Article
Virology
Rebecca Salgado, Seth A. Hawks, Francesca Frere, Ana Vazquez, Claire Y. -H. Huang, Nisha K. Duggal
Summary: The study showed that exposure to an attenuated form of WNV protects against severe USUV disease in mice, providing critical insight into immune mechanisms and potential vaccine development for both USUV and WNV.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sonal Mundhra, Vijay P. Bondre
Summary: The level of apoptosis induced by low neurovirulent WNV lineage 5 strain 804994 and high neurovirulent lineage 1 strain 68856 in human neuroblastoma cells, IMR-32, was investigated. The results show that the higher replication fitness of strain 68856 is correlated with higher levels of cytopathology induced by apoptosis. This suggests that the virulence of a WNV strain may be determined by its replication capacity and ability to cause cellular damage.
Article
Virology
Szu-Chia Hsieh, Wen-Yang Tsai, Jih-Jin Tsai, Mars Stone, Graham Simmons, Michael P. Busch, Marion Lanteri, Susan L. Stramer, Angel Balmaseda, Eva Harris, Wei-Kung Wang
Summary: The study highlights the need for better serological tests to distinguish past ZIKV, DENV, and other flavivirus infections, and improve vaccine strategies in endemic regions where interactions between these viruses are critical.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Alanna C. Tseng, Vivek R. Nerurkar, Kabi R. Neupane, Helmut Kae, Pakieli H. Kaufusi
Summary: NS3 protein needs to cooperate with NS2B to be properly localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and exhibit enzymatic activity, and NS2B may also play an additional role in recruiting NS3. Targeting the interaction between NS2B and NS3 could be a potential avenue for antiviral drug discovery.
Article
Microbiology
Alex W. Wessel, Michael P. Doyle, Taylor B. Engdahl, Jessica Rodriguez, James E. Crowe, Michael S. Diamond
Summary: This study isolated human monoclonal antibodies from individuals previously infected with WNV, mapped their epitopes, and evaluated their efficacy in vivo against lethal WNV challenge. The most protective epitopes clustered at three antigenic sites on extracellular NS1 forms. This information may aid in the development of NS1-based countermeasures against flaviviruses.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Md Tahsin Khan, Rahatul Islam, Tarhima Jahan Jerin, Araf Mahmud, Sahara Khatun, Ahasanul Kobir, Md Nahidul Islam, Arzuba Akter, Shakhinur Islam Mondal
Summary: In this study, an immunoinformatics approach was used to design a multi-epitope subunit vaccine against the West Nile Virus (WNV). The selected epitopes have shown strong immune response against WNV, suggesting they could be strong vaccine candidates to prevent WNV infections in humans. Further in vitro and in vivo investigations are needed to validate the potential of the vaccine candidate.
Article
Virology
Renee Zakhia, Alan P. Dupuis, Faycal Khodr, Mahdi Fadel, Laura D. Kramer, Nabil Haddad
Summary: Through serological screening and mosquito collection testing, evidence of local exposure of the Lebanese population to West Nile virus was found, along with the first report of equine WNV in the country.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sergio Magallanes, Francisco Llorente, Maria Jose Ruiz-Lopez, Josue Martinez-de la Puente, Ramon Soriguer, Juan Calderon, Miguel Angel Jimenez-Clavero, Pilar Aguilera-Sepulveda, Jordi Figuerola
Summary: West Nile virus (WNV) is a re-emerging zoonotic pathogen that has shown increasing incidence in Europe, with a recent outbreak in Spain in 2020. The factors explaining these changes in WNV incidence are not fully understood. Longitudinal monitoring of WNV in wild animals can help understand its ecology and the risk of transmission to humans, but such studies are limited.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Laia Casades-Marti, Raul Cuadrado-Matias, Alfonso Peralbo-Moreno, Sara Baz-Flores, Yolanda Fierro, Francisco Ruiz-Fons
Summary: Through a 15-year study in five environmentally diverse areas of Spain, it was found that the transmission risk of West Nile virus (WNV) is closely related to environmental and host factors. Wild ungulates can serve as sentinel species for predicting the transmission risk of WNV.
