Article
Microbiology
Perumal Arumugam Desingu, K. Nagarajan
Summary: This study reveals the genetic diversity of Rep and Cap proteins in CRESS-DNA viruses, showing that different clusters of viruses have different functional domains. It also suggests that selection pressure plays a significant role in the evolution of viral genes.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Virology
Shi-Jia Le, Gen-Yang Xin, Wei-Chen Wu, Mang Shi
Summary: In this study, the global diversity of all known cat viruses was comprehensively analyzed, with a focus on their geographic expansion patterns, temporal dynamics, and recombination frequencies. The findings deepen our understanding of the evolutionary and epidemiological features of cat viruses and provide important insight into the prevention and control of cat pathogens.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Juan Angel Patino-Galindo, Ioan Filip, Raul Rabadan
Summary: Recombination plays a significant role in driving viral evolution and adaptation, with differences in recombination rates observed among viruses infecting humans. Positive single-stranded RNA viruses exhibit higher recombination frequencies, while an inverse correlation is found between genome length and recombination rate across multiple viruses.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Chihai Ji, Meng Zeng, Yingfang Wei, Xiaocheng Lv, Yuan Sun, Jingyun Ma
Summary: In this study, a circular replication-associated protein (Rep)-encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA virus named Po-Circo-like (PCL) virus was discovered in pig intestinal tissue and fecal samples. The virus contains a single-stranded DNA genome, with Rep responsible for viral genome replication. PCL virus may contribute to diarrhea symptoms in pigs and can be found in severe diarrhea outbreaks in pig farms in Hunan Province, China. Further investigation is needed to understand the pathogenesis and epidemiologic impact of this potential cross-species transmitted virus.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Eugen Pfeifer, Jorge M. Sousa, Marie Touchon, Eduardo P. C. Rocha
Summary: Interactions between viruses, cells, and other genetic elements play a crucial role in the success of infections. These interactions can involve antagonism, competition, cooperation, or parasitism. Rapid evolution through genetic exchanges and functional diversification shapes multilayered networks of interactions that determine the outcome of viral infections.
CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Morgan Gaia, Lingjie Meng, Eric Pelletier, Patrick Forterre, Chiara Vanni, Antonio Fernandez-Guerra, Olivier Jaillon, Patrick Wincker, Hiroyuki Ogata, Mart Krupovic, Tom O. Delmont
Summary: DNA viruses have a significant impact on the ecology and evolution of cellular organisms, but their overall diversity and evolutionary paths are still unclear. This study discovered plankton-infecting relatives of herpesviruses in the sunlit oceans, which belong to a new phylum named Mirusviricota. These mirusviruses exhibit chimaeric attributes connecting them to both herpesviruses and giant eukaryotic viruses, and they play a lasting role in the ecology of marine ecosystems and the evolution of eukaryotic DNA viruses.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roberto Del Amparo, Luis Daniel Gonzalez-Vazquez, Laura Rodriguez-Moure, Ugo Bastolla, Miguel Arenas
Summary: Genetic recombination is a common evolutionary mechanism that contributes to molecular diversity. However, its impact on protein folding stability has been less studied compared to point mutations. This study found that although recombination can affect multiple protein sites, it does not significantly increase the elimination of proteins due to insufficient stability compared to mutation events. Recombination disrupts epistatic interactions but does not reduce the overall stability of recombinant proteins. Instead, it amplifies the difference in stability between recombined proteins, leading to phenotypic diversity.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EVOLUTION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Genetics & Heredity
Charles Addo Nyarko, Annaliese S. Mason
Summary: Polyploids need to segregate homologous chromosomes correctly, which is not only determined by sequence similarity but also under strong genetic control that may vary between lineages. Factors such as partner availability and genome structure may also influence the level of sequence similarity required for crossover formation.
