Letter
Immunology
Samnang Um, Jurre Y. Siegers, Borann Sar, Savuth Chin, Sarika Patel, Seng Bunnary, Makara Hak, Sothy Sor, Oum Sokhen, Seng Heng, Darapheak Chau, Tum Sothyra, Asheena Khalakdina, Joshua A. Mott, Sonja J. Olsen, Filip Claes, Ly Sovann, Erik A. Karlsson
Summary: In February 2021, a case of human avian influenza A(H9N2) virus infection was detected in Cambodia through routine surveillance. Investigations found no recent H9N2 virus infections among 43 close contacts. A chicken sample from the infected child's house tested positive for H9N2 virus and was genetically similar to the human virus.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Pengxiang Chang, Jiayun Yang, Thusitha K. Karunarathna, Mehnaz Qureshi, Jean-Remy Sadeyen, Munir Iqbal
Summary: This research examined the zoonotic potential of the first human HPAI H5N1 infection case reported in Cambodia in February 2023. The results showed that the infection strain exhibited similar receptor binding and antigenicity as the early clade 2.3.2.1c HPAI H5N1 strain, but it did not bind to human-like receptors. Although it posed limited zoonotic risk, the increased thermal stability and reduced fusion pH indicated a potential threat to poultry, emphasizing the need for vigilant monitoring.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Florian Krammer, Stacey Schultz-Cherry
Summary: Recent evidence of avian H5N1 virus transmission among mammals raises concerns about its potential for a pandemic. We need to increase awareness, preparedness, and adopt safe farming practices to prevent the emergence of concerning pathogens in the future.
NATURE REVIEWS IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Virology
Umarqayum AbuBakar, Lina Amrani, Farah Ayuni Kamarulzaman, Saiful Anuar Karsani, Pouya Hassandarvish, Jasmine Elanie Khairat
Summary: An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza A virus is able to infect and transmit efficiently to a new host species. The emergence of pandemics is influenced by both viral and host factors. The interaction between the virus and the host determines the virus tropism, including binding, replication, assembly, and transmission between individuals. Avian influenza virus (AIV), which mainly infects wild birds asymptomatically, can cross into new species and occasionally achieve human-to-human transmission. This review focuses on the determinants of AIV for initiating a human pandemic and discusses the mechanisms of AIV mutation for establishing tropism and stable human adaptation. Understanding AIV tropism is crucial for preventing human transmission and improving vaccine and therapeutic agent design.
Article
Immunology
Kimberly M. Edwards, Jurre Y. Siegers, Xiaoman Wei, Ammar Aziz, Yi-Mo Deng, Sokhoun Yann, Chan Bun, Seng Bunnary, Leonard Izzard, Makara Hak, Peter Thielen, Sothyra Tum, Frank Wong, Nicola S. Lewis, Joe James, Filip Claes, Ian G. Barr, Vijaykrishna Dhanasekaran, Erik A. Karlsson
Summary: Institute in Cambodia collaborated with FAO to monitor AI virus in bird markets and poultry storage in Cambodia. The surveillance showed high levels of AIV circulation, with approximately 30%-50% of ducks and 20%-40% of chickens testing positive for various subtypes. The predominant subtypes were H5N1 during 2005-2014 and H5N1 and H5N6 since 2014, with sporadic detection of other subtypes including novel H7Nx in late 2021. Some samples tested positive for HPAIV H5 HA but negative for neuraminidase PCR, and further analysis confirmed them as H5N8 subtype.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yu-Na Lee, Dong-Hun Lee, Jae-In Shin, Young-Jae Si, Ji-Ho Lee, Yoon-Gi Baek, Seo Yun Hong, Seng Bunnary, Sothyra Tum, Minji Park, Soo-Jeong Kye, Myoung-Heon Lee, Youn-Jeong Lee
Summary: The study reported the emergence of a new reassortant of zoonotic A(H7N4) avian influenza viruses with potential for interspecies transmission among poultry, emphasizing the importance of ongoing surveillance of avian-origin A(H7Nx) viruses.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jian Meng, Qun Zhang, Min Ma, Huahong Shi, Guimei He
Summary: Plastics have been found to be colonized with pathogens and may serve as vectors for disease transmission. This study found that H9N2 avian influenza virus can persist on plastic surfaces for up to 14 days, with environmental factors such as temperature and humidity playing a significant role in virus survival and transmission. These findings highlight the importance of considering environmental factors when assessing the potential of plastics to spread viruses.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jahangir Alam, Md Mostafizer Rahman, Joyanta Halder, Md Rezuanul Islam, Nandini Sarkar, Ishrat Jabeen, Mridha Md Kamal Hossain, Rubaya Rubaya, Md Abdul Alim, Anjuman Ara Bhuyan, Nusrat Jahan, Md Masudur Rahman, Hossam M. Ashour
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of the Mx gene on avian influenza infections in indigenous chickens. The results showed that the resistant genotype of the Mx gene was more prevalent in indigenous chickens, but did not offer protection against avian influenza. The prevalence of anti-AIV antibodies was high in both indigenous and commercial chickens, indicating immune response resulting from exposure to the circulating virus.
