VirusDisease最新文献

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) non-structural protein 2 (nsP2) is a multifunctional enzyme essential for viral replication and host immune evasion. While nsP2's role in mammalian infection is well-established, its interactions within mosquito vectors remain poorly characterized. Here, we performed a comparative interactome analysis using co-immunoprecipitation coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to identify nsP2 host protein interactions in human hepatoma-derived Huh7 cells and Aedes albopictus U4.4 cells. We identified 56 high-confidence nsP2 interactors in Huh7 cells and 46 in U4.4 cells, with pathway enrichment analysis revealing convergent targeting of translation machinery, proteasomal degradation, and metabolic pathways in both systems. Protein-protein interaction networks demonstrated distinct functional clustering, with mammalian networks emphasizing metabolic reprogramming and mitochondrial function, while mosquito networks prioritized translation and oxidative stress responses. Comparative analysis identified six conserved interactors across both cell types, highlighting fundamental host dependencies exploited by CHIKV across vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, providing insights for developing broad-spectrum antiviral strategies targeting virus-host interfaces critical for replication in both mammalian hosts and mosquito vectors.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-025-00941-x.

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a globally distributed respiratory virus that can infect individuals of all ages. Infections can lead to severe respiratory illnesses, particularly in young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Due to the genetic variability of HMPV and the absence of a vaccine, there is an urgent need for effective vaccine development. This study employed in silico immunoinformatics approaches to design a multi-epitope vaccine targeting the conserved regions fusion glycoprotein (F) of HMPV. A total of 18 highly conserved, antigenic, non-toxic, and non-allergenic epitopes were identified, including 5 B-cell epitopes, 8 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes, and 5 helper T lymphocyte (HTL) epitopes. These epitopes were linked using appropriate linkers, and an adjuvant was incorporated to enhance immunogenicity. Computational analyses predicted the vaccine construct to be antigenic, non-allergenic, and non-toxic. Molecular docking studies with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) demonstrated a strong binding affinity, with a binding energy of - 112.7 ± 9.7 kcal/mol and a Z-score of - 2.5. Molecular dynamics simulations further confirmed the stability of the vaccine-TLR4 complex. Immune simulation analysis predicted robust immune responses, including elevated levels of IgM, IgG1, IgG2, and combined IgG + IgM. Finally, in silico codon optimization and cloning analysis indicated that the vaccine construct could be efficiently expressed in E. coli. These findings support the potential of the proposed multi-epitope vaccine as a candidate for HMPV prevention; however, experimental in vitro and in vivo studies are required to validate its immunogenicity, safety, and efficacy.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-025-00932-y.

Perceived quality of life (QoL) is a critical element for older persons living with HIV-positive diagnosis. The intersection of aging, chronic illness, and the complexities of managing HIV significantly influences their quality of life. This study investigated the relationship between perceived QoL and lifestyle factors among older adults living with HIV in Uganda. This cross-sectional survey was conducted with older adults (above 50 years) living with HIV attending The AIDS Support Organization centres across the major regions in Uganda. Data were cleaned and analyzed using STATA 15, with modified Poisson regression assessing factors associated with perceived quality of life. A total of 440 participants were interviewed. While 52% reported poor perceived quality of life before initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART), this decreased to 35% after ART initiation. This suggests a substantial improvement in the health of older adults living with HIV. Before ART initiation, poor quality of life was significantly associated with being aged 60 years or older (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 1.17, 95% CI 0.94-1.46), adhering to the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) faith (aRR 1.89, 95% CI 1.12-3.21), being a casual labourer (aRR 0.62, 95% CI 0.41-0.94), being married (aRR 0.65, 95% CI 0.42-1.01), having one sexual partner (aRR 1.50, 95% CI 1.16-1.93), alcohol consumption (aRR 0.71, 95% CI 0.15-0.85), infrequent fruit consumption (aRR 1.75, 95% CI 0.99-3.09), consuming white meat 1-3 times per week (aRR 1.61, 95% CI 1.23-2.10), engaging in sports 4-7 days per week (aRR 0.25, 95% CI 0.08-0.75), walking 4-7 days per week (aRR 0.79, 95% CI 0.62-1.00), and having diabetes (aRR 1.57, 95% CI 1.13-2.19). After ART initiation, poor quality of life remained significantly associated with being 60 years or older (aRR 1.34, 95% CI 0.98-1.83) and being a salaried employee (aRR 0.38, 95% CI 0.21-0.81). Additionally, frequent white meat consumption (4-7 days per week) (aRR 2.01, 95% CI 1.18-3.42) and moderate sports engagement (1-3 days per week) (aRR 1.94, 95% CI 1.47-2.55) were significantly associated with poorer quality of life after ART initiation. No significant associations were observed with other variables. Perceived quality of life in older persons living with HIV was poorer among those aged over 60 years. The risk of poor QoL was lower among those who eat white meat and participate in sports weekly. Increasing physical activity through regular exercise routines in older adults can help reduce the risk of age-related diseases, improve energy levels, reduce stress, enhance appetite and sleep quality, boost cardiovascular and pulmonary endurance, and enhance overall quality of life.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome is an important emerging disease in India but not much is known about its prevalence and associated risk factors. The current study was conducted with the objective to estimate the PRRS sero-prevalence and identify the risk factors. A total of 6089 pig-serum samples from 27 states/union territories of India were screened for PRRS virus specific antibodies using a commercial ELISA kit. The significant risk factors and predictors were identified through multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results of the study indicates the overall seroprevalence was 17.8%. Samples from all states except Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Punjab and Sikkim were positive. The spatial analysis indicated pockets of high seroprevalence in Nagaland and Manipur states, bordering Myanmar. The age and zone emerged as significant (p < 0.0001) risk factors, where the odds of having PRRS seropositivity among pigs less than 12 months age was 1.465 (95%CI 1.268-1.694) and with OR of 2.097 (95% CI 1.819-2.421) the North East zone was significantly associated with PRRS seropositivity. This is the first study conducted on a national scale that provides insight into the widespread prevalence of PRRS in the country and identified the age and zones as significant variable that predicted the PRRS serological status. Findings from the study would help make policy decisions for controlling PRRS in India.