TRENDS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Ling Chen, Cheng Guo, Chenge Yan, Rui Sun, Yongqiang Li
Summary: To investigate the diversity of lily viruses, lilies with virus-like symptoms were collected in Beijing, and the complete and nearly full-length viral genomes were determined through deep sequencing. Two novel viruses, LaEV-1 and LaPV-1, were identified and classified into Alphaendornavirus and Polerovirus, respectively. SLRSV was identified for the first time in China, showing high nucleotide diversity. The diversity of lily-infecting viruses is influenced by sequence insertion, host species, and recombination.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexander G. Lucaci, Jordan D. Zehr, Stephen D. Shank, Dave Bouvier, Alexander Ostrovsky, Han Mei, Anton Nekrutenko, Darren P. Martin, Sergei L. Kosakovsky Pond
Summary: An important unmet need revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic is the near-real-time identification of potentially fitness-altering mutations within rapidly growing SARS-CoV-2 lineages. To address this, researchers have developed the RASCL pipeline, which allows for adaptive selection analysis in rapidly growing lineages and generates regularly updated lineage-specific selection analysis reports.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Weiyi Li, Rongting Li, Xiaomin Tang, Jinzhi Cheng, Lin Zhan, Zhengling Shang, Jiahong Wu
Summary: Genetic reassortment and recombination among Jingmen viruses associated with ticks and vertebrates complicate their evolutionary relationships and pose a risk to humans.
Article
Agronomy
Maria Lopez-Martin, Alicia Sifres, Maria Luisa Gomez-Guillamon, Belen Pico, Ana Perez-de-Castro
Summary: Monitoring viral infections in cucurbit fields is crucial for preventing major economic losses. Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV), and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) were identified as the main viruses infecting cucurbits in the Spanish Mediterranean area. New variants of WMV and CMV were also found.
Article
Microbiology
Lirun Xiang, Hu Xu, Chao Li, Yan-Dong Tang, Tong-Qing An, Zhen Li, Chunxiao Liu, Shuaijie Song, Jing Zhao, Chaoliang Leng, Xiangyang Qu, Yingjun Sun, Jinmei Peng, Qian Wang, Xuehui Cai, Zhi-Jun Tian, Hongliang Zhang
Summary: This study conducted a 4-year monitoring on PRRSV samples from a pig farm in China and discovered that NADC30-like PRRSVs have replaced HP-PRRSVs as dominant strains. The high mutation rate of NADC30-like PRRSVs contributes to their low genomic similarity. Recombination events between NADC30-like and QYYZ-like PRRSVs have resulted in complex recombination patterns.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jerome F. Zurcher, Wesley E. Robertson, Tomas Kappes, Gianluca Petris, Thomas S. Elliott, George P. C. Salmond, Jason W. Chin
Summary: The researchers have reconstructed the genetic code structure in Escherichia coli, creating orthogonal genetic codes and developing a special gene transfer system that restricts the transfer of genetic information between organisms with different genetic codes.
Article
Microbiology
Eniko Feher, Eszter Mihalov-Kovacs, Eszter Kaszab, Yashpal S. Malik, Szilvia Marton, Krisztian Banyai
Summary: This study identified a diversity of CRESS DNA viruses in fecal samples collected from apparently healthy swine herd, with multiple novel CRESS DNA viruses found to infect the swine herd simultaneously. Investigation of the association between presence of CRESS DNA viruses and swine health conditions seems to be justified.
Review
Immunology
Leonard Ngarka, Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Esraa Aly, Willias Masocha, Alfred K. Njamnshi
Summary: Neurological disorders related to neuroinfections are highly prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with epilepsy, dementia, motor neuron diseases, headache disorders, sleep disorders, and peripheral neuropathy being major health concerns. These disorders are often associated with HIV infection, as well as other infections such as toxoplasmosis and malaria. The pathogenesis involves the direct role of the virus, antiretroviral treatments, and immune system dysregulation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Daniel Hui, Daniel Harris, Michael Mcquillan, Matthew Hansen, Alessia Ranciaro, William Beggs, Sununguko W. Mpoloka, Dawit Woldemeskel, Alfred K. K. Njamnshi, Thomas B. Nyambo, Stephen Chanock, Sarah A. Tishkoff
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Paul F. Seke Etet, Muaawia A. Hamza, Ahmed El-Tahir, Lorella Vecchio, Sayed Y. Osman, Gwiria M. H. Satti, Mohamed H. A. Ismail, Mohammed Farahna, Alfred K. Njamnshi, Abdu Adem
Summary: This study found that subfraction F5 of Garcinia kola extract prevented the development of motor signs and improved the disease profile in a mouse model of diabetic encephalopathy induced by STZ. The antidiabetic activity of beta-lactam molecules accounted for at least some of these effects.
EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Claudine Akondeng, Wepnyu Y. Njamnshi, Henshaw Eyambe Mandi, Valirie Ndip Agbor, Luchuo Engelbert Bain, Alfred K. Njamnshi
Summary: Community engagement is considered crucial for the success of research, innovation, and intervention. This review aims to synthesize existing evidence on how to engage communities in research in a gender-sensitive, ethical, culture-appropriate, and sustainable manner in sub-Saharan Africa.
