Article
Veterinary Sciences
Veysel S. Ataseven, Pinar Ambarcioglu, Firat Dogan
Summary: This study investigated the levels of BVDV, BoHV-1, and BoHV-4 antibodies in the serum and milk of dairy cattle with clinical mastitis using an indirect ELISA. The genotypes of BoHV-4 in clinical mastitis cases were also identified by PCR and sequencing. The results showed that antibodies specific to BVDV, BoHV-1, and BoHV-4 were detected in the serum and milk of all dairy cattle with clinical mastitis. Different genotypes of BoHV-4 were found in milk samples from four seropositive cows with clinical mastitis in the same herd.
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Monika Punia, Sushila Maan, Kanisht Batra, Deepika Chaudhary, Bhanita Devi, Aman Kumar, Suresh Kumar Gahlawat, Narender Singh Maan
Summary: The enteric viruses in animals cause severe losses to the livestock owners and have a negative impact on animal health, welfare, and productivity. They are transmitted through the feco-oral route and primarily infect the digestive tract of humans, bovines, mammals, and birds. The study developed sensitive and reliable TaqMan probe-based RT-qPCRs for the rapid detection and quantification of enteric viruses from fecal samples. The real-time PCR assays showed high specificity and sensitivity for detecting diarrheic viral pathogens in cattle and buffalo.
ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Weining Wu, Polly Roy
Summary: This study provides direct evidence that sialic acids act as key receptors for Bluetongue virus (BTV) attachment and entry in both mammalian and insect cells. VP2, the outer capsid protein, specifically binds sialic acids during BTV entry.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Fernando Bauermann, Shollie M. Falkenberg, Mathias Martins, Rohana P. Dassanayake, John D. Neill, Julia F. Ridpath, Simone Silveira, Mitchel Palmer, Alaine Buysse, Anna Mohr, Eduardo F. Flores, Diego G. Diel
Summary: This study contributes to the understanding of the infection dynamics and tissue distribution of BoHV-4 following intranasal infection in calves, suggesting that the SD16-38 strain used in the study has low pathogenicity in calves.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Javier Caballero-Gomez, David Cano Terriza, Joan Pujols, Eva Martinez-Nevado, M. Dolores Carbonell, Rafael Guerra, Jesus Recuero, Pilar Soriano, Jesus Barbero, Ignacio Garcia-Bocanegra
Summary: The study found exposure to Bluetongue virus (BTV) in zoo animals in Spain, with some animals showing persistent seropositivity during the study period and others experiencing seroconversions in specific years. This is the first large-scale survey on BTV in both artiodactyl and non-artiodactyl zoo species worldwide. The results suggest potential animal health and conservation concerns regarding BTV circulation in urban zoo parks.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Francesca Oberto, Emanuele Carella, Claudio Caruso, Pier Luigi Acutis, Davide Lelli, Luigi Bertolotti, Loretta Masoero, Simone Peletto
Summary: The aim of this study was to develop a qualitative PCR assay that allows the discrimination of BuHV-1, BoHV-1 and BoHV-5. Specific nucleotide sequences of BuHV-1, BoHV-1 and BoHV-5 were identified through the alignment of homologous genes. The design of the primers and the optimization of the PCR assay were focused on the target sequences located on the portions of gD, gE and gG genes. This qualitative PCR assay allowed the differentiation of BoHV-1 and BoHV-5 infections in both cattle and water buffaloes, as well as heterologous BuHV-1 infections in bovine.
Article
Virology
Houssam Attoui, Baptiste Monsion, Bernard Klonjkowski, Stephan Zientara, Peter P. C. Mertens, Fauziah Mohd Jaafar
Summary: Atypical serotypes of Bluetongue virus have been identified recently, showing horizontal transmission through direct contact. Specific genome segments from BTV-26 have been found to play a role in promoting horizontal transmission.
