Article
Immunology
Henry M. Feder, Sam Telford, Heidi K. Goethert, Gary P. Wormser
Summary: The study found that Powassan virus can be rapidly transmitted to human hosts within hours of tick attachment, which is different from other deer tick-transmitted infections.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Erin M. Hassett, Saravanan Thangamani
Summary: Zoonotic viruses pose a threat to millions of people annually, with the Powassan virus being a rare tick-borne virus causing severe neurological damage and death, with increasing incidence in the eastern United States. The mechanisms of POWV maintenance and transmission to humans are complex and not fully understood, with various environmental and human-driven factors potentially aiding its spread.
Article
Immunology
Rachel E. Lange, Alan P. Dupuis II, Melissa A. Prusinski, Joseph G. Maffei, Cheri A. Koetzner, Kiet Ngo, Bryon Backenson, JoAnne Oliver, Chantal B. F. Vogels, Nathan D. Grubaugh, Laura D. Kramer, Alexander T. Ciota
Summary: Powassan virus (POWV) is a reemerging tick-borne virus endemic in North America and Russia. Recent isolates from ticks and mammals in New York State (NYS) revealed genetic and phenotypic divergence of POWV-1 strains, including the first reported isolation from Ixodes scapularis. These findings suggest the presence of genetically and phenotypically distinct foci of POWV-1 in alternate tick hosts.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ludek Eyer, Katherine Seley-Radtke, Daniel Ruzek
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a potentially fatal disease common in much of Europe and Asia. Currently, there is no specific therapy for TBE patients, but there are ongoing efforts to develop small molecules and monoclonal antibodies that can interfere with the TBE virus life cycle and potentially be used for post-exposure prophylaxis or early therapy. This review summarizes the latest directions and experimental approaches for combating TBE in humans.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rodrigo Santos, Meghan E. Hermance, Erin S. Reynolds, Saravanan Thangamani
Summary: This study demonstrates that tick salivary gland extract facilitates POWV neuroinvasion in mice infected with a lower dose of the virus. Additionally, two patterns of central nervous system invasion were directly influenced by the dose of POWV administered.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Ryan J. Malonis, George Georgiev, Denise Haslwanter, Laura A. VanBlargan, Georgia Fallon, Olivia Vergnolle, Sean M. Cahill, Richard Harris, David Cowburn, Kartik Chandran, Michael S. Diamond, Jonathan R. Lai
Summary: By creating a subunit-based nanoparticle immunogen, we were able to induce the production of neutralizing and protective antibodies against POWV infection in mice. Our study provides insights into the molecular determinants of antibody-mediated neutralization and protection against TBFVs.
Article
Hematology
Evan M. Bloch, Aaron A. R. Tobian, Louis M. Katz
Summary: Powassan virus (POWV) is an emerging tick-borne arbovirus that has seen an increase in reported cases, with a high fatality rate for neuroinvasive cases. The risk of transfusion-associated transmission remains uncertain, but vigilance is necessary amidst the rise in cases.
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Sam R. Telford, Anne L. Piantadosi
Summary: A new mouse model has successfully replicated some features of human Powassan encephalitis, showing the presence of viral RNA and myelitis more than 2 months after acute infection. Similar neurological sequelae have been observed in tick-borne encephalitis and West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease, and models for these diseases have also provided evidence of prolonged virus, RNA, and inflammation. Understanding the biological basis for persistent symptoms after Powassan encephalitis could be improved by studying more prevalent flaviviral encephalitides.
Article
Entomology
Keith J. Price, Deepanker Tewari, Bryn J. Witmier, Jason Long, Michael S. Chroscinski, Julia L. Livengood, Christian N. Boyer, Alan P. Dupuis, Laura D. Kramer, Leah Lind
Summary: This study conducted active surveillance for Ixodes scapularis in every Pennsylvania county and found POWV/DTV presence in three counties. The statewide mean infection rate was relatively low, indicating a more recent emergence of the virus in the region.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ACAROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Heeba Anis, Akbar Basha Shaik, Ece Karabulut, Mert Uzun, Angad Tiwari, Abubakar Nazir, Olivier Uwishema, Abel Alemayehu
Summary: POWV is a tick-borne Flavivirus that poses a significant public health threat in the northeastern United States. Its transmission is influenced by climate change, ecological factors, and human activities. Prompt diagnosis, specialized management, and prevention measures such as awareness and controlling mammals are crucial. The recent outbreak in Maine highlights the importance of global collaboration in prevention.