Article
Microbiology
Alfred Dusabimana, Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Michel Mandro Ndahura, Bruno P. Mmbando, Stephen Raimon Jada, Annelies Boven, Eric De Smet, Tony Ukety, Alfred K. Njamnshi, Anne Laudisoit, Steven Abrams, Robert Colebunders
Summary: Through surveys and antibody testing in onchocerciasis-endemic villages, it was found that there is a correlation between high epilepsy prevalence and high Onchocerca volvulus antibody seroprevalence among children aged 6-10. However, in some areas, there is a higher epilepsy prevalence but lower Ov16 antibody seroprevalence among young children, which may be due to a decrease in the Simulium vector population caused by deforestation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chao Zhang, Anurag Verma, Yuanqing Feng, Marcelo C. R. Melo, Michael McQuillan, Matthew Hansen, Anastasia Lucas, Joseph Park, Alessia Ranciaro, Simon Thompson, Meagan A. Rubel, Michael C. Campbell, William Beggs, Jibril Hirbo, Sununguko Wata Mpoloka, Gaonyadiwe George Mokone, Thomas Nyambo, Dawit Wolde Meskel, Gurja Belay, Charles Fokunang, Alfred K. Njamnshi, Sabah A. Omar, Scott M. Williams, Daniel J. Rader, Marylyn D. Ritchie, Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez, Giorgio Sirugo, Sarah A. Tishkoff
Summary: This study investigated global patterns of genetic variation and signatures of natural selection at host genes relevant to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study found variants in ACE2 and TMPRSS2 genes that impact SARS-CoV-2 infection, with some variants being influenced by natural selection in specific populations. These findings provide insights into global variation at host genes related to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
Gladys Maestre, Maria Carrillo, Raj Kalaria, Daisy Acosta, Larry Adams, Thierry Adoukonou, Kazeem Akinwande, Joshua Akinyemi, Rufus Akinyemi, Onoja Akpa, Suvarna Alladi, Ricardo Allegri, Raul Arizaga, Faheem Arshad, Oyedunni Arulogun, David Ndetei, Olusegun Baiyewu, Thomas Issac, Tarek Bellaj, Judith Boshe, Carol Brayne, David Brodie-Mends, Richard Brown, Jennifer Cahn, Nkouonlack Cyrille, Albertino Damasceno, Ranil de Silva, Rohan de Silva, Mamuka Djibuti, Anna Jane Dreyer, Ratnavalli Ellajosyula, Temitope Farombi, Bernard Fongang, Stefania Forner, Rob Friedland, Noe Garza, Antoine Gbessemehlan, Eliza (Eleni-Zacharoula) Georgiou, Riadh Gouider, Ishtar Govia, Lea Grinberg, Maelenn Guerchet, Seid Gugssa, Joy Louise Gumikiriza-Onoria, Deborah Gustafson, Eef Hogervorst, Michael Hornberger, Agustin Ibanez, Masafumi Ihara, Ozama Ismail, Thomas Issac, Linus Joensson, Celestin Kaputu, Wambui Karanja, Jackline Karungi, Desire Tshala-Katumbay, Brian Kunkle, Joseph H. Lee, Iracema Leroi, Raphaella Lewis, Gill Livingston, Francisco Lopera, Kamada Lwere, Facundo Manes, Lingani Mbakile-Mahlanza, Pedro Mena, Bruce Miller, Athanase Millogo, Abdul Mohamed, Christine Musyimi, Victoria Mutiso, Noeline Nakasujja, David Ndetei, Sam Nightingale, Alfred K. Njamnshi, Gabriela Novotni, Primrose Nyamayaro, Solomon Nyame, Julius Ogeng'o, Adesola Ogunniyi, Maira Okada De Oliveira, Njideka Okubadejo, Martin Orrell, Akintunde Orunmuyi, Mayowa Owolabi, Stella Paddick, Margaret A. Pericak-Vance, Zvezdan Pirtosek, Felix Potocnik, Bill Preston, Rema Raman, Kirti Ranchod, Mie Rizig, Monica Rosselli, Roy Deepa, Upal Roy, Marufjon Salokhiddinov, Mary Sano, Fred Sarfo, Claudia L. Satizabal, Diego Sepulveda-Falla, Sudha Seshadri, Claire Sexton, Ingmar Skoog, Peter St George-Hyslop, Claudia Suemoto, Jeremy Tanner, Prekshya Thapa, Kamadore Toure, Valentine Ucheagwu, Chinedu Udeh-Momoh, Victor Valcour, Jeffery Vance, Mathew Varghese, Jaime Vera, Richard Walker, Wendy Weidner, Walsh Sebastian, Patrice Whitehead Gay, Henrik Zetterberg, Yared Zewde
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shaohua Fan, Jeffrey P. Spence, Yuanqing Feng, Matthew E. B. Hansen, Jonathan Terhorst, Marcia H. Beltrame, Alessia Ranciaro, Jibril Hirbo, William Beggs, Neil Thomas, Thomas Nyambo, Sununguko Wata Mpoloka, Gaonyadiwe George Mokone, Alfred Njamnshi, Charles Folkunang, Dawit Wolde Meskel, Gurja Belay, Yun S. Song, Sarah A. Tishkoff
