Article
Virology
Wanhong Xu, Roberto Navarro-Lopez, Mario Solis-Hernandez, Francisco Liljehult-Fuentes, Miguel Molina-Montiel, Maria Lagunas-Ayala, Marisol Rocha-Martinez, Eduardo Ferrara-Tijera, Juan Perez de la Rosa, Yohannes Berhane
Summary: This study presents a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of the Mexican lineage H5N2 avian influenza virus, revealing its origin from the North American wild bird gene pool and current circulation in poultry populations of Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Taiwan. The highly pathogenic H5N2 virus was eradicated from Mexican poultry in 1995, but the low pathogenic H5N2 virus continued to circulate and evolve into five distinct clades. The study highlights the importance of vaccine updates and continued molecular monitoring of the HA protein for antigenic changes.
Review
Virology
Baldeep Khare, Richard J. Kuhn
Summary: In the past three decades, multiple flaviviruses from different antigenic groups have spread geographically, leading to the co-circulation of multiple viruses within regions. The morphological heterogeneity of flaviviruses affects antibody recognition, virus neutralization, and infection control. Cross-reactivity among flaviviruses may result in either cross-protection or disease enhancement, although the molecular determinants and mechanisms driving these outcomes are still unclear.
Article
Virology
Isabelle M. Castro, Michael J. Ricciardi, Lucas Gonzalez-Nieto, Eva G. Rakasz, Jeffrey D. Lifson, Ronald C. Desrosiers, David Watkins, Mauricio A. Martins
Summary: This study tracks the long-term effects of an AIDS vaccine on rhesus macaques, showing sustained anti-SIV immune responses and successful protection against a second round of rectal SIV exposure. These findings are relevant for the development of HIV vaccines.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Anna J. Jasinska, Ivona Pandrea, Cristian Apetrei
Summary: CCR5 is a chemokine receptor that plays a central role in immune responses and inflammation. It is involved in the pathogenesis of various health conditions, including HIV infection. Natural loss-of-function mutations of CCR5 can render individuals resistant to HIV. In addition, many African nonhuman primate species have developed strategies to minimize the effects of SIV infection by modulating CCR5 activity.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Sanath Kumar Janaka, Alexandra V. Palumbo, Aidin Tavakoli-Tameh, David T. Evans
Summary: The Nef proteins of HIV-1 and SIV enhance viral infectivity by preventing the incorporation of SERINC5 into virions. By systematically mapping Nef residues required for SERINC5 antagonism, it was found that separating this function allows comparison of replication in viruses that are or are not sensitive to SERINC5, revealing its impact on SIV replication in primary rhesus macaque CD4(+)T cells.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Sanath Kumar Janaka, Brian J. Snow, Ryan T. Behrens, David T. Evans
Summary: Tetherin is a protein that prevents viruses from detaching from infected cells by physically tethering them to cellular membranes. SIV Nef downmodulates simian tetherin to overcome this restriction in nonhuman primate hosts. In addition to counteracting tetherin, SIV Nef has a number of other functions, including downmodulating other proteins from the cell surface. Researchers have engineered an infectious molecular clone of SIV with substitutions in Nef that separate tetherin antagonism from other Nef functions. This study demonstrates the importance of tetherin antagonism for optimal replication of SIV in primary CD4(+) T cells.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ruipeng Lei, Timothy J. C. Tan, Andrea Hernandez Garcia, Yiquan Wang, Meghan Diefenbacher, Chuyun Teo, Gopika Gopan, Zahra Tavakoli Dargani, Qi Wen Teo, Claire S. Graham, Christopher B. Brooke, Satish K. Nair, Nicholas C. Wu
Summary: The neuraminidase (NA) of human influenza H3N2 virus has rapidly evolved through accumulating mutations for over half a century. This study reveals that over 10% of natural mutations in the NA of a recent human H3N2 strain are deleterious for the ancestral strain. Mapping these permissive mutations uncovers an extensive epistatic network, with certain interactions explained by non-additive stability effects. The findings provide mechanistic insights into the evolution of human influenza NA and have implications for the development of next-generation influenza vaccines.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Virology
Xiangyang Yao, Zhenzhen Xu, Chen Duan, Yangjun Zhang, Xiaoliang Wu, Huahui Wu, Kai Liu, Xiongmin Mao, Bo Li, Yang Gao, Hua Xu, Xinghuan Wang
Summary: This study systematically reviews the relationship between HPV-associated viruses and bladder cancer, aiming to elucidate the role of these viruses in the onset and progression of the disease. It also assesses potential strategies for treating virus-induced bladder cancer and introduces the rapid development of oncolytic viruses as a novel treatment option.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Seiichi Kato, Hisatoshi Shida, Tomotaka Okamura, Xianfeng Zhang, Tomoyuki Miura, Tetsu Mukai, Makoto Inoue, Tsugumine Shu, Taeko K. Naruse, Akinori Kimura, Yasuhiro Yasutomi, Kazuhiro Matsuo
Summary: This study developed a urease-deficient bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and demonstrated its protective efficacy against SIV infection in Asian-origin cynomolgus monkeys. Strong immune responses were observed in some monkeys post-vaccination, leading to protection against SIV infection in a portion of the vaccinated animals.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emmanuel S. Adabor
Summary: A machine-learning model based on distinguishing features of antigenic variants was developed to analyze antigenic similarity of influenza A (H3N2) viruses. All model parameters were statistically significant, achieving a 95% AUC, 94% accuracy, and 97% specificity, showing correlation with influenza vaccine effectiveness.