Article
Immunology
Joshua A. Acklin, Javier D. Cattle, Arianna S. Moss, Julia A. Brown, Gregory A. Foster, David Krysztof, Susan L. Stramer, Jean K. Lim
Summary: The presence of pre-existing West Nile virus (WNV) immunity does not significantly impact the pathogenesis of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy, according to a study involving murine pregnancy models. This finding suggests promising safety for implementing WNV vaccines in the continental US.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Alex W. Wessel, Kimberly A. Dowd, Scott B. Biering, Ping Zhang, Melissa A. Edeling, Christopher A. Nelson, Kristen E. Funk, Christina R. DeMaso, Robyn S. Klein, Janet L. Smith, Thu Minh Cao, Richard J. Kuhn, Daved H. Fremont, Eva Harris, Theodore C. Pierson, Michael S. Diamond
Summary: This study compared the roles of Flavivirus NS1 proteins in the pathogenesis of Dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV), and found that a specific P101K mutation in WNV NS1 led to reduced infectivity in the brain and lethality in mice. The study suggests that levels of NS1 in the circulation facilitate WNV dissemination to the brain and impact disease outcomes.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Orianne Constant, Jonathan Barthelemy, Anna Nagy, Sara Salinas, Yannick Simonin
Summary: The study shows that increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and neuronal factors in patients infected with West Nile virus (WNV) are associated with the development of severe neurological impairments. These biomarkers could play a crucial role in patient monitoring, improving care, and preventing undesirable outcomes.
Article
Immunology
Sean M. Bialosuknia, Alan P. Dupuis Ii, Steven D. Zink, Cheri A. Koetzner, Joseph G. Maffei, Jennifer C. Owen, Hannah Landwerlen, Laura D. Kramer, Alexander T. Ciota
Summary: This study presents updated surveillance and sequencing data for West Nile virus (WNV) in New York State (NYS) and investigates the association between NY10 genotype strains and phenotypic changes indicative of adaptive advantage. The results show a significant increase in prevalence of NY10 in mosquitoes and demonstrate that the NY10 genotype is associated with increased infectivity and transmissibility. Experimental infections show higher viremia kinetics for the NY10 genotype compared to WN02. These findings suggest that the adaptive advantage of the NY10 genotype has likely contributed to the increased prevalence of WNV in NYS.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Haley S. Caldwell, Lili Kuo, Janice D. Pata, Alan P. Dupuis Ii, Jamie J. Arnold, Calvin Yeager, Jessica Stout, Cheri A. Koetzner, Anne F. Payne, Sean M. Bialosuknia, Elyse M. Banker, Taylor A. Nolen, Craig E. Cameron, Alexander T. Ciota
Summary: The most common arbovirus in the United States, West Nile virus (WNV), is transmitted between Culex spp. mosquitoes and birds. A specific mutation, NS3 P319L, was found to affect the adaptation of the virus to vertebrate hosts and its transmissibility by mosquitoes. This study highlights the importance of intrahost sequence data in understanding host-specific adaptation mechanisms.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Moises Gonzalvez, Juan J. Franco, Jesus Barbero-Moyano, Javier Caballero-Gomez, Maria J. Ruano, Remigio Martinez, David Cano-Terriza, Ignacio Garcia-Bocanegra
Summary: The largest epidemic of West Nile virus (WNV) ever reported in Spain occurred in 2020, affecting 77 humans and 139 equine herds. This study aimed to monitor the outbreaks in equid herds in Andalusia, southern Spain, and evaluate virus circulation and risk factors associated with WNV exposure. WNV lineage 1 was detected in clinically affected horses, with high nucleotide identity to WNV sequences from humans, birds, and mosquitoes in Spain and Italy. Seropositivity for WNV antibodies was high in both vaccinated and unvaccinated horses.
