Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Xue-Di Cheng, Hua-Feng Xu, Feng Wei, Li-Xin Jiang, Hai-Zhou Zhou
Summary: This study revealed a higher recombination rate (23%) among HCV patients in Heilongjiang Province, China, with the unique finding of the 2a/1b recombinant in the 5'UTR, E1, and NS5B regions.
Article
Immunology
Yuanyuan Jia, Xiu Zou, Wei Yue, Jin Liu, Ming Yue, Yang Liu, Li Liu, Peng Huang, Yue Feng, Xueshan Xia
Summary: The prevalence of HCV subtypes 3a and 3b is rapidly increasing in Yunnan, China, with a high level of infection attributed to increased drug use. This highlights the importance of implementing more stringent preventative and therapeutic measures to curb the spread of the virus.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jyh-Jou Chen, Yen-Cheng Chiu, Pei-Lun Lee, Hung-Da Tung, Hung-Chih Chiu, Shih-Chieh Chien, Pin-Nan Cheng
Summary: The study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of SOF/VEL and GLE/PIB for patients with HCV genotype 6 infection in Taiwan. Both treatment regimens achieved 100% sustained virological response (SVR) rates, regardless of cirrhosis or viral load. The most common adverse event was skin itching, with a higher incidence in GLE/PIB compared to SOF/VEL.
JOURNAL OF THE FORMOSAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Yanting Liu, Thorsten Brinkhoff, Martine Berger, Anja Poehlein, Sonja Voget, Lucas Paoli, Shinichi Sunagawa, Rudolf Amann, Meinhard Simon
Summary: The RCA cluster, belonging to the family Roseobacteracea, represents a major lineage of pelagic bacteria in temperate to polar oceans. By screening metagenomic datasets from global oceans, a total of 82 MAGs affiliated to this cluster were reconstructed, revealing unexpected diversity and novel insights into genomic features, functional diversity, and biogeographic patterns of the RCA cluster. This cluster is subdivided into three genera, each with distinct genomic characteristics, functional traits, and biogeographic patterns, shedding new light on the diversification, environmental adaptation, and global biogeography of pelagic bacteria.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Qiao Tang, Zhiwei Chen, Hu Li, Li Zhang, Mingli Peng, Yi Zeng, Xiaoqing Liu, Zubi Liu, Peng Hu
Summary: This study investigated the distribution of HCV genotypes in Chinese mainland and performed phylogenetic analysis to provide an up-to-date understanding of the molecular epidemiology of genotypes.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF POVERTY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Eva Dopico, Francisco Rodriguez-Frias, Itziar Ubillos, Ariadna Rando-Segura, Damir Garcia-Cehic, Josep Gregori, Yolanda Rando-Matos, Luis Solsona, Jordi Niubo, Juan Ignacio Esteban, Josep Costa, Miguel J. Martinez, Josep Quer
Summary: This study investigated the seroprevalence and viraemic rate of HCV among Pakistanis in Barcelona, with a focus on genotype 3 infections. General screening protocols for high-risk populations like Pakistanis could help in identifying and treating active HCV infections to prevent further transmission.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Xiu-Cheng Yang, Zhang-Ping Hong, Yi Wang, Nan Meng, Yong Hu, Qian-Yu Xiong, Da-Wen Qin, Du Shen, Xing-Lin Yang
Summary: This study investigated the molecular epidemiology and evolutionary dynamics of HCV among HIV/HCV co-infected individuals in Guizhou Province, China. The major HCV subtypes in this region were identified as 1b, 3a, 3b, and 6a, with 6a being the most dominant subtype. Phylogeographic analysis revealed that 6a originated from Yunnan and Guangxi provinces, while 3b emerged from the IDU network in Yunnan. Subtype 6a has shown a rapid population growth in Guizhou since 2004, with a slower growth rate in recent years.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Virology