Article
Immunology
Daniel Rodriguez-Martin, Jose Manuel Rojas, Francesca Macchi, Valentina Franceschi, Luca Russo, Noemi Sevilla, Gaetano Donofrio, Veronica Martin
Summary: Utilizing a bovine herpesvirus-4 vector to deliver PPRV antigen, vaccination provided protection against virulent PPRV challenge in sheep and allowed for differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals. This study suggests that the new approach may be promising for PPRV eradication programs.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Shuwen Zhang, Qiang Zhang, Hui Zhang, Ruirui Liang, Qin Chen, Bing Niu
Summary: Bluetongue (BT) causes a global annual economic loss of $3 billion. France, as one of the largest live cattle exporters in the world, has been concerned about the biosafety of its exported cattle and products. A study showed that increasing vaccination coverage can decrease the risk of BT release.
Article
Microbiology
Seval Bilge-Dagalp, Touraj Aligholipour Farzani, Firat Dogan, Zeynep Akkutay Yoldar, Aykut Ozkul, Feray Alkan, Gaetano Donofrio
Summary: Bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) has become a promising gene delivery viral vector for veterinary vaccinations. A new infectious clone of BoHV-4 genome was developed to express a truncated form of glycoprotein D (tgD) as a vaccine candidate and compared to a DNA vector in terms of immunogenicity. The study found that BoHV-4-tgD Delta TK induced a similar immune response as pC-tgD, with neutralizing antibodies playing a significant role in protection against BoHV-1.
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
B. P. Amaral, J. F. Cargnelutti, A. P. G. Mortari, I Merchioratto, L. M. Feio, C. W. Nogueira, R. Weiblen, E. Flores
Summary: The study found that diphenyl diselenide and cidofovir have significant antiviral activity against bovine alphaherpesvirus 2, reducing clinical scores, shortening clinical course, and virus shedding duration.
RESEARCH IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Houssam Attoui, Fauziah Mohd Jaafar, Baptiste Monsion, Bernard Klonjkowski, Elizabeth Reid, Petra C. Fay, Keith Saunders, George Lomonossoff, David Haig, Peter P. C. Mertens
Summary: Bluetongue is an economically important disease caused by bluetongue virus (BTV) affecting domesticated and wild ruminants. BTV has multiple serotypes transmitted by Culicoides biting midges. Immunization with specific outer-capsid proteins of BTV can generate protective immune responses against homologous BTV serotypes. However, no cross-serotype protection is observed, and non-neutralizing antibodies may enhance infection. Understanding these interactions is crucial for vaccination program design.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Luis E. Quintero Rodriguez, German Dominguez, Maria F. Alvarado Pinedo, Gabriel E. Traveria, Gaston More, Lucia M. Campero, R. Luzbel de la Sota, Laura V. Madoz, Mauricio J. Giuliodori
Summary: The study evaluated the association of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV), Bovine Herpes Virus 1 (BoHV-1), and Neospora caninum (N. caninum) with the risk for Late Embryonic Loss (LEL) in dairy cows, and described a novel ultrasound-guided technique for conceptus sampling. The results showed that BVDV infection is a risk factor for LEL in dairy cows, while BoHV-1 and N. caninum are not associated with LEL risk.
Article
Virology
F. Romeo, E. Louge-Uriarte, E. Gonzalez-Altamiranda, S. Delgado, S. Pereyra, P. Moran, A. Odeon, S. Perez, Andrea E. Verna
Summary: In vitro cell cultures play a crucial role in studying cellular and molecular mechanisms. This study compared the replication and gene expression of BoHV-4 in different cell types, revealing a preference for bovine endometrial cells. The results suggest that BoHV-4 replication efficiency is influenced by cell-type-dependent factors and strain properties.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Beth H. Thompson, Colin P. Sharp, Inga R. Dry, Robert G. Dalziel, Eleanor R. Gaunt
Summary: This study validates the pro-viral roles of cellular protein TTC4 and heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) during BoHV-1 replication. TTC4 expression is upregulated during infection, depletion impairs protein production, and overexpression increases infectious virus production. Inhibition of HSP90 using geldanamycin inhibits protein production and viral genome replication.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Emma L. Fairbanks, Marnie L. Brennan, Peter P. C. Mertens, Michael J. Tildesley, Janet M. Daly
Summary: African horse sickness (AHS) is a disease transmitted by Culicoides spp. and is commonly found in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to investigate the infection dynamics and outbreak potential in naive populations. It was found that the previously estimated parameters for the onset of viraemia, clinical signs, and duration of viraemia were underestimated. The updated values led to an increase in host deaths, a decrease in the duration of the outbreak, and higher prevalence in vectors.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Francesco Visioli, Carla Mucignat-Caretta, Francesca Anile, Stefan-Alexandru Panaite