PREVENTIVE VETERINARY MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrii Slonchak, Leon E. Hugo, Morgan E. Freney, Sonja Hall-Mendelin, Alberto A. Amarilla, Francisco J. Torres, Yin Xiang Setoh, Nias Y. G. Peng, Julian D. J. Sng, Roy A. Hall, Andrew F. van den Hurk, Gregor J. Devine, Alexander A. Khromykh
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Naphak Modhiran, Hao Song, Lidong Liu, Cheryl Bletchly, Lou Brillault, Alberto A. Amarilla, Xiaoying Xu, Jianxun Qi, Yan Chai, Stacey T. M. Cheung, Renee Traves, Yin Xiang Setoh, Summa Bibby, Connor A. P. Scott, Morgan E. Freney, Natalee D. Newton, Alexander A. Khromykh, Keith J. Chappell, David A. Muller, Katryn J. Stacey, Michael J. Landsberg, Yi Shi, George F. Gao, Paul R. Young, Daniel Watterson
Summary: The NS1 antibody 1G5.3 can effectively block NS1-mediated cell permeability of multiple flaviviruses, reduce viremia, and improve survival in various animal models. The protective effect of 1G5.3 is independent of effector function, making it a key site for broad-spectrum antiviral development.
Article
Biology
Katina D. Hulme, Anjana C. Karawita, Cassandra Pegg, Myrna J. M. Bunte, Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Conor J. Bloxham, Silvie Van den Hoecke, Yin Xiang Setoh, Bram Vrancken, Monique Spronken, Lauren E. Steele, Nathalie A. J. Verzele, Kyle R. Upton, Alexander A. Khromykh, Keng Yih Chew, Maria Sukkar, Simon Phipps, Kirsty R. Short
Summary: Influenza virus variants are more prevalent in pregnant and/or obese individuals due to their impaired interferon response. The non-allergic, paucigranulocytic subtype of asthma is associated with impaired type I interferon production, leading to increased disease severity and emergence of influenza virus variants in asthmatic mice. Asthmatic patients may be more susceptible to severe influenza and could potentially be a source of new influenza virus variants.
Article
Microbiology
Alberto A. Amarilla, Naphak Modhiran, Yin Xiang Setoh, Nias Y. G. Peng, Julian D. J. Sng, Benjamin Liang, Christopher L. D. McMillan, Morgan E. Freney, Stacey T. M. Cheung, Keith J. Chappell, Alexander A. Khromykh, Paul R. Young, Daniel Watterson
Summary: The article introduces the iPA detection method, utilizing multiple antibodies and dual-specificity probe antibodies for detecting SARS-CoV-2, and demonstrates its use for high-throughput viral titration and neutralization assays within 24 hours, with compatibility in a 384-well format.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Simon Albert, Alberto A. Amarilla, Ben Trollope, Julian D. J. Sng, Yin Xiang Setoh, Nathaniel Deering, Naphak Modhiran, Sung-Hsia Weng, Maria C. Melo, Nicholas Hutley, Avik Nandy, Michael J. Furlong, Paul R. Young, Daniel Watterson, Alistair R. Grinham, Alexander A. Khromykh
Summary: This study demonstrates that using UAV spraying of aqueous ozone for disinfection in high-risk outdoor settings may be an effective and safe method, with good viral inactivation efficacy and minimal impact on the environment and organisms.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Judith Chui Ching Wong, Joanna Tan, Ying Xian Lim, Sathish Arivalan, Hapuarachchige Chanditha Hapuarachchi, Diyar Mailepessov, Jane Griffiths, Praveena Jayarajah, Yin Xiang Setoh, Wei Ping Tien, Swee Ling Low, Carmen Koo, Surya Pavan Yenamandra, Marcella Kong, Vernon Jian Ming Lee, Lee Ching Ng
Summary: The study demonstrates the use of wastewater surveillance in monitoring high-risk COVID-19 premises, detecting virus presence in wastewater to trigger individual tests for case identification, highlighting a new application for wastewater testing.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alberto A. Amarilla, Julian D. J. Sng, Rhys Parry, Joshua M. Deerain, James R. Potter, Yin Xiang Setoh, Daniel J. Rawle, Thuy T. Le, Naphak Modhiran, Xiaohui Wang, Nias Y. G. Peng, Francisco J. Torres, Alyssa Pyke, Jessica J. Harrison, Morgan E. Freney, Benjamin Liang, Christopher L. D. McMillan, Stacey T. M. Cheung, Darwin J. Da Costa Guevara, Joshua M. Hardy, Mark Bettington, David A. Muller, Fasseli Coulibaly, Frederick Moore, Roy A. Hall, Paul R. Young, Jason M. Mackenzie, Jody Hobson-Peters, Andreas Suhrbier, Daniel Watterson, Alexander A. Khromykh
