Advances in Virology最新文献

Aims: Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) represent a menacing health problem worldwide and its risk of contamination and transmission by routine activities and contact with infected patients and its remarkable adverse effects and presence of silent carriers. The diagnosis developed with the developing techniques using more specific techniques. The aim is to study the epidemiology and molecular detection of HBV and HCV in the Anbar governorate (Fallujah and Amiriyah) and the correlation between the viral load of HBV and HCV on liver functions. Materials and Methods: A cohort of 5463 tested for HBV viral infection and 5873 tested for HBV viral infection patients' information were collected from units in Fallujah and Amiriyah Hospitals as well as private laboratories who sent for HBV or HCV detection from 15^th January 2021 to 20^th November 2021 using a questionnaire and diagnosed with rapid tests, the positive results subjected for testing with ELISA and samples tested using q-PCR techniques. Findings: Among the studied cohort, the prevalence of HBV infections was high compared to HCV, with the highest impact in females and the ages of young adults (29-30 years). Furthermore, viral loads were high in HCV-infected patients compared to HBV. Finally, liver enzymes (ALP, AST, and ALT) were significantly high in HCV-infected patients compared to HBV. Conclusion: The study concluded that females have a higher rate of infection with higher progression of the HBV and more morbid liver enzymes. The highest affected age groups are the highest communicational and economic activity group of young adults with elevated impact on the liver with HCV viral load increasing.

Injury from spike protein, whether induced by COVID-19 infection or vaccination, constitutes a significant health concern for numerous individuals. Considerable heterogeneity exists in individual responses to both COVID-19 infection and vaccination, despite the latter being principally more controlled and consistent than the wide variety of infection circumstances. This review explores the possible mechanisms by which the spike protein contributes to cellular and systemic damage, highlighting the importance of understanding these processes for developing effective diagnostics and treatments.

Background: Serological response is an important aspect of COVID-19, especially for evaluation of vaccine effect and risk of severe infection. The gold standard to assess this is analysis of neutralization capacity, but such assays are not widely available, with antibody levels often used as an approximation of the neutralizing ability. Avidity index is a measure of antibody function and avidity maturation contributes to long-lasting immunity. Objectives: To evaluate if the avidity index gives a better estimation of the neutralizing ability compared with anti-spike IgG levels and to compare the immune response between infection and vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Study Design: Serum samples from prospectively included patients with either PCR-confirmed COVID-19 or COVID-19-naïve after vaccination were analyzed for anti-spike IgG, avidity index, and neutralizing titer at 1, 3, and 6 months after infection or vaccination. Results: A significant correlation between anti-spike IgG level and neutralization titer was found (Spearmanr _s  = 0.88, p < 0.001), but for the avidity index, the correlation was lower (Spearman r _s  = 0.62, p < 0.001). Anti-spike IgG level, avidity index, and neutralization titer were significantly higher in the vaccine cohort. Natural infection failed to yield high-avidity antibodies. Over time, the antibody levels and neutralization titer declined in both the vaccine and infection cohorts. Conclusion: Anti-spike IgG levels can be used as an estimation of the neutralizing titer, with the avidity index not contributing to a better estimation. There is a stronger initial immune response after vaccination, compared with natural infection. However, specific antibody levels decline over time, highlighting the importance of vaccine boosters.

Agave tequilana Weber var. Azul is one of the most economically important species in Mexico because of its use in the production of tequila. Recently, young agave plants in commercial plantations in the state of Jalisco and agave ornamental plants have been observed to have symptoms of yellow streaks and mottle like those caused by viruses. The diversity of symptoms observed in agave and the negative results of the different diagnostic tests indicated the possible presence of different unknown viruses, and so we conducted high-throughput sequencing (HTS) analyses of viral RNA. The bioinformatics analyses showed the complete genomes of isolates of Vitivirus genus, Potexvirus genus, Tepovirus genus, and the partial genome of a Badnavirus genus in mixed infections in agave samples from commercial plots and in ornamental plants. The presence of each virus was confirmed by sequencing and cloning of the RT-PCR products of the capsid protein (CP), using specific oligonucleotides designed from the sequences obtained by HTS. This is the first time to our knowledge that mixed infections of potential novel Vitivirus, Potexvirus, Tepovirus, and Badnavirus genomes have been identified in A. tequilana plants.