The Marburg virus (MARV), a member of the Filoviridae family, poses a severe threat to global health due to its high mortality rate and lack of effective therapeutics. In this study, Xanthone derivatives from Swertia chirata were investigated for their potential to inhibit the VP35 RNA-binding domain of MARV using a structure-based virtual screening approach. Molecular docking revealed that Magniferin showed the highest binding affinity (-7.0 kcal/mol) among the selected phytocompounds, outperforming the reference drug Remdesivir (-5.0 kcal/mol). All compounds complied with Lipinski's Rule of Five and exhibited favorable ADME and toxicity profiles. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations over 100 ns confirmed the stability of the Magniferin-VP35 complex through post dynamic analysis and interaction analysis. Furthermore, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Free Energy Landscape (FEL) mapping indicated that the complex resided in multiple low-energy conformational states, supporting its thermodynamic stability and conformational flexibility. The Molecular Mechanics/Generalized Born Surface Area (MM/GBSA) analysis indicated a strong binding affinity with key contributions from Vander Waals and Coulombic interactions. These findings suggest that Magniferin could serve as a promising lead compound for the development of MARV therapeutics.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-025-00933-x.

This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and genotype distribution of Human adenovirus (HAdV), Bovine adenovirus (BAdV), and Porcine adenovirus (PAdV) in environmental waters, with a focus on their association with water contamination and potential use in microbial source tracking in Punjab, Northern India. A total of 52 samples were collected from three different river stretches. Using nested PCR, BAdVs were detected in 16% of the samples, while HAdVs and PAdVs were found in 32 and 11% of the samples, respectively. The isolated serotypes included HAdV type 40/41, BAdV type 8/6/5/4//2, and PAdV type 3/5, with HAdV-41 being the most prevalent. Notably, multiple BAdV asymptomatic infections were observed among herds, although their implications for livestock health remain uncertain. BAdV-8 and BAdV-6, the predominant types identified, have been associated with specific clinical conditions in Punjab. Phylogenetic analysis of PAdV indicated a high nucleotide sequence identity (95.4 to 100%) among viruses detected in wastewater samples. This study represents the first investigation into the epidemiology and molecular characterisation of PAdV in porcine farm wastewater in India. Additionally, evidence of recombination among livestock adenoviruses was found, highlighting the need for continued genetic surveillance of animal AdV. These findings underscore the importance of considering BAdV and PAdV detection in fecal source attribution in environmental samples. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the occurance, diversity, and genetic characteristics of adenoviruses in agricultural and environmental settings.

The agricultural productivity of elephant foot yam or Amorphophallus paeoniifolius has been severely hampered due to the infectious mosaic disease caused by Dasheen mosaic virus (DsMV), a member of the genus Potyvirus. In this study, two-year field experiments were conducted at ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala during 2019 and 2020 to assess the yield performance of five varieties of elephant foot yam viz., Gajendra, Sree Padma, Vegetable and fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK) local, Peerumade local, Sree Athira subsequent to natural infection by DsMV. Each experiment was carried out in Randomised Block Design with three replications. Double Antibody Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (DAS-ELISA) was employed for the serological detection of DsMV in elephant foot yam crops. Our results showed that the corm diameter, mean yield per plant and estimated yield were significantly reduced in varieties viz., Gajendra, Sree Padma and Sree Athira due to DsMV incidence. There was no significant difference in the number of corms in all the varieties in response to DsMV infection. Furthermore, the mosaic disease caused significant shrinkage in the canopy spread in all the varieties of elephant foot yam and a drastic reduction in the plant height of var. Gajendra as well as var. Sree Padma. Pseudostem girth was found to be significantly reduced in varieties viz., Gajendra, Sree Padma, Sree Athira and Peerumade local. The yield losses attributed to the mosaic disease incidence by Dasheen mosaic virus in the five varieties of elephant foot yam was recorded in the range of 23.51 -55.07%.

The Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV), a mosquito-borne zoonotic pathogen, has a high mortality rate in Asia, causing severe neurological effects and fatalities in approximately 68,000 annual cases worldwide. Despite its prevalence, there is currently no specific treatment for JEV. This study leverages bioinformatics to identify potential molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. Data from three GEO profiles-GSE39740, GSE57330, and GSE115167-were retrieved from the NCBI-GEO database and analyzed for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using the R simpleaffy package. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses of the DEGs were conducted using clusterProfiler. Hub genes and disease networks were identified through Cytoscape, with functionally relevant clusters generated using MCODE and CytoHubba. Heatmaps and Volcano plots were used to visualize DEG regulation patterns. In the analysis, 1,601 DEGs were identified, comprising 1,103 upregulated and 498 downregulated genes. Among these, 37 hub genes were identified, with the top 10 being ACTB, ALB, CASP3, CDK4, CXCL10, CXCL8, CXCR4, DDX58, DICER1, and EGR1. Notably, ACTB emerged as the most connected node with a degree of 243. These hub genes represent promising therapeutic targets and enhance our understanding of JEV-related molecular pathways. The study's findings contribute significantly to the identification of biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the Japanese Encephalitis Virus, forming a foundation for further research to mitigate its severe impact on global health.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-025-00936-8.

Rabies remains a significant public health challenge in India, contributing to 35-40% of global rabies-related deaths, primarily due to delayed Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) initiation. This hospital-based cross-sectional study at a tertiary care facility in New Delhi aimed to assess the epidemiological profile of animal bite cases and identify determinants of PEP delays. Data were collected from 1,044 participants using a pretested questionnaire, with delays defined as PEP initiation ≥ 24 h post-bite. Results revealed that 69.5% of participants were aged 20-60 years, 78.3% were male, and 88.6% sustained dog bites. Most cases (83.7%) were Category 3 exposures, and 84.3% received PEP within 24 h. Delays occurred in 15.7% of cases, significantly associated with female gender (20.4% vs. 14.2% males, p = 0.022), rural residence (31.6% vs. 12.4% urban, p < 0.001), and semi-skilled occupations (18.5%). Key barriers included lack of awareness (15.5%), distance to healthcare (23.7%), and work constraints (23.9%). Urban residents and homeowners demonstrated faster PEP access (p = 0.002). The study underscores socioeconomic and systemic challenges, such as limited healthcare access and gender disparities, contributing to delays. Findings align with global patterns but highlight India's unique urban-rural divide and occupational influences. Targeted interventions, including community education, improved rural healthcare infrastructure, and subsidized PEP, are critical to reducing delays. Limitations include single-center design and cross-sectional constraints, limiting generalizability. Strengthening policy implementation and awareness campaigns, aligned with WHO's "Zero by 30" goals, is essential for rabies elimination.

The present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of pooled sample testing (PST) for the detection of bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoAHV-1) in swab samples collected from animals. A pool of five samples were used and two modifications in the procedure were introduced to increase the sensitivity of the approach. The initial volume of the sample used for DNA extraction was increased from 200 µL to 500 µL and 10 µL of extracted DNA instead of 5 µL in the real-time PCR reaction set-up. In an initial spiking experiment with the BoAHV-1 virus, the modified PST approach resulted in a 1.1 Ct value lower than the conventional individual sample approach, supporting the efficacy of the pool size chosen. Subsequently, screening of 215 pools created from 1073 swab samples, revealed 29 pools (13.5%) positive for BoAHV-1. Further examination of the 145 individual samples contributing to these 29 positive pools revealed at least one positive sample in 22 pools, while 7 pools did not contain any positive samples. The overall percentage positivity of BoAHV-1 shedding detected through pooled sample testing was 2.86% (95% CI: 1.92%-4.08%), closely resembling the result from individual sample testing at 2.80% (95% CI: 1.97-3.96%). This similarity supports the potential use of the pooled sample testing (PST) approach in surveillance studies. In conclusion, the findings of this study demonstrate the feasibility of adopting PST for the detection and confirmation of BoHV-1 infection in animals using a real-time PCR assay.