Summary: The study shows that a simplified reverse genetics method can efficiently assemble infectious full-length cDNA, enabling easier in vitro and in vivo characterization of viruses like SARS-CoV-2.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Warish Ahmed, Stuart L. Simpson, Paul M. Bertsch, Kyle Bibby, Aaron Bivins, Linda L. Blackall, Silvia Bofill-Mas, Albert Bosch, Joao Brandao, Phil M. Choi, Mark Ciesielski, Erica Donner, Nishita D'Souza, Andreas H. Farnleitner, Daniel Gerrity, Raul Gonzalez, John F. Griffith, Pradip Gyawali, Charles N. Haas, Kerry A. Hamilton, Hapuarachchige Chandithal Hapuarachchi, Valerie J. Harwood, Rehnuma Haque, Greg Jackson, Stuart J. Khan, Wesaal Khan, Masaaki Kitajima, Asja Korajkic, Giuseppina La Rosa, Blythe A. Layton, Erin Lipp, Sandra L. McLellan, Brian McMinn, Gertjan Medema, Suzanne Metcalfe, Wim G. Meijer, Jochen F. Mueller, Heather Murphy, Coleen C. Naughton, Rachel T. Noble, Sudhi Payyappat, Susan Petterson, Tarja Pitkanen, Veronica B. Rajal, Brandon Reyneke, Fernando A. Roman, Joan B. Rose, Marta Rusinol, Michael J. Sadowsky, Laura Sala-Comorera, Yin Xiang Setoh, Samendra P. Sherchan, Kwanrawee Sirikanchana, Wendy Smith, Joshua A. Steele, Rosalie Subburg, Erin M. Symonds, Phong Thai, Kevin Thomas, Josh Tynan, Simon Toze, Janelle Thompson, Andy S. Whiteley, Judith Chui Ching Wong, Daisuke Sano, Stefan Wuertz, Irene Xagoraraki, Qian Zhang, Amity G. Zimmer-Faust, Orin C. Shanks
Summary: Monitoring pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater using RT-PCR is effective for public health information, but there is a lack of standardized protocols for wastewater surveillance. Key strategies for improving accuracy include QA/QC measures, representative sampling, virus concentration, and clear data interpretation guidelines.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
W-Y Lim, G. S. E. Tan, H. L. Htun, H. P. Phua, W. M. Kyaw, H. Guo, L. Cui, T. M. Mak, B. F. Poh, J. C. C. Wong, Y. X. Setoh, B. S. P. Ang, A. L. P. Chow
Summary: This study examines a large nosocomial cluster of COVID-19 in a major acute care hospital in Singapore. It investigates factors associated with infection, explores the possibility of aerosol-based transmission, evaluates the effectiveness of BNT162.b2 and mRNA1273 vaccines, and describes the successful containment of the cluster. The study findings reveal that all infections were caused by the Delta variant, and vaccination is associated with a significant lower odds of COVID-19 infection. The cluster was brought under control through case isolation, extensive contact tracing and quarantine measures, as well as improvements in hospital infrastructure to enhance ventilation.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nias Y. G. Peng, Alberto A. Amarilla, Leon E. Hugo, Naphak Modhiran, Julian D. J. Sng, Andrii Slonchak, Daniel Watterson, Yin Xiang Setoh, Alexander A. Khromykh
Summary: The NS5-M114V mutation has little impact on the replication and transmission potential of the Zika virus in cells and in vivo, but slightly prolongs viremia in mice and reduces mosquito infection and dissemination rates.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Scott E. Guimond, Courtney J. Mycroft-West, Neha S. Gandhi, Julia A. Tree, Thuy T. Le, C. Mirella Spalluto, Maria Humbert, Karen R. Buttigieg, Naomi Coombes, Michael J. Elmore, Matthew Wand, Kristina Nystrom, Joanna Said, Yin Xiang Setoh, Alberto A. Amarilla, Naphak Modhiran, Julian D. J. Sng, Mohit Chhabra, Paul R. Young, Daniel J. Rawle, Marcelo A. Lima, Edwin A. Yates, Richard Karlsson, Rebecca L. Miller, Yen-Hsi Chen, Ieva Bagdonaite, Zhang Yang, James Stewart, Dung Nguyen, Stephen Laidlaw, Edward Hammond, Keith Dredge, Tom M. A. Wilkinson, Daniel Watterson, Alexander A. Khromykh, Andreas Suhrbier, Miles W. Carroll, Edward Trybala, Tomas Bergstrom, Vito Ferro, Mark A. Skidmore, Jeremy E. Turnbull
