Virology Journal最新文献

Background: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has established the 95-95-95 targets, aiming that by 2030, 95% of individuals on ART will achieve viral suppression. While the number of people receiving ART has increased significantly, there is a lack of comprehensive data on the pooled prevalence of virological failure among people living with HIV in Africa. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the prevalence of virological failure and identify contributing factors within this population.

Methods: An extensive search was carried out using databases such as African Journals Online, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar to find relevant studies examining virological failure and its influencing factors. To assess variability between studies, the I² statistic was utilized, while Egger's test was employed to detect any signs of publication bias. The overall prevalence of virological failure was estimated using the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model. Additionally, sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the robustness of the findings and to identify any studies with results that significantly deviated from the rest.

Result: Out of nine articles, the overall pooled prevalence of virological failure was 11.54% (95% CI: 5.950-17.128, I²=30.7%). In the African country, virological failure was associated with ART interruption (POR = 7.09 (95% CI: 2.09, 24.09; I² = 79.5%, P = 0.027)), poor adherence (POR = 9.0 (95% CI: 5.41, 14.96; I² = 0.0%; P = 0.709)), TB/HIV co-infection (POR = 6.17 (95% CI: 1.17-32.42; I² = 89.9%; P = 0.002)), and CD4 count/percentage (POR = 7.70 (1.77, 33.42); I² = 84.4%, P = 0.011)).

Conclusion and recommendation: Virological failure was found to be relatively high in Africa. Therefore, to accelerate progress toward these goals, policymakers should design and implement mechanisms aimed at improving adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), preventing treatment interruptions, and reducing the incidence of opportunistic infections such as TB. Furthermore, we recommend that researchers conduct exploratory studies to identify additional factors associated with virological failure, which could inform more targeted and effective interventions.

Background: Members of the species Alphacoronavirus suis/Alphacoronavirus-1 (αCoV-1) are important viral pathogens of canids/felids that exhibit complex evolutionary patterns and have been associated with interspecies transmission events including zoonoses. Mongooses (family Herpestidae, order Carnivora) are scavengers that pose a risk as potential carrier of viral pathogens. To date, there are no reports on the genetic make-up/diversity of CoVs circulating in mongoose populations.

Methods: Fecal samples obtained from 53 small Indian mongooses (Urva auropunctata) on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts were screened for CoVs using a pan-CoV RT-semi-nested PCR assay and canine αCoV-specific RT-PCR assays. The partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and membrane protein (M) coding sequences (CDS) and the nearly full-length spike (S) protein CDS were determined from the mongoose CoVs and analyzed in the present study.

Results: We report here high detection rates of αCoVs (30.18%, 16/53 samples) in small Indian mongooses on St. Kitts, indicating that αCoVs might be widely circulating in the island mongoose population. Analysis of the CoV RdRp-, M- and S- CDS revealed significant genetic diversity among the mongoose CoVs, and between mongoose CoVs and other αCoVs, including evidence for at least 2 recombination events (involving S gene), one of which involved the putative receptor binding domain (RBD). Phylogenetically, the mongoose CoVs formed distinct cluster/s within the canine CoV-2 (CCoV-2) lineage and appeared to be more related to CCoV-2b than other αCoVs. Despite differences in the S CDS including those in the RBD, the mongoose CoVs preserved certain features that are characteristic of CCoV-2 (lack of furin cleavage motif at S1/S2 site and presence of cleavage motif at S2' site) and retained the crucial amino acid residues essential for αCoV binding to the host aminopeptidase N receptor.

Conclusions: The present study is the first to report high detection rates and genetic makeup/diversity of CoVs in mongooses, expanding our knowledge on the host range and complex evolutionary patterns of αCoVs. Considering our findings, the proximity of mongoose to other canids/felids and humans, and cross-species transmission potential of CoVs, large-scale studies on prevalence and genetic diversity of CoVs that might be circulating in different mongoose species/populations, and in-depth investigation of mongoose CoV RBD-host receptor interactions are of utmost importance.

Background: West Nile virus (WNV) is spreading rapidly to numerous countries in Europe. WNV maintains an enzootic cycle with many bird species as key amplifying hosts and mosquitoes of the Culex pipiens complex as main vectors. Worldwide, nine WNV lineages have been described so far. The objective of this study was to elucidate the genetic diversity of WNV in Germany in 2023 and 2024 with a focus on birds as reservoir hosts.

