Article
Microbiology
Philipp Johannes Brandenburg, Anna Obiegala, Hannah Maureen Schmuck, Gerhard Dobler, Lidia Chitimia-Dobler, Martin Pfeffer
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most significant viral disease transmitted by ticks in Eurasia. Rodents are important natural hosts. Longitudinal studies on the seroprevalence rates in wild rodents in natural foci are rare, and the dynamics of the transmission cycle still need to be understood.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Magdalena Migalska, Karolina Przesmycka, Mohammed Alsarraf, Anna Bajer, Jolanta Behnke-Borowczyk, Maciej Grzybek, Jerzy M. Behnke, Jacek Radwan
Summary: In this study, the authors used long-term monitoring data of helminths infecting bank voles to test the predictions of negative frequency-dependent selection (NFDS) on MHC class II. They found a complex association between MHC diversity and species richness, as well as subpopulation-specific effects of certain MHC supertypes on helminths. These findings highlight the spatial and temporal complexity of MHC-parasite associations.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Dominic Adam Worku
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral disease prevalent in large parts of Europe and Asia, characterized by neurological symptoms that can range from mild to severe, and it often leads to long-term morbidity. The pathogenesis of TBE is not fully understood, but factors such as ticks, viral strains, host immune response, and age may contribute to the disease phenotype. The incidence of TBE is increasing and its epidemiology is changing due to global warming.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Renata Varnaite, Sara Gredmark-Russ, Jonas Klingstrom
Summary: We assessed the standardized mortality ratio of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Sweden from 2004 to 2017. The standardized mortality ratio for TBE was 3.96 (95% CI 2.55-5.90), and no fatalities were observed in patients under 40 years of age. These findings highlight the importance of further vaccination efforts in populations at risk for TBE.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elizaveta Starodubova, Ksenia Tuchynskaya, Yulia Kuzmenko, Anastasia Latanova, Vera Tutyaeva, Vadim Karpov, Galina Karganova
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a zoonotic disease that can cause severe neurological complications or death. In this study, the nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) of the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was investigated as a genetic determinant of TBE pathogenicity. The NS1 proteins of three TBEV strains belonging to different subtypes were found to have varying levels of accumulation and secretion in mouse cells. The NS1 proteins were also able to induce cytokine production and the profile of cytokines differed between the strains. These findings highlight the role of NS1 diversity in TBEV pathogenesis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Ewa Bojkiewicz, Kacper Toczylowski, Sambor Grygorczuk, Beata Zelazowska-Rutkowska, Justyna Dunaj, Agnieszka Zebrowska, Piotr Czupryna, Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska, Artur Sulik
Summary: In Poland, the vaccination rate for tick-borne encephalitis is low, despite a high incidence of severe infections. A study found that many people have asymptomatic infections and have different attitudes towards the vaccine.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vladimir S. Roumak, Vladimir S. Popov, Andrey A. Shelepchikov, Olga Osipova, Nataliya Umnova
Summary: Differences in PCDD/Fs concentrations were observed between adult bank voles inhabiting a forest in Moscow, Russia in winter and summer. Analysis of sexually matured animals and offspring revealed no significant differences in PCDD/Fs concentrations among sexes. The seasonal differences in PCDD/Fs accumulation were mainly attributed to functional development, activity types, and diet variation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Michaela Hornikova, Silvia Markova, Hayley C. Lanier, Jeremy B. Searle, Petr Kotlik
Summary: This study evaluates the historical contributions of differing glacial refugia in shaping the genomic diversity of bank vole populations in Europe. Both extra-Mediterranean and Mediterranean refugia have contributed to the ancestry and genomic diversity of bank voles, with admixed origins from different sources leading to increased diversity in central Europe. The admixture from Mediterranean refugia may have facilitated the spread of adaptive southern alleles to northern populations.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Ecology
Petr Kotlik, Silvia Markova, Michaela Hornikova, Marco A. Escalante, Jeremy B. Searle
Summary: This article reviews research on the bank vole, a non-traditional model species, to explore questions regarding range expansion, colonization, and evolutionary adaptation. Using population genomic data, the study examines the bank vole as a compelling example of a forest mammal that survived in cryptic glacial refugia in Europe during the Pleistocene glaciations. The article introduces the concept of adaptive phylogeography, which links population history and adaptation, and discusses its potential in predicting species responses to climate change.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Monika Groth, Elzbieta Skrzydlewska, Marta Dobrzynska, Slawomir Pancewicz, Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska
Summary: Vector-borne diseases, including tick-borne diseases, are a growing global health problem. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic effects play key roles in the pathogenesis of these diseases, impacting the structure and function of phospholipids and proteins. Finding diagnostic biomarkers related to redox imbalance and phospholipid metabolites can help in monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Virology
E. Taylor Stone, Amelia K. Pinto
Summary: The Flaviviridae family consists of diverse arthropod-borne viruses that cause globally relevant diseases in humans. Infection with certain flaviviruses, like West Nile virus, Zika virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, and Powassan virus, can lead to neuroinvasive diseases such as meningitis or encephalitis. T cells have been identified as a contributor to neuroinflammation, but their role in tick-borne flavivirus encephalitis requires further study. Understanding the involvement of T cells in tick-borne flavivirus encephalitis is crucial for improving vaccine safety and efficacy, as well as developing treatments for human disease.