ANNALS OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
E. Taylor Stone, Mariah Hassert, Elizabeth Geerling, Colleen Wagner, James D. Brien, Gregory D. Ebel, Alec J. Hirsch, Cody German, Jessica L. Smith, Amelia K. Pinto
Summary: In this study, using a murine model, we identified the immune protection factors against POWV infection and demonstrated that robust B and T cell responses are necessary for immune protection. These immune protection factors were applied in a virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccination approach, providing protection against lethal POWV challenge.
Article
Immunology
Lindsay Taylor, Taryn Condon, Eric M. Destrampe, Jennifer A. Brown, Jeanette McGavic, Carolyn Gould, Trudy Chambers, Olga Kosoy, Kristen L. Burkhalter, Pallavi Annambhotla, Sridhar Basavaraju, Jamel Groves, Rebecca A. Osborn, John Weiss, Susan L. Stramer, Elizabeth A. Misch
Summary: A kidney transplant patient developed encephalitis 3 weeks after transplantation, possibly due to transfusion-transmitted Powassan virus infection from an asymptomatic blood donor.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Wilson R. Raney, Erik J. Herslebs, Ingeborg M. Langohr, Madeline C. Stone, Meghan E. Hermance
Summary: The invasive Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, has been detected in 17 states in North America and shows vector competence for Powassan virus (POWV). This suggests a growing threat to human health in the United States posed by this invasive tick species.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jan Haviernik, Ludek Eyer, Kentaro Yoshii, Shintaro Kobayashi, Jiri Cerny, Antoine Nougairede, Jean-Selim Driouich, Jiri Volf, Martin Palus, Xavier de Lamballerie, Ernest A. Gould, Daniel Ruzek
Summary: Researchers developed a recombinant mCherry-expressing reporter virus for TBEV, which enables high-throughput screening of antiviral drugs and evaluation of neutralizing antibodies in serum samples. This reporter virus provides a powerful tool for identifying potential antiviral agents and monitoring immune responses to TBEV in human and animal sera.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Virology
Rebekah J. McMinn, Rose M. Langsjoen, Andrei Bombin, Rebecca M. Robich, Erick Ojeda, Erica Normandin, Heidi K. Goethert, Charles B. Lubelczyk, Elizabeth Schneider, Danielle Cosenza, Molly Meagher, Melissa A. Prusinski, Pardis C. Sabeti, Robert P. Smith, Sam R. Telford III, Anne Piantadosi, Gregory D. Ebel
Summary: The burden of ticks and tick-borne pathogens, including Powassan virus (POWV), is increasing worldwide. In this study, the emergence of deer tick virus (DTV), a lineage of POWV, in North America was evaluated. DTV-positive ticks were found in eight out of twenty locations in the Northeast USA. Whole-genome sequencing and phylodynamic analysis revealed stable infection in the region and geographic dispersal patterns. The analysis also showed DTV population expansion over the past 50 years, indicating an increasing risk of human exposure as the tick vector spreads.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lauren M. Webb, John J. Chen, Allen J. Aksamit, Shamik Bhattacharyya, Bart K. Chwalisz, Denis Balaban, Giovanna S. Manzano, Ahya S. Ali, Jennifer Lord, Stacey L. Clardy, Rohini D. Samudralwar, Yang Mao-Draayer, James A. Garrity, M. Tariq Bhatti, Lindsey E. Turner, Eoin P. Flanagan
Summary: Sarcoid optic neuropathy often coexists with other neurosarcoidosis-related clinical and radiological abnormalities, and its diagnosis occasionally requires optic nerve/sheath biopsy. While most patients show improvement with treatment, some still suffer from residual visual disability at the last follow-up.
JOURNAL OF THE NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Mahsa Khayat-Khoei, Shamik Bhattacharyya, Joshua Katz, Daniel Harrison, Shahamat Tauhid, Penny Bruso, Maria K. Houtchens, Keith R. Edwards, Rohit Bakshi
Summary: The availability of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 provides hope for mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic, but their safety and efficacy in individuals with chronic autoimmune diseases like MS are not established. We report clinical and MRI features of seven individuals who developed neurologic symptoms and CNS demyelination after receiving the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines, highlighting the need for further investigation into the relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and acute CNS demyelination through large prospective studies.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jacqueline M. Solomon, Shamik Bhattacharyya, Ahya S. Ali, Liam Cleary, Sarah Dibari, Robert Boxer, Brian C. Healy, Tracey A. Milligan
Summary: This study compared bedside rounding with hallway rounding in an academic neurology inpatient service, evaluating efficiency, trainee education, and satisfaction among patients and staff. Bedside rounding was perceived less favorably by most residents but as efficient as hallway rounding, with benefits including increased nursing participation and more time spent with the patient.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Shamik Bhattacharyya, R. Gilberto Gonzalez, Bart K. Chwalisz, Samantha N. Champion
Summary: A 64-year-old woman presented with symptoms of cognitive impairment, headache, and memory loss for 6 weeks. MRI findings showed abnormal signals in the subarachnoid and leptomeningeal regions on FLAIR sequences. A diagnostic test was performed to determine the cause.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
David M. Greer
SEMINARS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Salman Bhai, Shamik Bhattacharyya
Summary: Myelopathy is a clinical diagnosis with various causes, but a focused history and neurologic exam can help guide a targeted workup to treat the patient, even if the exact cause is not always identified.