Methods: A total of 86 samples (25 from 2023, 61 from 2024) from dead and live birds submitted by German state veterinary laboratories and as part of a nationwide wild bird surveillance network. Samples were selected for whole genome sequencing (WGS) based on bird species, Ct value, and location. Viral RNA was extracted from bird samples and submitted to two WNV specific reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction protocols. Subsequently, viral RNAs were amplified, WGS was performed using MinION technology and WGS data were processed to determine lineages and clusters.

Results: The majority of WNV RNA positive birds selected for WGS in 2023 and 2024 were Eurasian Goshawks (Astur gentilis, n = 45). In 2023, WNV RNA positive birds were identified in only six federal states, as opposed to 13 federal states in 2024. All WNV RNA positive bird samples from 2023 to 2024 belonged to WNV Lineage 2 (WNV-2). Of the 86 sequenced samples, ~ 73% clustered within subcluster 2.5.3.4.3c. This subcluster, which also includes closely related sequences from Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia, represents the dominant circulating variant. The remaining sequences (~ 27%) grouped within cluster 2.5.3.2, demonstrating the co-circulation of at least two genetically distinct WNV-2 variants in Germany.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the ongoing geographic expansion and local establishment of WNV-2 seven years after the initial detection of this virus in Germany, characterized by continuous virus evolution and the predominance of subcluster 2.5.3.4.3c, which suggests regional connectivity of transmission chains, underscoring the importance of transboundary surveillance and coordinated control measures.

Background: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (G6PDd) is an common enzyme deficiency disease, inducing hemolysis, hyperbilirubinemia, and jaundice, as well as liver dysfunction, in approximately 400 million patients. Patients with G6PDd are more susceptible to viruses infection than those without. However, the incidence and severity of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in patients with G6PDd are largely unknown.

Methods: The prevalence of HEV in patients with G6PDd was investigated. Susceptibility to HEV was evaluated in a hepatoma cell line with G6PD knockdown, and the interaction between HEV and G6PD was assessed.

Results: The prevalence of HEV infection was higher in patients with G6PDd (23.8%, 25/105) than in patients with normal G6PD levels (0.65%, 2/307), indicating that patients with G6PDd are susceptible to HEV infection. Higher rates of hyperbilirubinemia (64% vs. 36.25%) and pneumonia (28% vs. 12.5%) were observed in HEV-infected patients with G6PDd than in patients with normal G6PD values. G6PD knockdown facilitated HEV entry and aggravated oxidative stress with the significant inhibition of glutathione to benefit viral replication but was restricted by NADPH reduction. Co-IP and colocation assays revealed that HEV ORF3 interacted with G6PD. HEV infection stimulated the expression of G6PD in a manner dependent on nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 activation. Consequently, severe apoptosis was observed in HEV-infected cells with G6PD knockdown.

Conclusions: Patients with G6PDd are susceptible to HEV infection. The facilitation of HEV entry and aggravation of oxidative stress may contribute to HEV susceptibility in patients with G6PDd and severe disease.

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Individuals aged 50 years and older are at high risk due to immune aging. The Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD 2021) provides multidimensional data across regions and time series for analyzing HZ epidemiological characteristics in high-risk groups. However, studies on inequalities stratified by the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and future trend predictions for these groups are still lacking.

Methods: Based on the GBD 2021 database, we extracted data on HZ incidence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) among individuals aged ≥ 50 years in 204 countries and regions from 1990 to 2021. We used the Age-Period-Cohort (APC) model, inequality indices (SII/CI), frontier analysis, and BPAC prediction models, combined with stratification by the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and geography, to explore the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving factors of the disease burden and predict trends up to 2035.

Results: From 1990 to 2021, the global incidence of HZ in high-risk groups increased from 5.48 million to 12.49 million cases (a 128% increase), with the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) rising slightly from 640.9 to 654.1 per 100,000 (EAPC 0.1%). DALYs increased from 141,000 to 220,000 (a 56.8% increase), while the age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) decreased from 18.27 to 11.90 per 100,000 (EAPC - 1.45%). SDI stratification revealed a pattern of "higher incidence but lower burden in high SDI regions, and lower incidence but higher burden in low SDI regions." Women and individuals aged ≥ 90 years had the highest burden. APC analysis showed that age was the core driving factor, with the period effect indicating a peak in incidence around 2005 and a continuous decline in DALYs due to medical interventions. The cohort effect showed a lower disease burden in younger cohorts. The number of cases is predicted to continue rising by 2035, while the ASIR will fluctuate at a high level.