Article
Ecology
Marco A. Escalante, Michaela Hornikova, Silvia Markova, Petr Kotlik
Summary: The study found significant environmental niche differences between phylogeographic lineages of bank voles from different glacial refugia, suggesting a role for local adaptation. Models reveal that neglecting intraspecific niche differences may lead to errors in predicting species responses to climate change.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jiri Salat, Milan Hunady, Pavel Svoboda, Lucie Strelcova, Petra Strakova, Andrea Fortova, Martin Palus, Daniel Ruzek
Summary: A vaccine candidate for tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in dogs was developed, which showed good safety, immunogenicity and efficacy in both mice and dogs. The vaccine induced the production of specific anti-TBEV antibodies with virus neutralising activity, providing protection against fatal TBE in mice and preventing viremia after challenge infection in dogs.
Article
Immunology
Masayuki Ohira, Kentaro Yoshii, Yasuhiro Aso, Hideto Nakajima, Toru Yamashita, Ikuko Takahashi-Iwata, Norihisa Maeda, Katsuro Shindo, Toshihiko Suenaga, Tohru Matsuura, Kazuma Sugie, Tadanori Hamano, Akira Arai, Rikiya Furutani, Yasuhiro Suzuki, Chikako Kaneko, Yasuhiro Kobayashi, Eduardo Campos-Alberto, Lisa R. Harper, Juanita Edwards, Cody Bender, Andreas Pilz, Shuhei Ito, Frederick J. Angulo, Wilhelm Erber, Harish Madhava, Jennifer Moisi, Luis Jodar, Hidehiro Mizusawa, Masaki Takao
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases have been identified in Japan, including outside of Hokkaido, suggesting that TBEV infection may be undiagnosed in the country. This study retrospectively tested serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from hospitalized patients and confirmed three TBE cases. Limited clinical awareness and lack of TBE diagnostic tests contribute to the underdiagnosis of TBE in Japan.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ngoc Anh Nguyen, Xiaobo Huang, Luz E. Cabrera, Pirkka T. Pekkarinen, Kirsten Nowlan, Tomas Strandin, Anu Kantele, Olli Vapalahti, Santtu Heinonen, Eliisa Kekalainen
Summary: This study evaluated and compared the performance of four commercial whole blood cryopreservation kits and found that PROT-1, Transfix, and Cytodelics maintained the distribution of major leukocyte subsets and the activated phenotypes of neutrophils. Cytodelics also allowed reliable detection of lymphopenia and granulocyte expansion in longitudinal clinical samples from acute COVID-19 patients.