Infectious peritonitis is found to be a leading factor in the development of viral peritonitis (VP) and encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment. Bacterial and fungal infections are a major cause of peritonitis in PD patients. Viral infections have rarely been reported in association with peritonitis in PD patients; about 20% of cases are fungal and bacterial culture-negative (so-called sterile peritonitis). Several possible viral causes are reported to cause peritonitis, Coronaviruses are an important virus group that has been found to cause peritonitis in animals (cats), although in human beings these viruses have not been reported to associate with peritonitis. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the intestinal form of Human 229E coronavirus plays a role in peritonitis and EPS for several peritoneal fluid samples collected from patients with confirmed EPS. Thirty-seven peritoneal fluid samples from 12 patients with histologically confirmed EPS from Manchester University Hospitals were extracted using QIAamp RNA Mini Kit to purify viral RNA. The purified RNA was reverse transcribed and tested using a pan-coronavirus PCR designed to pick up all known human and animal coronaviruses. None of the peritoneal fluid samples was positive, suggesting that active coronavirus infection is not associated with the development of VP in dialysis patients.

Molecular evaluation of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) genome is one of the common strategies applied to understand the viral pathogenicity and control its spreading. In this study, we carried out molecular evaluation on the targeted fusion (F) gene region in the RSV-positive samples of Iraqi patients during the autumn and winter of 2022/2023. One hundred and fifty patients with lower respiratory tract infections were screened for RSV using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Sanger sequencing was performed on the RSV-positive samples targeting 1061 nucleotides (from nucleotide 6168 to 7228 within the RSV genome) and 1000 nucleotides (from nucleotide 6122 to 7121 within the RSV genome) of the F gene region for RSV-A and RSV-B, respectively. The results showed some nucleotide changes within the targeted F gene, which were grouped in distinct clade, closely related to isolates from Austria, Argentine, Finland, and France through phylogenetic analysis. In silico protein modeling using the SWISS-MODEL and I-TASSER web tools based on nonsynonymous changes of amino acid sequence showed some good-predicted models that can be utilized for antiviral screening. In summary, the identified nucleotide variations in the F gene could influence vaccine development as the F protein is the primary target for the major antigen of RSV. Molecular surveillance data of RSV local isolates are also essential for studying new genomic changes and enable the prediction of potential new antiviral agents.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is implicated in carcinogenic infections like hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Given that no HCV vaccine is currently available, comprehensive epidemiological understanding is crucial for devising effective prevention strategies. In North Africa, existing data on HCV infection and HCV-associated HCC are frequently outdated or limited to specific populations. This systematic review aims to offer new insights into the epidemiology of HCV infection, HCV genotype distribution, and HCV-related HCC in this region. We collected data from electronic databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, and public health reports between 1989 and 2023. We reported the studies carried out in each country in general populations and in groups exposed to HCV infection. Our results show that HCV prevalence varies from 0.5% to 4.61% among the general populations in North African countries. HCV genotype 1 remains the most dominant in the Greater Maghreb region, while genotype 4 is the most dominant in the Nile Valley region. HCC incidence varies between the five countries, and HCV is responsible for 60% of cases, with male dominance. Egypt had the highest number of deaths from HCV-associated HCC. Other factors such as HBV, diabetes, and alcohol use are also responsible for HCC in North Africa. Urban growth and socioeconomic changes have impacted HCV prevalence in the North African region, especially among rural populations, and introduced new risks, such as coinfections and Type 2 diabetes. Here, we propose some recommendations for HCV control and management by patient category in North Africa.