Conclusion: The disease burden of HZ in high-risk groups is driven by multiple factors, including aging, gender, SDI, and access to medical care, showing significant multidimensional disparities. Stratified precision prevention and control measures (strengthening surveillance and elderly interventions in high SDI regions, and supplementing basic medical resources in low-middle SDI regions), widespread vaccination, and international resource redistribution are needed to curb the rising disease burden and promote global health equity.

Background: Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is a necessary cause of cervical cancer and its precancerous lesions. This study aimed to identify factors associated with HR-HPV persistence in Chinese women.

Methods: This study is a population-based, nationwide, multi-center prospective cohort study initiated in 2017, and a total of 10,481 women undergoing cervical cancer screening were enrolled. A subset of 1,684 women who tested HR-HPV positive at baseline were included in the analysis. The results of their HPV testing at baseline and during three follow-up visits (2018-2020) were used to assess 1-, 2-, and 3-year HR-HPV persistence. Variables with statistically significant associations in univariate analyses, expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were subsequently entered into a stepwise multivariate logistic regression model to identify independent predictors of HR-HPV persistence.

Results: The mean age of 1,684 HPV-positive women at baseline was 47.6 ± 9.5 (interquartile range (IQR) = 42-54) years. The most prevalent genotypes at baseline were HPV52 (28.3%), HPV16 (20.2%), HPV58 (17.8%), HPV33 (6.7%), and HPV18 (6.2%). Overall HR-HPV persistence rates declined over time were 66.8% at 1 year, 48.3% at 2 years, and 39.9% at 3 years. Infection with HPV33 (OR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.42-4.01), HPV52 (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.45-2.64), or HPV58 (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.40-2.88), as well as postmenopausal status (OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 2.17-3.72), were significantly associated with 3-year persistence, and alcohol consumption was associated with a reduced risk of persistence (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.30-0.79). Furthermore, HPV16 was the most frequently detected genotype in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 and worse (CIN2+), indicating it plays a predominant role in chronically pathogenic of high cervical disease.

Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of genotype-specific and host-related factors in HR-HPV persistence and support the implementation of tailored cervical cancer screening strategies. Women infected with HPV33, HPV52, or HPV58, along with HPV16 may require closer long-term monitoring to prevent progression to high-grade cervical lesions.

Background and aim: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection and is the leading cause of genital warts and cervical cancer. However, research on HPV prevalence within the Iraqi population is limited, with only a few published studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV among Iraqi women.

Methods: In this study, samples from 2,193 married women referred to PharmaGene laboratory for diagnostic evaluation between 2023 and 2025 were analyzed. HPV genotyping was performed using the HPV Direct Flow CHIP system.

Result: The overall positive rate was 12.7% (n = 279). Within the positive cases, 6.9% had only high-risk (HR-HPV) genotypes, 4.4% had only low-risk (LR-HPV) genotypes, and 1.4% were co-infected with both HR and LR-HPV genotypes. The most frequently detected HPV genotypes were HPV 18 (13.3%), HPV 11 (11.4%), HPV 16 (6.9%), HPV 62/81 (5.7%), HPV 39 (4.5%), HPV 51 (3.6%), and HPV 6 (3.6%). Among HPV-positive cases, the prevalence of single, double, triple, and quadruple or higher infections was 83.5%, 14%, 1.8%, and 0.7%, respectively.

Conclusion: This study presents novel epidemiological data on the prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV infection in Iraq, offering a valuable basis for enhancing cervical cancer screening and HPV prevention strategies. Furthermore, understanding the distribution of HPV genotypes may support the implementation of targeted vaccination programs.

Objective: To analyze the infection status and subtype distribution of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) and their relationship with cervical lesions among women undergoing cervical cancer screening in Guizhou Province, thereby informing HPV vaccine selection and optimizing cervical cancer screening strategies.

Methods: Data were sourced from the 2024 Guizhou Province free cervical cancer screening program for women. The prevalence of hrHPV-positive samples was analyzed, and age-specific associations between HPV genotypes and severe lesions were explored. Furthermore, the co-infection propensity for any two HPV genotypes was assessed by calculating the infection rate ratio.