SEMINARS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
Shamik Bhattacharyya
SEMINARS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Letter
Clinical Neurology
Riana L. Schleicher, Matthew B. Bevers, Daniel B. Rubin, Matthew J. Koch, Soren Bache, India A. Lissak, Aman B. Patel, Eric S. Rosenthal, Kirsten Moller, W. Taylor Kimberly
Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
Daniel B. Rubin, Angelique C. Paulk
Summary: This commentary discusses a study on the volitional control of individual neurons in the human brain conducted by Patel et al.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yasmin Aghajan, Richard N. Mitchell, Shamik Bhattacharyya, Tiffany Y-T Hsu, Joshua P. Klein
Summary: A 78-year-old man presented with progressive fatigue and dysarthria. MRI showed symmetrical middle cerebellar peduncle infarctions, while CT angiography revealed multifocal bilateral cervical vertebral artery stenoses. Despite antiplatelet therapy, symptoms worsened over 2 weeks. Repeat MRI showed enlargement and mild enhancement of the lesions. Blood tests indicated elevated inflammatory markers, and temporal artery biopsy confirmed non-necrotizing arteritis. Giant cell arteritis is a rare cause of stroke, particularly affecting the vertebrobasilar system.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Eero Rissanen, Kelsey Carter, Steven Cicero, John Ficke, Marie Kijewski, Mi-Ae Park, Joseph Kijewski, Emily Stern, Tanuja Chitnis, David Silbersweig, Howard L. Weiner, Chun K. Kim, Jennifer Lyons, Joshua P. Klein, Shamik Bhattacharyya, Tarun Singhal
Summary: This study evaluates the accuracy of semiquantitative measurement of putaminal hypermetabolism in identifying LGI1 protein autoimmune encephalitis. The results show that putaminal hypermetabolism can distinguish LGI1-AE from other pathologies, and metabolic abnormalities extend beyond putamen. Moreover, immunotherapy can improve the metabolic abnormalities in LGI1-AE.
NEUROLOGY-NEUROIMMUNOLOGY & NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Daniel B. Rubin, Tommy Hosman, Jessica N. Kelemen, Anastasia Kapitonava, Francis R. Willett, Brian F. Coughlin, Eric Halgren, Eyal Y. Kimchi, Ziv M. Williams, John D. Simeral, Leigh R. Hochberg, Sydney S. Cash
Summary: Replay of motor cortex neural activity may occur during sleep following motor learning in humans.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sarah E. Conway, Danielle Kei A. Pua, Kathryn B. Holroyd, Kristin Galetta, Shamik Bhattacharyya
Summary: In this study, the outcomes of older MS patients who received ICPI treatment were analyzed. The results showed that there were no relapses or new MS lesions after ICPI treatment. Therefore, the use of ICPIs does not appear to increase clinical disease activity in this group of patients with inactive MS.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL
(2023)
Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
Dylan R. Rice, Kathryn B. Holroyd, Danielle Kei Pua, Michael Levy, Farrah J. Mateen, Shamik Bhattacharyya
Summary: We surveyed 103 adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) through social media and found that they faced a significant economic burden from emergency department visits and hospitalizations. The average number of relapse events over the prior 3 years was 5.3, with participants reporting direct and indirect costs for majority of the events. Additionally, a high percentage of participants reported lost income due to hospital visits. Future studies should focus on identifying and supporting subgroups with higher economic burden from NMOSD.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND RELATED DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jacqueline M. Solomon, Shamik Bhattacharyya, Ahya S. Ali, Liam Cleary, Sarah Dibari, Robert Boxer, Brian C. Healy, Tracey A. Milligan
Summary: Bedside rounding and hallway rounding differ in terms of efficiency, trainee education, and satisfaction among patients and staff. Residents perceived hallway rounding to be more efficient and associated it with a superior educational experience and more effective data review. Nurses had improved perception of their participation in bedside rounds.