Editorial Material
Biology
Arturo Barbachano-Guerrero, Daniel R. Perez, Sara L. Sawyer
Summary: The H3N2 canine influenza virus, originating from birds, is undergoing evolution to increase its transmissibility among dogs.
Review
Microbiology
Holly Everest, Elizabeth Billington, Rebecca Daines, Alice Burman, Munir Iqbal
Summary: Avian influenza viruses, especially H10Nx strains, pose a continuous threat to both poultry and human health, with significant impact on mortality. Despite gaps in understanding, enhanced surveillance and knowledge of their distribution and infection capabilities are crucial in addressing the ongoing pandemic threat.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Daniel O'Keefe, Keo Samley, Voeurng Bunreth, Tonia Marquardt, Serge Eric Bobi, Kien Antharo, Chanroeun San Kim, Hem Sothy, Thoang Sokha, Chor Samnang, Yan Sokchea, Farah Hossain, Suna Balkan, Mickael Le Paih, Jean-Philippe Dousset
Summary: A nurse-led model of care in a resource-poor setting in rural Cambodia was able to provide safe and effective diagnosis and treatment for patients with HCV infections. The pilot project achieved a 100% treatment completion rate and a 94% sustained virological response rate.
BULLETIN OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Runqiu Liu, Jian Jiang, Chao Yu, Jesse Rodenbiker, Yongmu Jiang
Summary: The withdrawal from rural homesteads (WRH) is a mechanism in China to encourage villagers to voluntarily vacate or give up their vacant or occupied homesteads for compensation in high-rise buildings, aiming to address inefficient land use. However, the endowment effect, where villagers value their rural homesteads more highly when they own them, may hinder the implementation of WRH policy. The study in Chengdu found that emotional attachment and property rights status intensify the endowment effects, while the cognition of disposal rights weakens them.
Article
Economics
Zuhui Huang, Yanzhou Liu, Yuxiang Wang, Songqing Jin
Summary: This study examines the impact of migration experience on return migrant's social capital using household survey data from rural China. The results show that migration experience reduces both structural and cognitive social capital for return migrants, leading to fewer social interactions, information communication, trust building, and reciprocal behaviors with relatives.