We analyzed 364 children symptomatic or asymptomatic for respiratory symptoms, aged 0.1 month-17 years, selected from primary healthcare units of different municipalities of Rondônia from June 2021 to September 2022. Data were collected from medical and electronic records for epidemiological characterization. The positive cohort (n = 96) was quantified using a real-time (RT) qPCR and sequenced by next-generation sequencing. Whole-genome sequences were obtained, SARS-CoV-2 strains were classified using the Pango system, and the maximum likelihood method was used for phylogenetic analyses. Among the patients, 59.34% (216/364) were male and 40.66% (148/364) were female. Children aged 10-14 years showed the highest rate of SARS-CoV-2 positivity. At the time of collection, 54.12% (197/364) of the patients were not age-eligible for immunization against COVID-19. The unvaccinated group accounted for 34.07% (124/364), with the highest proportion in the age groups of 5-9 and 10-14 years. Most patients exhibited mild symptoms. Seventy-nine high-quality genomes were obtained: Delta variant of concern (VOC) was the most prevalent (most abundant strain: AY.99.2), Omicron VOC was reported in 26 individuals (most frequent subvariant: BA.1.1), and Gamma VOC with 22 cases (12 cases of P.1 strain). The viral load showed a median of 7.26 log10 copies/mL, with a mean symptom duration of 4 days. Most of the cases were from children who were unvaccinated and age-ineligible for immunization and were associated with Delta and Omicron VOCs with an increase in subvariants during the study period.

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a well-studied cellular mechanism that plays a critical role in immune responses, developmental processes, and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. However, viruses have developed diverse strategies to bypass or manipulate the host apoptotic machinery to enhance their replication and survival. As a result, the interaction between PCD pathways and viruses has garnered increased interest, leading to many studies being published in recent years. This study aims to provide an overview of the current understanding of PCD pathways and their significance in viral infections. We will discuss various forms of cell death pathways, including apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, and pyroptosis, as well as their corresponding molecular mechanisms. In addition, we will show how viruses manipulate host PCD pathways to prevent or delay cell death or facilitate viral replication. This study emphasizes the importance of investigating the mechanisms by which viruses control the host's PCD machinery to gain insight into the evolutionary dynamics of host-pathogen interactions and to develop new approaches for predicting and managing viral threats. Overall, we aimed to highlight new research areas in PCD and viruses, including introduction of new targets for the development of new antiviral drugs to modulate the cellular apoptotic machinery and novel inhibitors of host cell death pathways.

Enterovirus can cause central nervous system (CNS) infections ranging from meningitis to severe encephalitis. The aims of our study were to describe and develop the current epidemiological, biological, and clinical aspects of these infections as well as to enrich Moroccan data. This is a retrospective study conducted from January 2021 to March 2023, which included all patients admitted to the hospitals of Ibn Sina University Hospital Center in Rabat (Morocco) with clinical suspicion of CNS infection and positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for enterovirus detected by BioFire® FilmArray® panel meningitis/encephalitis. 1479 CSF were analyzed by multiplex PCR. Enterovirus was detected in 19 patients (1.28%) with a median age of 5 years, predominantly affecting male patients (73.7%) and children (94.7%), especially those aged 2 years and older (68.4%). Fever was the most common symptom (77.8%), followed by headache (66.7%). The seasonal peak of enterovirus detection was also observed. For most patients, the CSF was predominantly lymphocytic (88.2%) with normal glycorrhachia (84.2%) and proteinorachia (73.7%). A notable proportion (10.5%) had a normal CSF cytology. Hyperproteinorachia was found in 26.3% of cases and hypoglycorrhachia in 5.3%. Blood analysis revealed a normal WBC count in 55.6% of cases, hyperleukocytosis in 33.3%, and leukopenia in 11.1%. CRP was elevated in 72.2% of cases. CNS enterovirus infections were particularly present among the pediatric population in this study. The lack of specificity in clinical and biological manifestations may sometimes suggest bacterial etiology. The widespread use of multiplex PCR can therefore provide a reliable and rapid method of detection and diagnosis.