Chaolun Liu, Mingzhe Guo, Lin Han, Jie Lu, Xiaogang Xiang, Qing Xie, Janin Nouhin, Veasna Duong, Yimin Tong, Jin Zhong
Summary: Despite the development of highly effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a challenge to human public health. This study shows that a novel GT-6a HCV replicon can easily develop resistance to sofosbuvir (SOF), calling for attention to potential drug resistance in HCV GT-6a patients during DAAs therapies.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Laurent Cotte, Laurent Hocqueloux, Maeva Lefebvre, Pierre Pradat, Firouze Bani-Sadr, Thomas Huleux, Isabelle Poizot-Martin, Pascal Pugliese, David Rey, Andre Cabie
Summary: A significant shift in HCV epidemiology was observed in people living with HIV in France from 2012 to 2018, with a decrease in overall HCV prevalence but an increase in new infections among men who have sex with men (MSM), making MSM the primary group for HCV transmission in 2018.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Meriam Guellil, Lucy van Dorp, Sarah A. Inskip, Jenna M. Dittmar, Lehti Saag, Kristiina Tambets, Ruoyun Hui, Alice Rose, Eugenia D'Atanasio, Aivar Kriiska, Liivi Varul, A. M. H. C. Koekkelkoren, Rimma D. Goldina, Craig Cessford, Anu Solnik, Mait Metspalu, Johannes Krause, Alexander Herbig, John E. Robb, Charlotte J. Houldcroft, Christiana L. Scheib
Summary: Research suggests that human herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is widely spread among the global population, with a connection to ancient human migrations. By studying ancient European HSV-1 genomes, the origin and transmission of the virus have been inferred, revealing a link to late Neolithic period and Bronze Age human migrations.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Kazumasa Sakamoto, Kiyoaki Ito, Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi, Hiroshi Yatsuhashi, Yasuhito Tanaka, Shuhei Hige, Yasuhiro Takikawa, Yoshiyuki Ueno, Kazuhide Yamamoto, Fumio Imazeki, Jun Inoue, Masayuki Kurosaki, Takeji Umemura, Hidenori Toyoda, Eiji Mita, Kojiro Michitaka, Tatsuji Maeshiro, Norie Yamada, Atsushi Suetsugu, Miwa Kawanaka, Yuya Seko, Kentaro Matsuura, Akinori Okumura, Yoshitaka Fukuzawa, Masaya Sugiyama, Masashi Mizokami, Masashi Yoneda
Summary: This study found that the distribution of HBV genotypes among CHB patients in Japan has changed over time, with an increase in genotype A among young adults and a shift of genotypes B and C towards older age groups. This data provides important baseline information for comparative studies on the impact of universal HBV vaccination.
JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Esther Martin de Fourchambault, Nathalie Callens, Jean-Michel Saliou, Marie Fourcot, Oceane Delos, Nicolas Barois, Quentin Thorel, Santseharay Ramirez, Jens Bukh, Laurence Cocquerel, Justine Bertrand-Michel, Guillemette Marot, Yasmine Sebti, Jean Dubuisson, Yves Rouille
Summary: Despite effective treatments for hepatitis C in clinics, issues remain regarding the liver disease induced by chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This study identified alterations in peroxisome function and morphology in HCV-infected cells, particularly involving lipid metabolism and redox balance.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Rongkuan Li, Ying Xie, Wenzhi Liu, Yu Ma
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the distribution of HCV genotypes among patients with hepatitis C from 4 ethnic minorities in Liaoning Province, China. The most prevalent genotype among the ethnic minorities was GT1b, followed by GT2a and GT3a, with variations in genotype distribution across different ethnic groups.