Review
Microbiology
Jiantao Yu, Qiucheng Yao, Jing Liu, Yan Zhou, Miaotong Huo, Ye Ge
Summary: The H3-subtype of avian influenza virus is a common low pathogenic subtype in birds and fowls, causing economic loss to the poultry industry and posing a threat to public health. However, there is inadequate monitoring and lack of effective prevention and control measures for this subtype.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Younjung Kim, Guillaume Fournie, Raphalle Metras, Daesub Song, Christl A. Donnelly, Dirk U. Pfeiffer, Pierre Nouvellet
Summary: This article discusses recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in two cat shelters in South Korea and emphasizes the need to enhance surveillance for cross-species viral transmission from a One Health perspective.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Xinye Wang, Dawei Wang, Sajid Umar, Sheng Qin, Qiong Ling, Gregory C. Gray, Yuntao Liu
Summary: The study in Guangzhou, China revealed a circulation of at least three species of HAdVs (species B, C, and E) with a consistent detection of HAdV infections throughout the year, and a relatively higher prevalence in summer. The most prevalent genotypes identified were HAdV-B3 and HAdV-B7, with common symptoms including fever, cough, and rhinorrhea.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Anastasia N. Vlasova, Annika Diaz, Debasu Damtie, Leshan Xiu, Teck-Hock Toh, Jeffrey Soon-Yit Lee, Linda J. Saif, Gregory C. Gray
Summary: This study identified a novel canine-feline recombinant alphacoronavirus isolated from a child with pneumonia, suggesting recent zoonotic transmission and emphasizing the public health threat of animal CoVs. Better surveillance is needed to monitor these viruses and their potential impact on human health.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Letter
Infectious Diseases
Anfal Abdelgadir, Anastasia N. Vlasova, Gregory C. Gray
INFLUENZA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mohamed E. El Zowalaty, Anfal Abdelgadir, Laura K. Borkenhagen, Mariette F. Ducatez, Emily S. Bailey, Gregory C. Gray
Summary: The study found that influenza A viruses are likely highly prevalent in South African swine farms, with male workers aged 23-32, who reported recent exposure to influenza patients and infrequent use of personal protective equipment being at highest risk of molecular detection of influenza A virus. Periodic surveillance for novel influenza viruses in swine farms and education/seasonal influenza vaccine programmes for swine workers would be beneficial in South Africa.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Akshaya Ramesh, Emily S. Bailey, Vida Ahyong, Charles Langelier, Maira Phelps, Norma Neff, Rene Sit, Cristina Tato, Joseph L. DeRisi, Annette G. Greer, Gregory C. Gray
Summary: Modern large-scale, high-density farming environments are prone to viral outbreaks, making metagenomic sequencing a valuable tool for characterizing microbial burden. International efforts have successfully characterized pathogens in commercial farming environments, and a significant number of novel viruses were identified in a U.S.A. farm operation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Bobby G. Warren, Alicia Nelson, Aaron Barrett, Bechtler Addison, Amanda Graves, Raquel Binder, Gregory Gray, Sarah Lewis, Becky A. Smith, David J. Weber, Emily E. Sickbert-Bennett, Deverick J. Anderson
Summary: We assessed the environmental contamination of inpatient rooms in a dedicated COVID-19 unit and found that 5.5% of surfaces were contaminated with SARS-CoV-2. RNA presence is not a specific indicator of infectious virus.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lucas Rocha-Melogno, Katherine Crank, Michael H. Bergin, Gregory C. Gray, Kyle Bibby, Marc A. Deshusses
Summary: An increasing body of literature suggests that aerosol inhalation plays a primary role in COVID-19 transmission, particularly in indoor settings. In response to this, the authors developed a model and web application to assess and mitigate the risk of aerosol transmission. Their findings showed that the risk of transmission significantly increased when masks were not worn and the room was poorly ventilated, but it could be reduced with proper ventilation and relative humidity.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Suwanna Chaorattanakawee, Rachel N. Wofford, Ratree Takhampunya, B. Katherine Poole-Smith, Bazartseren Boldbaatar, Sukhbaatar Lkhagvatseren, Doniddemberel Altantogtokh, Elisha Musih, Pagbajab Nymadawa, Silas Davidson, Jeffrey Hertz, Jodi Fiorenzano, Gregory C. Gray, Michael E. von Fricken