Summary: Fasting has been practiced for a long time for various reasons and has shown positive health effects. This expert review examines the historical evolution of fasting and analyzes its current medical applications. The review concludes that fasting can improve various health parameters but emphasizes the need for further research and medical supervision.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Riccardo Favero, Silva Hajrulla, Anna Bordin, Carla Mucignat-Caretta, Piergiorgio Gaudioso, Bruno Scarpa, Lorenzo Favero, Giancarlo Ottaviano
Summary: COVID-19 patients frequently experience smell and taste dysfunction, which can last for months. Objective measurement methods reveal a higher prevalence of this dysfunction compared to self-reported questionnaires, suggesting it could be a screening symptom for COVID-19.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Nereida Jimenez de Oya, Ana San-Felix, Mireia Casasampere, Ana-Belen Blazquez, Patricia Mingo-Casas, Estela Escribano-Romero, Eva Calvo-Pinilla, Teresa Poderoso, Josefina Casas, Juan-Carlos Saiz, Maria-Jesus Perez-Perez, Miguel A. Martin-Acebes
Summary: Polyphenols like gallic acid and its derivatives have the potential to be used as new therapeutic agents due to their ability to modify lipid metabolism. Through evaluation, two polyphenols, N,N '-(dodecane-1,12-diyl)bis(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzamide) and its 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzamide regioisomer, were found to have selective antiviral activity against West Nile virus, as well as other flaviviruses, with low cytotoxicity. The mechanism of action involves the alteration of sphingolipid metabolism.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fauziah Mohd Jaafar, Baptiste Monsion, Peter P. C. Mertens, Houssam Attoui
Summary: Bioinformatic analyses predict that orbiviruses encode a small non-structural protein called NS5 from a secondary open reading frame on genome segment 10. NS5 has not been previously detected in infected mammalian or insect cells. NS5 is found in the nucleus, particularly in the nucleolus, and also in the cytoplasm, co-localizing with mitochondria. It plays a role in preventing degradation of ribosomal RNAs and reducing host-cell protein synthesis, but supports viral protein synthesis and replication, thereby extending cell viability. NS5 binds to ssRNAs and supercoiled DNAs and interacts with ZBP1, suggesting its involvement in modulating host-cell responses.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Martina Borghi, Alessandra Gallinaro, Maria Franca Pirillo, Andrea Canitano, Zuleika Michelini, Maria Laura De Angelis, Serena Cecchetti, Antonella Tinari, Chiara Falce, Sabrina Mariotti, Antonio Capocefalo, Maria Vincenza Chiantore, Angelo Iacobino, Antonio Di Virgilio, Marit J. van Gils, Rogier W. Sanders, Alessandra Lo Presti, Roberto Nisini, Donatella Negri, Andrea Cara
Summary: This study evaluated different mutated forms of the Spike protein in the SIV-IDLV vaccine model, with the aim of inducing persistent neutralizing antibodies and T cell immune responses against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants. The results showed that the mutated Spike proteins were effective in inducing immune responses and neutralizing all previously circulating variants. However, the immune response against the Omicron variant was relatively weak.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Miguel Rodriguez-Pulido, Eva Calvo-Pinilla, Miryam Polo, Juan-Carlos Saiz, Raul Fernandez-Gonzalez, Eva Pericuesta, Alfonso Gutierrez-Adan, Francisco Sobrino, Miguel A. Martin-Acebes, Margarita Saiz
Summary: We evaluated the antiviral activity of synthetic RNAs mimicking specific domains in the non-coding regions of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) genome (ncRNAs), which have shown broad-spectrum antiviral activity. The ncRNAs exhibited potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in human intestinal and lung epithelium cells. In vivo efficacy studies using K18-hACE2 mice showed that administration of naked ncRNA before SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly reduced viral load and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the lungs. Furthermore, the ncRNAs were highly effective against other coronaviruses in human and swine cells.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Maria M. Lorenzo, Alejandro Marin-Lopez, Kevin Chiem, Luis Jimenez-Cabello, Irfan Ullah, Sergio Utrilla-Trigo, Eva Calvo-Pinilla, Gema Lorenzo, Sandra Moreno, Chengjin Ye, Jun-Gyu Park, Alejandro Matia, Alejandro Brun, Juana M. Sanchez-Puig, Aitor Nogales, Walther Mothes, Pradeep D. Uchil, Priti Kumar, Javier Ortego, Erol Fikrig, Luis Martinez-Sobrido, Rafael Blasco
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for fast responses and reliable technologies for vaccine development. This study reports on the construction and preclinical testing of a recombinant MVA vaccine, with the MVA-Spf vaccine candidate showing higher levels of antibodies, a stronger T cell response, and a higher degree of protection.