Article
Virology
Ru Xu, Elihu Aranday-Cortes, E. Carol McWilliam Leitch, Joseph Hughes, Joshua B. Singer, Vattipally Sreenu, Lily Tong, Ana da Silva Filipe, Connor G. G. Bamford, Xia Rong, Jieting Huang, Min Wang, Yongshui Fu, John McLauchlan
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive molecular epidemiological analysis of novel genotype 6 strains of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the Li ethnic group in China's Hainan Island, increasing the known diversity of HCV genotype 6. The results suggest that these HCV genotype 6 strains were transmitted to the Li ethnic group through multiple independent events dating back to around 4,000 years ago.
Article
Virology
Hung-Da Tung, Pei-Lun Lee, Jyh-Jou Chen, Hsing-Tao Kuo, Ming-Jen Sheu, Chun-Ta Cheng, Tang-Wei Chuang, Hsu-Ju Kao, Yu-Hsun Wu, Mai-Gio Pang, Cheng-Heng Lin, Chia-Yi Hou, Hsin-Hua Tsai, Li-Ching Wu, Chuan Lee
Summary: A study found a high prevalence of Hepatitis C virus genotype 6 in Tainan City, southern Taiwan, mainly due to a novel 6g-related subtype and 6w subtype, which may be indigenous in Tainan with specific geographic distribution.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Emanuele Marchi, Narayan Ramamurthy, M. Azim Ansari, Caroline E. Harrer, Eleanor Barnes, Paul Klenerman
Summary: This study aimed to profile the transcriptomics of HCV-infected livers and assess the effect of major predictors of clinical outcome such as IFNL4 host genotype and sex. The results showed that underlying cirrhotic state had the most substantial impact on transcriptional responses, and sex and IL28B/IFNL4 genotype also played important roles in antiviral responses.
Article
Ecology
Sarah C. Hill, Sarah Francois, Julien Theze, Adrian L. Smith, Peter Simmonds, Christopher M. Perrins, Lia van der Hoek, Oliver G. Pybus
Summary: Wildlife carries pathogens that can harm human or livestock health and are the source of most emerging infectious diseases. Changes in wildlife population age-structures and age-stratified behaviors can alter the level of pathogen detection within a species and the risk of spillover to other species. By using a metagenomic approach, this study characterized viral and prokaryotic carriage in a healthy wild bird population and identified novel virus species and the core prokaryotic microbiome. The findings suggest that perturbations in wildlife population age-structures could impact the circulation dynamics and spillover risk of microbes, potentially including pathogens.
Article
Immunology
C. Green, J. McGinley, C. Sande, S. Capone, S. Makvandi-Nejad, A. Vitelli, L. Silva-Reyes, S. Bibi, C. Otasowie, D. Sheerin, A. Thompson, C. Dold, P. Klenerman, E. Barnes, L. Dorrell, C. Rollier, A. Pollard, D. O'Connor
Summary: In this immunological study, cohorts of healthy younger and older adults were immunized with an adenovirus-vectored RSV vaccine either intramuscularly or intranasally. Differential gene expression was observed in blood samples after intramuscular prime vaccination, but not after intranasal prime vaccination. Intranasally primed participants showed more gene expression changes upon boosting. The gene expression changes mainly involved immune-related biological processes.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Hema Mehta, Irene Tasin, Carl Philipp Hackstein, Christian Willberg, Paul Klenerman
Summary: Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a type of innate-like T-cell that is conserved in many mammals and abundant in humans. They have a semi-invariant T-cell receptor (TCR) that recognizes riboflavin intermediates associated with microbial metabolism. MAIT cell activation can be triggered by cytokines and is highly sensitive to local soluble mediators. Prostaglandins can potentially modulate the functions of MAIT cells in vivo, with distinct effects on TCR-dependent and TCR-independent pathways of activation.