Summary: The study examined the prevalence of tick-borne bacterial infections in livestock from three provinces in Mongolia, with Anaplasma, Bartonella, and Ehrlichia showing prevalence rates of 57.6%, 12.8%, and 0.4% respectively. Anaplasma spp. had a significantly higher prevalence in Selenge and To center dot v provinces compared to Dornogovi. Further research is needed to understand the burden of tick-borne diseases in both livestock and pastoral herder populations in Mongolia.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Anastasia N. Vlasova, Teck-Hock Toh, Jeffrey Soon-Yit Lee, Yong Poovorawan, Phillip Davis, Marli S. P. Azevedo, John A. Lednicky, Linda J. Saif, Gregory C. Gray
Summary: This article reviews the existing evidence of animal alphacoronaviruses detected in human patients with acute respiratory illness. Similar viruses to canine, feline, and porcine alphacoronaviruses have been found in humans in Haiti, Malaysia, Thailand, and the USA. The data suggests that these viruses emerged independently in different geographic locations and have been circulating in humans for at least 20 years. Further studies are needed to investigate their prevalence and disease impact.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ryan D. Kilpatrick, Olga Sanchez-Solino, Negar Niki Alami, Christopher Johnson, Yixin Fang, Lani R. Wegrzyn, Whitney S. Krueger, Yizhou Ye, Nancy Dreyer, Gregory C. Gray
Summary: The Epidemiological Population Study of SARS-CoV-2 in Lake County, Illinois (CONTACT) is an ongoing observational study that follows nonhospitalized individuals aged 18 years or older in Lake County, IL for 9 months. The study found that 5.6% of adults in the county had evidence of acute or previous SARS-CoV-2 infection at the baseline, and nonadherence to social distancing measures and high-risk professions were associated with the infection.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND THERAPY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Dieter Mielke, Sherry Stanfield-Oakley, Shalini Jha, Taylor Keyes, Adam Zalaquett, Brooke Dunn, Nicole Rodgers, Thomas Oguin, Greg D. Sempowski, Raquel A. Binder, Gregory C. Gray, Shelly Karuna, Lawrence Corey, John Hural, Georgia D. Tomaras, Justin Pollara, Guido Ferrari
Summary: This study developed four flow cytometry-based assays to evaluate antibody responses in SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunity. These assays showed specific and reproducible detection of functional antibody responses, but with limited overlap. Single or fewer sample dilutions were found to accurately determine response rates and magnitudes, allowing for high-throughput use in large clinical studies.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lucas Rocha-Melogno, Katherine C. Crank, Olivia Ginn, Michael H. Bergin, Joe Brown, Gregory C. Gray, Kerry A. Hamilton, Kyle Bibby, Marc A. Deshusses
Summary: This study assessed the potential public health impact of bioaerosols near open waste canals in places with unsafe sanitation services. The results showed that inhalation followed by ingestion had the highest risk of infection, and bacterial fluxes from the air were the most influential factor on the risk.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Sajid Umar, Benjamin D. Anderson, Kuanfu Chen, Guo-Lin Wang, Mai-Juan Ma, Gregory C. Gray
Summary: The high prevalence of multiple viruses among production pigs in China highlights the need for regular surveillance to protect pig health.
VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jessica H. Leibler, Anfal Abdelgadir, James Seidel, Roberta F. White, W. Evan Johnson, Stephen J. Reynolds, Gregory C. Gray, Joshua W. Schaeffer
Summary: This study investigated the exposure to influenza D virus (IDV) and its health effects among United States dairy workers. The results showed that a high percentage of workers were exposed to IDV, but it was not associated with respiratory symptoms.
ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Matthew M. Dacso, Dennis A. Bente, Scott C. Weaver, Gary P. Kobinger, Peter C. Melby, Susan L. F. McLellan, Philip H. Keiser, Sarah A. Hamer, Gabriel L. Hamer, Gerald W. Parker Jr, David I. Douphrate, Anabel Rodriguez, Michael L. Goodman, X. Ara, Gregory C. Gray
Summary: Texas is a state with a large geographic size, large populations of humans and animals, and extreme weather fluctuations. In the past 15 years, Texas has frequently experienced disasters causing significant morbidity and economic losses. An interdisciplinary network of professionals from various academic institutions has emerged to collaborate on protecting Texas and the USA, focusing on biopreparedness, pathogen understanding, therapeutics and vaccines development, and surveillance approaches. These partnerships strengthen our ability to prevent future catastrophes and protect human and animal health.