Review
Microbiology
Luis Jimenez-Cabello, Sergio Utrilla-Trigo, Gema Lorenzo, Javier Ortego, Eva Calvo-Pinilla
Summary: Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is a viral pathology caused by the epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV). It has significant implications for the welfare, social, and economic aspects of ruminants. This disease has been causing outbreaks among livestock and wildlife in different parts of the world, with recent cases even occurring within the European Union. The competent vectors, Culicoides midges, which transmit the virus, are expanding their distribution possibly due to climate change.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sabrina Mariotti, Maria Vincenza Chiantore, Raffaela Teloni, Angelo Iacobino, Antonio Capocefalo, Zuleika Michelini, Martina Borghi, Melissa Baggieri, Antonella Marchi, Paola Bucci, Silvia Gioacchini, Raffaele D'Amelio, Philip J. M. Brouwer, Silvia Sandini, Chiara Acchioni, Marco Sgarbanti, Antonio Di Virgilio, Felicia Grasso, Andrea Cara, Donatella Negri, Fabio Magurano, Paola Di Bonito, Roberto Nisini
Summary: The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 led to the urgent need for monoclonal antibodies to detect the virus in biological fluids for rapid identification of infected individuals. Specific antibodies were successfully generated by immunizing BALB/c mice with a recombinant spike protein. 40 different specific monoclonal antibodies were isolated, purified, and characterized, with 13 selected for their specificity and lack of cross reactivity with other human coronaviruses. These antibodies can be used in ELISA or rapid diagnostic tests to accurately diagnose COVID-19.
Article
Biology
Pietro Bontempi, Maria Jimena Ricatti, Marco Sandri, Elena Nicolato, Carla Mucignat-Caretta, Carlo Zancanaro
Summary: This study found that elderly mice are less scared of new environments and their olfactory bulb differs in structure compared to young mice, which is related to their anxious behavior. These findings provide a foundation for studying normal and pathological aging in mice and open up new opportunities for in vivo human aging studies.
Article
Immunology
Patricia Mingo-Casas, Ana-Belen Blazquez, Marta Gomez de Cedron, Ana San-Felix, Susana Molina, Estela Escribano-Romero, Eva Calvo-Pinilla, Nereida Jimenez de Oya, Ana Ramirez de Molina, Juan-Carlos Saiz, Maria-Jesus Perez-Perez, Miguel A. Martin-Acebes
Summary: This study reveals that West Nile virus (WNV) infection leads to a misbalance of glucose homeostasis in the central nervous system, resulting in the upregulation of aerobic glycolysis and a reduction of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Transcriptomics analyses in infected mice indicate the upregulation of hexokinases 2 and 3 (Hk2 and Hk3), as well as pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (Pdk4), suggesting the importance of glycolysis in WNV infection. Inhibitors targeting glycolysis alleviate WNV-induced neuroinflammation, demonstrating the potential druggability of the glycolytic pathway for developing therapies against WNV pathology.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2023)
Article
Virology
Sergio Utrilla-Trigo, Luis Jimenez-Cabello, Eva Calvo-Pinilla, Alejandro Marin-Lopez, Gema Lorenzo, Pedro Sanchez-Cordon, Sandra Moreno, Julio Benavides, Sarah Gilbert, Aitor Nogales, Javier Ortego
Summary: This study reports on the development of modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and ChAdOx1-vectored vaccines that express the NS1 protein and NS2-Nt protein of the bluetongue virus (BTV). These vaccines induced strong immune responses and provided full protection against lethal BTV infection in mice. Additionally, a booster dose of the MVA vaccine significantly improved viral clearance and protection in sheep.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