Results: The overall hrHPV infection rate in the Guizhou region of China was 10.09%. Among hrHPV-positive individuals, the detection rate of cervical lesions was 11.49%. In hrHPV-positive women with cervical lesions, the most common genotypes were HPV16, 52, and 58. HPV16 was predominant across the entire spectrum of cervical lesions, and its prevalence increased significantly with the severity of cervical lesions, from 21.7% in LSIL to 39.4% in HSIL, and to 56.7% in cervical cancer (p < 0.001). However, the primary HPV types leading to cervical cancer were HPV16, 18, and 33. The infection pattern was predominantly single genotype (71.8%), with multiple genotypes accounting for only 28.2%. Among multiple infections, dual infection was the most common. The most frequent mixed genotype combinations were HPV16 + 52, 52 + 58, and 16 + 58. Significant co-infection preferences were observed for HPV16 with 33, HPV16 with 58, and HPV18 with 59. Analysis of the association between HPV genotype risk grouping and age across different cervical lesion grades showed that in the LSIL group, women aged 55-65 had a significantly 24% higher risk of HPV16 infection compared to those aged 35-45 (P = 0.023), while the risk of 'Other hrHPV' infection was significantly reduced by 8% (P = 0.019). In the HSIL group, the 45-55 age group had a significantly 11% lower risk of 'Other hrHPV' infection compared to the 35-45 age group.

Conclusion: HPV16 predominates across the entire cervical lesion spectrum, with its prevalence significantly increasing with lesion severity. Furthermore, the nonavalent HPV vaccine covers all prevalent oncogenic hrHPV genotypes in this region (except for HPV56). These findings provide crucial epidemiological evidence for optimizing HPV vaccination strategies and cervical cancer screening programs.

Infection by SARS-CoV-2 has contributed to more than four million deaths worldwide. Based on clinical observations, it has been revealed that the virus can easily disturb the function of various organs in the body. Besides its main damage to the respiratory system, the extra-pulmonary manifestations are deemed to be common in affected patients even after COVID-19 vaccination. COVID-19 has been accompanied by various types of skin manifestations, including varicella-like exanthemas, dengue-like petechial rashes, or urticarial eruptions. However, not only have viral rashes been related to COVID-19, but also other types of skin symptoms that are reminiscent of a vascular disease, such as acro-ischaemic lesions. This literature review aims to provide information on various forms of COVID-19-induced vasculitis and vasculitis following vaccination. It has been hypothesized that various forms of vasculitis can be considered as pathological consequences following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Numerous suggested mechanisms are involved in vasculitis, including the deregulation of the immune system, increased activation of mastocyte, augmented production of proinflammatory cytokines, which in turn lead to indirect endothelial damage, complement system activation, recruitment of neutrophils, and deposition of immune complexes. Based on previous studies, the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine is much more implicated in relation to vasculitis. SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 vaccination lead to the onset and relapse of different types of vasculitis that should be clinically evaluated by exact monitoring.

Oropouche, second only to dengue, a public health concern in the Amazon Basin of South America, has caused multiple localized outbreaks since its initial identification in 1955. Recurrent epidemics have been reported across various regions, with over 500,000 confirmed cases reported to date [De lima STS, Hua X, Claro IM 31(4):838-42, 2025, Almeida JD, Tyrrell DA, 1(2):175-8, 1967]. From late 2023 to early 2024, the geographic range of OROV rapidly expanded, Epidemiological data indicate that the geographical spread of the virus has extended beyond endemic regions such as Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, with imported cases successively reported in non-endemic areas including Italy and the United States, confirming its significant potential for cross-border transmission and global dissemination [Castilletti C, Mori A, Matucci A, 29(26), 2024, Benitez A J, Alvarez M, Perez L, 30(10): 2155-9, 2024]. Currently, there are notable gaps in surveillance networks and control capabilities for this pathogen, alongside a scarcity of fundamental research and countermeasures. Recent outbreaks have heightened concerns, as they not only threaten to overwhelm local healthcare systems but also raise alarms about the potential escalation to regional epidemics and even global public health emergencies. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing literature, this review systematically synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular characteristics, epidemiology, and available detection and treatment methods of the virus. It reveals substantial gaps in the understanding of its pathogenic mechanisms and transmission dynamics. There is an urgent need to enhance viral surveillance, advance translational research from basic virology to clinical applications, and accelerate the development of medical countermeasures-including diagnostic reagents, vaccines, and antiviral therapies-to effectively mitigate the potential public health threat posed by this pathogen. Currently, surveillance and control measures for OROV remain limited. Despite its significant impact, research on OROV is scarce. Recent outbreaks may overwhelm local healthcare systems, raising concerns about the risk of regional epidemics and even potential public health emergencies worldwide. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular virology and epidemiology of OROV, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced surveillance, as well as accelerated research into its pathogenesis, vaccines, and therapeutics to mitigate the threat posed by this emerging arbovirus.