Summary: By conducting whole-genome sequencing of indigenous African populations, we identified numerous unreported variants and observed evidence of ancient population structure and introgression events from highly diverged ''ghost'' populations. We also found signatures of local adaptation for traits related to skin color, immune response, height, and metabolic processes.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Leonard Ngarka, Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Calson Ambomatei, Wepnyu Yembe Njamnshi, Julius Ndi Taryunyu Njamnshi, Leonard N. Nfor, Michel K. Mengnjo, Alfred K. Njamnshi
Summary: The epidemiology of epilepsy in onchocerciasis-endemic villages in Cameroon was documented, and its relation to onchocerciasis prevalence was investigated. The study found a high prevalence of epilepsy associated with onchocerciasis. Therefore, more effective elimination measures are urgently needed in these endemic areas to reduce the burden of onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy.
EPILEPSY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
G. Van Cutsem, J. N. Siewe Fodjo, M. C. J. Dekker, L. J. Amaral, A. K. Njamnshi, R. Colebunders
Summary: Onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE) is a neglected public health problem in areas with inadequate onchocerciasis control. An internationally accepted case definition of OAE is needed to identify areas requiring treatment and prevention interventions. By including OAE as a manifestation of onchocerciasis, accuracy of disease burden estimation will be improved and more support for research and control efforts can be expected.
SEIZURE-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EPILEPSY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Ioanna Pagkrati, Jamie L. Duke, Eric Mbunwe, Timothy L. Mosbruger, Deborah Ferriola, Jenna Wasserman, Amalia Dinou, Nikolaos Tairis, Georgios Damianos, Ioanna Kotsopoulou, Joanna Papaioannou, Diamantoula Giannopoulos, William Beggs, Thomas Nyambo, Sununguko W. Mpoloka, Gaonyadiwe G. Mokone, Alfred K. Njamnshi, Charles Fokunang, Dawit Woldemeskel, Gurja Belay, Martin Maiers, Sarah A. Tishkoff, Dimitri S. Monos
Summary: HLA allelic variation in African populations has been relatively under-studied. In this study, we characterized HLA variation from individuals belonging to ethnically diverse populations in Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Tanzania using next generation sequencing. We identified 342 distinct alleles, including 140 novel alleles, and documented their complete allelic sequences.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Eric-Samuel Chokote, Leonard Ngarka, Emmanuel Oben Takoeta, Hermann Nestor Tsague Kengni, Leonard N. Nfor, Michel K. Mengnjo, Edwige Laure Mendo, Fabrice Djeutcheu, Faustin N. Yepnjio, Godwin Y. Tatah, Hubert Desire Awa Mbassi, Alfred K. Njamnshi
Summary: This case highlights the importance for clinicians to consider seizures as a potential cause of paroxysmal cough with loss of consciousness. Additionally, it emphasizes the need to screen for focal cortical dysplasia with MRI scans, even in adults with epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa.
CLINICAL CASE REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Luchuo Engelbert Bain, Claudine Akondeng, Wepnyu Yembe Njamnshi, Henshaw Eyambe Mandi, Hubert Amu, Alfred Kongnyu Njamnshi
Summary: Meaningful community engagement is crucial for successful research, innovation, and intervention uptake. However, there are knowledge gaps in how to effectively engage communities in research in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study synthesized existing literature on current practices, barriers, facilitators, ethical considerations, and gender mainstreaming in community engagement in research in the region. The findings highlight the importance of appropriate community entry, stakeholder engagement, and addressing cultural, geographical, and communication barriers. Gender mainstreaming and ethical standards need to be further explored and incorporated into the research process.
PAN AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2023)