Article
Virology
Saori Matsuoka, Takeo Kuwata, Hiroshi Ishii, Tsuyoshi Sekizuka, Makoto Kuroda, Masato Sano, Midori Okazaki, Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Mikiko Shimizu, Shuzo Matsushita, Yohei Seki, Akatsuki Saito, Hiromi Sakawaki, Vanessa M. Hirsch, Tomoyuki Miura, Hirofumi Akari, Tetsuro Matano
Summary: This study found a potent antibody induction associated with germ line BCR/antibody Ig gene polymorphism in rhesus macaques infected with SIV. The results demonstrate that a single nucleotide polymorphism in germ line Ig genes could be a determinant for induction of potent antibodies against virus infection. Germ line BCR/antibody Ig gene polymorphisms may be a factor restricting effective antibody induction or responsiveness to vaccination.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Divya Venkatesh, Tavis K. Anderson, J. Brian Kimble, Jennifer Chang, Sara Lopes, Carine K. Souza, Andrew Pekosz, Kathryn Shaw-Saliba, Richard E. Rothman, Kuan-Fu Chen, Nicola S. Lewis, Amy L. Vincent Baker
Summary: This study investigates the evolution and potential pandemic risk of H1 influenza A viruses in North American swine. The findings suggest that swine 1A lineage viruses are similar to H1 pandemic vaccine strains, while swine 1B lineage strains are more similar to pre-2009 human seasonal H1 vaccine strains. Cross-reactivity between humans and swine viruses varies, and some strains have significant antigenic differences from human vaccine strains. These findings are important for assessing zoonotic risk and pandemic preparedness of swine influenza viruses.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Maxime Fusade-Boyer, Fidelia Djegui, Komla Batawui, Denis K. Byuragaba, Jeremy C. Jones, Fred Wabwire-Mangeni, Bernard Erima, Gladys Atim, Qouilazoni A. Ukuli, Titus Tugume, Koffi Dogno, Komlan Adjabli, Mvibudulu Nzuzi, Rachidatou Adjin, Trushar Jeevan, Adam Rubrum, Wolali Go-Maro, Ghazi Kayali, Pamela McKenzie, Richard J. Webby, Mariette F. Ducatez
Summary: Sub-Saharan Africa has historically been considered a cold spot for animal influenza, but in 2017, low pathogenic avian influenza A(H9N2) viruses were detected in poultry. Genetic analysis showed that isolates from Benin, Togo, and Uganda belonged to the G1 lineage, with Ugandan viruses being genetically distant and clustering with Middle Eastern viruses. Surveillance for viral genetic and antigenic changes is crucial in Africa to detect potential zoonotic strains.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2021)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maristela Martins de Camargo, Alexandre Rodrigues Caetano, Isabel Kinney Ferreira de Miranda Santos
Summary: Commercial poultry operations with low variability in major histocompatibility complex increase the risk of viral mutations and immunosuppressive stress. Increasing the genetic variability of major histocompatibility complex can lower the virulence of avian influenza viruses and decrease the risk of selecting highly virulent strains.
Article
Microbiology
Erin M. B. Scholz, Joseph N. Mwangi, Gabriela De la Cruz, Michael Nekorchuk, Chi Ngai Chan, Kathleen Busman-Sahay, Lourdes Adamson, Paul Luciw, Yuri Fedoriw, Jacob D. Estes, Elias P. Rosen, Angela D. M. Kashuba
Summary: Our study found that a significant portion of mesenteric lymph node tissue was not covered by any antiretroviral drugs, and a substantial amount of FDC-trapped virions and infected cells were not exposed to detected ARVs. While cumulative antiretroviral therapy coverage was high, a large portion of tissue coverage was from only one ARV, mainly maraviroc. Collagen deposition did not influence the heterogeneity of ARV distribution. Our findings suggest that ARV distribution, in addition to total-tissue drug concentration, is important when evaluating viral persistence in lymph nodes and other reservoir tissues.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)