Summary: This study found that the synthetic HS mimetic pixatimod can interact with the receptor binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and directly inhibit its binding to ACE2. The results show that pixatimod can effectively inhibit the infection of multiple clinical isolates of SARS-CoV-2 virus and has broad potency against various variants. In a mouse model, pixatimod also reduces viral titers and weight loss. This study provides strong evidence for the potential use of synthetic HS mimetics as a therapeutic approach for COVID-19.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Janet Ong, Soon Hoe Ho, Stacy Xin Hui Soh, Yvonne Wong, Youming Ng, Kathryn Vasquez, Yee Ling Lai, Yin Xiang Setoh, Chee-Seng Chong, Vernon Lee, Judith Chui Ching Wong, Cheong Huat Tan, Shuzhen Sim, Lee Ching Ng, Jue Tao Lim
Summary: This study introduces a novel vector control method, IIT-SIT, which involves the release of X-ray-irradiated male Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes to reduce dengue incidence. The efficacy of this method is evaluated through a multi-site randomized controlled trial, providing valuable information for integrating it into national vector control programs in dengue-endemic settings.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrii Slonchak, Xiaohui Wang, Julio Aguado, Julian D. J. Sng, Harman Chaggar, Morgan E. Freney, Kexin Yan, Francisco J. Torres, Alberto A. Amarilla, Rickyle Balea, Yin Xiang Setoh, Nias Peng, Daniel Watterson, Ernst Wolvetang, Andreas Suhrbier, Alexander A. Khromykh
Summary: sfRNA plays an important role in the transmission of Zika virus, facilitating the virus to pass through the placenta and infect the fetal brain. It also induces apoptosis of neural progenitor cells in human brain organoids. In infected human placental cells, sfRNA inhibits multiple antiviral pathways and promotes apoptosis, with STAT1 identified as a key factor. Phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT1 are reduced due to sfRNA binding to and stabilizing viral protein NS5.
Article
Microbiology
Nina M. Pollak, Malin Olsson, Madeeha Ahmed, Javier Tan, George Lim, Yin Xiang Setoh, Judith Chui Ching Wong, Yee Ling Lai, Jody Hobson-Peters, Joanne Macdonald, David McMillan
Summary: Efficient and accurate diagnosis of dengue is crucial for clinical care, surveillance, and outbreak control. This study evaluates four rapid low-resource tests for specific dengue virus serotyping, using simple sample preparation and RT-RPA combined with LFD technology. These tests provide advantages such as a simple workflow, rapid turnaround time (35 min), minimal equipment needs, and improved laboratory safety. The low-cost formats of these tests have the potential to support effective dengue disease surveillance and enhance diagnostic testing capacity in resource-limited settings.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erica Sena Neves, Cheng Teng Ng, Han Bin Pek, Vanessa Shi Li Goh, Roslinda Mohamed, Sheereen Osman, Yi Kai Ng, Sharain Abdul Kadir, Mohammad Nazeem, Alan She, Glenndle Sim, Joel Aik, Lee Ching Ng, Sophie Octavia, Zhanxiong Fang, Judith Chui Ching Wong, Yin Xiang Setoh
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the implementation of various measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Conventional cleaning methods have limitations, and there is a need for more efficient disinfection technologies. This study evaluated the efficacy of gaseous ozone disinfection in a public bus setting and found that it effectively reduced the levels of a related betacoronavirus surrogate and the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. The efficacy of disinfection was influenced by exposure duration and relative humidity.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)