged under 31, with the majority of positive cases belonging to high-risk genotypes. The most frequently identified genotypes were HPV-11 (23%), HPV-6 (21%), HPV-56 (18%), HPV-39 (16%), HPV-16, HPV-91, and HPV-66 each comprising (14%). HPV-56 was the most common high-risk genotype, accounting for 11 cases (18%), followed by HPV-39, which was present in 10 cases (16%).

Conclusion: The prevalence of HPV infection was particularly high among individuals under the age of 31 for both genders, with men exhibiting a 100% infection rate. These findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted education aimed at the younger population and the implementation of infection control measures. Specifically, widespread HPV vaccination targeting HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-39, and HPV-56 should be prioritized for the general population.

Background: Respiratory infectious diseases have the highest incidence among infectious diseases worldwide. Currently, global monitoring of respiratory pathogens primarily focuses on influenza and coronaviruses. This study included influenza and other common respiratory pathogens to establish a local respiratory pathogen spectrum. We investigated and analyzed the co-infection patterns of these pathogens and explored the impact of lifting non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on the transmission of influenza and other respiratory pathogens. Additionally, we used a predictive model for infectious diseases, utilizing the commonly used An autoregressive comprehensive moving average model (ARIMA), which can effectively forecast disease incidence.

Methods: From June 2023 to February 2024, we collected influenza-like illness (ILI) cases weekly from the community in Xuanwu District, Nanjing, and obtained 2046 samples. We established a spectrum of respiratory pathogens in Nanjing and analysed the age distribution and clinical symptom distribution of various pathogens. We compared age, gender, symptom counts, and viral loads between individuals with co-infections and those with single infections. An autoregressive comprehensive moving average model (ARIMA) was constructed to predict the incidence of respiratory infectious diseases.

Results: Among 2046 samples, the total detection rate of respiratory pathogen nucleic acids was 53.37% (1092/2046), with influenza A virus 479 cases (23.41%), influenza B virus 224 cases (10.95%), and HCoV 95 cases (4.64%) being predominant. Some pathogens were statistically significant in age and number of symptoms. The positive rate of mixed infections was 6.11% (125/2046). There was no significant difference in age or number of symptoms between co-infection and simple infection. After multiple iterative analyses, an ARIMA model (0,1,4), (0,0,0) was established as the optimal model, with an R² value of 0.930, indicating good predictive performance.

Conclusions: The spectrum of respiratory pathogens in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, was complex in the past. The primary age groups of different viruses were different, causing various symptoms, and the co-infection of viruses did not correlate with the age and gender of patients. The ARIMA model estimated future incidence, which plateaued in subsequent months.

Viral infections pose significant threats to human health, leading to a diverse spectrum of infectious diseases. The innate immune system serves as the primary barrier against viruses and bacteria in the early stages of infection. A rapid and forceful antiviral innate immune response is triggered by distinguishing between self-nucleic acids and viral nucleic acids. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are a diverse group of proteins which contain specific structural motifs or domains for binding RNA molecules. In the last decade, numerous of studies have outlined that RBPs influence viral replication via diverse mechanisms, directly recognizing viral nucleic acids and modulating the activity of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). In this review, we summarize the functions of RBPs in regulation of host-virus interplay by controlling the activation of PRRs, such as RIG-I, MDA5, cGAS and TLR3. RBPs are instrumental in facilitating the identification of viral RNA or DNA, as well as viral structural proteins within the cellular cytoplasm and nucleus, functioning as co-receptor elements. On the other hand, RBPs are capable of orchestrating the activation of PRRs and facilitating the transmission of antiviral signals to downstream adaptor proteins by post-translational modifications or aggregation. Gaining a deeper comprehension of the interaction between the host and viruses is crucial for the development of novel therapeutics targeting viral infections.