Article
Pathology
Tanja Thiele, Nadja Morf, Felix Grimm, Anja Kipar, Udo Hetzel
Summary: This article presents a complex case in forensic veterinary pathology where a wild muskrat was killed by a domestic dog in a putative bite attack. While privately owned dogs attacking wild animals violate Swiss laws and are generally punished with fines, the post-mortem examination of the muskrat revealed not only bite attack injuries but also infestation with Echinococcus multilocularis. As an intermediate host of the parasite, the muskrat could have further spread the severe helminthic zoonosis if not killed by the dog. Additionally, muskrats are considered pests and invasive species, and preventive programs are established to restrict their spread and endangerment of native wildlife in Switzerland and other European countries. The role of forensic veterinary pathologists in such cases is to objectively determine the cause of death, identify the suspect, detect any underlying diseases, and consider animal welfare issues.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Pinja Kettunen, Angelina Lesnikova, Noora Rasanen, Ravi Ojha, Leena Palmunen, Markku Laakso, Sarka Lehtonen, Johanna Kuusisto, Olli Pietilainen, Saber H. Saber, Merja Joensuu, Olli P. Vapalahti, Jari Koistinaho, Taisia Rolova, Giuseppe Balistreri
Summary: COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2 and can lead to neurological symptoms. Research shows that a small fraction of human iPSC-derived neurons are naturally susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, which seems to depend on the ACE2 receptor despite low expression levels in neurons.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Yingying X. G. Wang, Liina Voutilainen, Mahdi Aminikhah, Heikki Helle, Otso Huitu, Juha Laakkonen, Andreas Linden, Jukka Niemimaa, Jussi Sane, Tarja Sironen, Olli Vapalahti, Heikki Henttonen, Eva R. Kallio
Summary: The study shows that certain predators, young bank voles, and diverse rodent communities may reduce the risk of PUUV infection in humans by negatively impacting the abundance of infected bank voles.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Tobias L. Freitag, Riku Fagerlund, Nihay Laham Karam, Veli-Matti Leppanen, Hasan Ugurlu, Ravi Kant, Petri Makinen, Ahmed Tawfek, Sawan Kumar Jha, Tomas Strandin, Katarzyna Leskinen, Jussi Hepojoki, Tapio Kesti, Lauri Kareinen, Suvi Kuivanen, Emma Koivulehto, Aino Sormunen, Svetlana Laidinen, Ayman Khattab, Paivi Saavalainen, Seppo Meri, Anja Kipar, Tarja Sironen, Olli Vapalahti, Kari Alitalo, Seppo Yla-Herttuala, Kalle Saksela
Summary: Intranasal administration of adenoviral vector vaccines can induce mucosal immunity and protect mice from SARS-CoV-2 infection, supporting the potential of this approach for preventing transmission of the virus.
Article
Virology
Stephanie Jansen, Anna Heitmann, Ruut Uusitalo, Essi M. Korhonen, Renke Luehken, Konstantin Kliemke, Unchana Lange, Michelle Helms, Lauri Kirjalainen, Roope Nykanen, Hilppa Gregow, Pentti Pirinen, Giada Rossini, Olli Vapalahti, Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit, Eili Huhtamo
Summary: The West Nile and Sindbis viruses are mosquito-borne zoonotic viruses that are widespread in Europe. Finnish Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium mosquitoes were found to be susceptible to both viruses and could transmit them at temperatures ranging from 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. Cx. torrentium was a more efficient vector than Cx. pipiens for both viruses. The current climate in Finland may not be optimal for WNV circulation, but if all other factors are in place, summertime transmission could occur in the future. More field data is needed to monitor the northward spreading of WNV in Europe.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anna R. Maekelae, Hasan Ugurlu, Liina Hannula, Ravi Kant, Petja Salminen, Riku Fagerlund, Sanna Maeki, Anu Haveri, Tomas Strandin, Lauri Kareinen, Jussi Hepojoki, Suvi Kuivanen, Lev Levanov, Arja Pasternack, Rauno A. Naves, Olli Ritvos, Pamela oesterlund, Tarja Sironen, Olli Vapalahti, Anja Kipar, Juha T. Huiskonen, Ilona Rissanen, Kalle Saksela
Summary: The authors describe a small antibody-like protein, TriSb92, that can prevent infection by diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants. In cell culture and mice, intranasal treatment with TriSb92 before or shortly after exposure to the virus showed protective effects. This highly manufacturable and stable trimeric antibody-mimetic has the potential to be used as a nasal spray for protecting susceptible individuals from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Tanja Thiele, Francesca Baggio, Barbara Prahauser, Andres Ruiz Subira, Eleni Michalopoulou, Anja Kipar, Udo Hetzel, Jussi Hepojoki
Summary: Boid inclusion body disease (BIBD) is caused by reptarenavirus infection, and not all infected snakes demonstrate inclusion bodies (IBs). The genetic divergence of reptarenaviruses complicates diagnostics. We used metatranscriptomics to identify the reptarenavirus segments and developed an effective RT-PCR to detect infected individuals.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mert Erdin, Kamelia R. Stanoeva, Ramona Mogling, Misa Korva, Natasa Knap, Katarina Resman Rus, Cristina Domingo, Johan H. J. Reimerink, Ankje de Vries, Hussein Alburkat, Mira Utriainen, Celine M. Gossner, Tarja Sironen, Tatjana Avsic-Zupanc, Chantal B. E. M. Reusken, Olli Vapalahti
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic capability of European expert laboratories in detecting orthohantaviruses, LCMV, and human antibody response. The results showed a high accuracy in serological diagnosis but a need for improvement in molecular detection. Regular quality assessments were recommended.