IMMUNOLOGY AND CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Victoria Hamill, Will Gelson, Douglas MacDonald, Paul Richardson, Stephen D. D. Ryder, Mark Aldersley, Stuart McPherson, Sumita Verma, Rohini Sharma, Sharon Hutchinson, Jennifer Benselin, Eleanor Barnes, Indra Neil Guha, William L. L. Irving, Hamish Innes
Summary: This study found that the uptake of biannual ultrasound surveillance in cured hepatitis C cirrhosis patients in the UK is low and there is inequity in its delivery. Only 19% of patients received biannual ultrasound in the first three years after achieving a sustained viral response, and this proportion decreased further to 9% during the follow-up years. The uptake of biannual ultrasound was associated with the hospital attended by the patient, as well as age and cirrhosis decompensation.
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aminata Sy, Leanne McCabe, Emma Hudson, Azim M. Ansari, Vincent Pedergnana, Shang-Kuan Lin, S. Santana, Marzia Fiorino, Aftab Ala, Ben Stone, M. Smith, Mark Nelson, Stephen T. Barclay, Stuart McPherson, Stephen D. Ryder, Jane Collier, Eleanor Barnes, Ann Sarah Walker, Sarah L. Pett, Graham Cooke
Summary: The CC genotype of the IFNL4 gene is associated with increased Hepatitis C cure rates. The Genedrive (R) IFNL4 is a CE marked Point of Care molecular diagnostic test for rapid detection of IFNL4 genotype status. Comparing buccal swab PoC testing with genetic sequencing, the buccal swab test showed better accuracy in identifying non-CC genotypes than CC genotypes.
Article
Biology
Barnaby Flower, Le Manh Hung, Leanne Mccabe, M. Azim Ansari, Chau Le Ngoc, Thu Vo Thi, Hang Vu Thi Kim, Phuong Nguyen Thi Ngoc, Le Thanh Phuong, Vo Minh Quang, Thuan Dang Trong, Thao Le Thi, Tran Nguyen Bao, Cherry Kingsley, David Smith, Richard M. Hoglund, Joel Tarning, Evelyne Kestelyn, Sarah L. Pett, Rogier van Doorn, Jennifer Ilo Van Nuil, Hugo Turner, Guy E. Thwaites, Eleanor Barnes, Motiur Rahman, Ann Sarah Walker, Jeremy N. Day, Nguyen V. V. Chau, Graham S. Cooke, Harel Dahari
Summary: This study evaluated the use of early virological response to shorten the duration of SOF/DCV therapy for hepatitis C. It found that 4-week therapy with retreatment if necessary can achieve high cure rates for patients with mild liver disease. The study also found no evidence that treatment failure was associated with host IFNL4 genotype, viral subtype, baseline resistance-associated substitutions, or drug levels.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
George M. Varghese, Divya Dayanand, Karthik Gunasekaran, Debasree Kundu, Mukta Wyawahare, Navneet Sharma, Dhruva Chaudhry, Sanjay K. Mahajan, Kavitha Saravu, Blessed W. Aruldhas, Binu S. Mathew, Roshini G. Nair, Nalini Newbigging, Aswathy Mathew, Kundavaram P. P. Abhilash, Manisha Biswal, Ann H. Prasad, Anand Zachariah, Ramya Iyadurai, Samuel G. Hansdak, Sowmya Sathyendra, Thambu D. Sudarsanam, John A. J. Prakash, Abi Manesh, Alladi Mohan, Joel Tarning, Stuart D. Blacksell, Pimnara Peerawaranun, Naomi Waithira, Mavuto Mukaka, Phaik Yeong Cheah, John V. Peter, Ooriapadickal C. Abraham, Nicholas P. J. Day
Summary: This multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial compared the efficacy of intravenous doxycycline, azithromycin, or a combination of both for the treatment of severe scrub typhus. The results showed that combination therapy was more effective in reducing the occurrence of the primary outcome compared to monotherapy.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wojciech Barczak, Simon M. M. Carr, Geng Liu, Shonagh Munro, Annalisa Nicastri, Lian Ni Lee, Claire Hutchings, Nicola Ternette, Paul Klenerman, Alexander Kanapin, Anastasia Samsonova, Nicholas B. B. La Thangue