Article
Parasitology
Fathiah Zakham, Essi M. Korhonen, Petteri T. Puonti, Robert S. Castren, Ruut Uusitalo, Teemu Smura, Ravi Kant, Olli Vapalahti, Tarja Sironen, Paula M. Kinnunen
Summary: This study found a high prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms in ticks collected from pet dogs and cats in Finland, emphasizing the importance of awareness and prevention of tick-borne diseases. Veterinary surveillance can facilitate early detection of tick-borne pathogens and new tick species and draw attention to possible co-infections.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Pathology
Simone Lehmann, Eva Dervas, Andres Ruiz Subira, Ulrike Eulenberger, Angela Gimmel, Felix Grimm, Udo Hetzel, Anja Kipar
Summary: This study conducted an in-depth investigation on the lungs of 27 hedgehogs and found that verminous pneumonia is a major cause of death in hedgehogs, indicating a widespread distribution of parasites in the respiratory tract of these animals.
VETERINARY PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Eduardo Gallardo-Toledo, Megan Neary, Joanne Sharp, Joanne Herriott, Edyta Kijak, Chloe Bramwell, Paul Curley, Usman Arshad, Henry Pertinez, Rajith K. R. Rajoli, Anthony Valentijn, Helen Cox, Lee Tatham, Anja Kipar, James P. Stewart, Andrew Owen
Summary: This study investigated the chemoprophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of Pibrentasvir (PIB), Favipiravir (FVP), and Remdesivir (RDV) alone or in combination against SARS-CoV-2. The results showed that RDV alone prevented transmission, while other drugs reduced the viral load after contact transmission. However, no additional benefit was observed when combining FVP or RDV with PIB.
Article
Virology
Megan Neary, Joanne Sharp, Eduardo Gallardo-Toledo, Joanne Herriott, Edyta Kijak, Chloe Bramwell, Helen Cox, Lee Tatham, Helen Box, Paul Curley, Usman Arshad, Rajith K. R. Rajoli, Henry Pertinez, Anthony Valentijn, Kevin Dhaliwal, Frank Mc Caughan, James Hobson, Steve Rannard, Anja Kipar, James P. Stewart, Andrew Owen
Summary: This study confirmed the effectiveness of intranasal administration of nafamostat at a dose of 5 mg/kg twice daily in preventing airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The nafamostat-treated group showed significantly lower concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in throat swabs and nasal mucosa compared to the control group, as well as a significantly lower concentration of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in the lungs. These data strongly support the use of intranasally delivered nafamostat for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Article
Virology
Simon De Neck, Rebekah Penrice-Randal, Jordan J. Clark, Parul Sharma, Eleanor G. Bentley, Adam Kirby, Daniele F. Mega, Ximeng Han, Andrew Owen, Julian A. Hiscox, James P. Stewart, Anja Kipar
Summary: The study investigates the vascular response in the lungs of mice infected with SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses, and suggests that similar vascular changes occur in all virus infections. There is no evidence of endothelial cell infection in any of the models. The findings have implications for the treatment and management of respiratory disease in humans.
Letter
Immunology
Hanna Vauhkonen, Hannimari Kallio-Kokko, Eija Hiltunen-Back, Lasse Lonnqvist, Jaana Leppaaho-Lakka, Laura Mannonen, Ravi Kant, Tarja Sironen, Satu Kurkela, Maija Lappalainen, Tomaz Mark Zorec, Samo Zakotnik, Doroteja Vlaj, Misa Korva, Tatjana Avsic-Zupanc, Mario Poljak, Teemu Smura, Olli Vapalahti
Summary: Monkeypox virus was introduced to Finland in late May-early June 2022. Analysis of viral genome in a patient's sample showed a major variant with 3 lineage B.1.3-specific mutations and a minor variant with ancestral B.1 nucleotides. The results suggest ongoing evolution mediated by APOBEC3 enzyme or co-infection.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