Summary: PRMT5, an over-expressed protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) in various cancers, plays a role in regulating the non-coding genome by affecting long non-coding (lnc) RNA gene expression. Additionally, inhibiting PRMT5 or adjusting E2F1 levels alters the repertoire of lncRNA-derived peptide antigens displayed by tumor cells and lncRNA-derived peptides can induce a potent antigen-specific CD8 T lymphocyte response when used as a cancer vaccine.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Juan Carlos Lopez-Rodriguez, Steven J. Hancock, Kelin Li, Stefania Crotta, Christopher Barrington, Alejandro Suarez-Bonnet, Simon L. Priestnall, Jeffrey Aube, Andreas Wack, Paul Klenerman, Jose A. Bengoechea, Patricia Barral
Summary: Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in the lungs are important for host defense against infections. This study demonstrates that MAIT cell activation during bacterial pneumonia caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae is independent of MR1 and driven by type I interferons (IFNs). Type I IFNs stimulate the activation and effector functions of MAIT cells and play a central role in their response to Klebsiella infection. This finding suggests that targeting type I IFNs could be a strategy to manipulate MAIT cell functions during bacterial infections.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Lucy C. Garner, Ali Amini, Michael E. B. FitzPatrick, Martin J. Lett, Gabriel F. Hess, Magdalena Filipowicz Sinnreich, Nicholas M. Provine, Paul Klenerman
Summary: Garner et al. analyzed the single-cell transcriptome and TCR repertoire of matched blood and liver, and resting and activated, human MAIT cells. They identify donor-specific TCR repertoires shared across tissues and a transcriptome that is largely homogeneous at rest, but highly adaptive to different tissue and stimulation environments.
Letter
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Harvey J. Alter, Eleanor Barnes, Mia J. Biondi, Andrea L. Cox, Jake D. Eberts, Jordan J. Feld, T. Jake Liang, Josh Morrison, Charles M. Rice, Naglaa H. Shoukry, David L. Thomas, Jennifer Van Gennip, Charles Weijer
LANCET GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Tamsin Cargill, Paola Cicconi, Anthony Brown, Louise Holland, Benaka Karanth, Kathryn Rutkowski, Emily Ashwin, Reena Mehta, Senthil Chinnakannan, Sarah Sebastian, Louise Bussey, Henrik Sorensen, Paul Klenerman, Thomas Evans, Eleanor Barnes
Summary: This study assesses the safety and immunogenicity of the therapeutic vaccine ChAdOx1-HBV in healthy volunteers and patients with chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB). Vaccination with ChAdOx1-HBV was shown to be safe and induced high magnitude T cell responses in healthy volunteers and lower levels of responses in patients with CHB. The findings support the development of ChAdOx1-HBV as part of a wider therapeutic strategy to achieve functional cure for hepatitis B.
Letter
Rheumatology
Rory James Redmond Peters, Harry Martin, Aleena Virdee, Eve Fryer, Helen Bungay, Manuel Rodriguez-Justo, Manil Chouhan, Eleanor Barnes, George Webster, Emma L. Culver
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Sam M. M. Murray, Azim M. M. Ansari, John Frater, Paul Klenerman, Susanna Dunachie, Eleanor Barnes, Ane Ogbe
Summary: Several studies have reported pre-existing cross-reactive immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 proteins in individuals who have not been infected. The high homology between SARS-CoV-2 and common cold coronaviruses is believed to be a likely source of this cross-reactivity. However, the impact of these cross-reactive responses on the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination is still uncertain. This review examines the evidence regarding the influence of pre-existing humoral and T cell immune responses on the outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination, and discusses the importance of conserved coronavirus epitopes for the development of pan-coronavirus vaccines and the potential cross-reactivity of immune responses to ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-2 variants in the context of COVID-19 vaccination.
NATURE REVIEWS IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
