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)
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Carmen Adella Sirbu, Constantin Stefani, Marian Mitrica, Gabriela Simona Toma, Aurelian Emil Ranetti, Any Docu-Axelerad, Aida Mihaela Manole, Ion Stefan
Summary: Some neurotropic viruses can cause specific lesions in deep structures, such as the basal ganglia and thalamus, leading to different types of epileptic seizures. This case report describes a 25-year-old male who presented with altered consciousness, agitation, and seizures after traveling to Turkey and Egypt. The diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis was supported by cerebrospinal fluid analysis, electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging showing hyper signal in the basal ganglia, and IgM antibodies. The patient's seizures improved over time and the MRI images returned to almost normal, without seizure recurrence after reducing antiepileptic doses.
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.
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
Virology
Xiaohui Li, Hongwei Ji, Di Wang, Lihe Che, Li Zhang, Liang Li, Qing Yin, Quan Liu, Feng Wei, Zedong Wang
Summary: This study identified the presence of Far Eastern subtype of TBEV in Ixodes persulcatus ticks in northeastern China, with genetic variations observed among viruses from different natural foci in the region.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Immunology
Jana Kerlik, Maria Avdicova, Monika Musilova, Jana Beresova, Roman Mezencev
Summary: This is a case of probable transmission of Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) from an unvaccinated mother to an infant through breast-feeding. It highlights the importance of being cautious when exposed to infected animals or consuming raw food products, especially for individuals who are not vaccinated.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Julia Finkensieper, Leila Issmail, Jasmin Fertey, Alexandra Rockstroh, Simone Schopf, Bastian Standfest, Martin Thoma, Thomas Grunwald, Sebastian Ulbert
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a zoonotic flavivirus that can cause severe neurological complications in humans. Traditional methods of producing TBEV vaccines using formaldehyde have drawbacks, and this study suggests that low-energy electron irradiation (LEEI) could be an alternative method. Immunizing mice with LEEI-inactivated TBEV resulted in higher levels of antibodies and complete protection against viral challenge.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Laura Wiesner, Carla Schmutte, Imke Steffen
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a serious pathogen that requires heightened biosafety measures in the laboratory. Different inactivation procedures, such as heat, acidic pH, alcohol, formaldehyde, detergents, and UV irradiation, show varying effectiveness against TBEV, depending on sample size and composition.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Mulugeta A. Wondim, Piotr Czupryna, Slawomir Pancewicz, Ewelina Kruszewska, Monika Groth, Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis is a neuroinfection widely distributed in the Euro-Asia region, primarily transmitted by infected ticks. The total number of confirmed cases reported in Europe from 2000 to 2019 was 51,519, with a decrease in cases in 2014 and 2015 but an increasing trend since 2015.
Article
Microbiology
Nicole Barp, Cinzia Cappi, Marianna Meschiari, Marzia Battistel, Maria Vittoria Libbra, Maria Alice Ferri, Stefano Ballestri, Altea Gallerani, Filippo Ferrari, Marisa Meacci, Mario Sarti, Mariano Capitelli, Cristina Mussini, Erica Franceschini
Summary: The first human case of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection in central Italy has been reported, indicating endemic transmission and a possible hot spot in the Serramazzoni region of the Emilian Apennines.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Dario Akaberi, Amanda Bahlstrom, Praveen K. Chinthakindi, Tomas Nyman, Anja Sandstrom, Josef D. Jarhult, Navaneethan Palanisamy, Ake Lundkvist, Johan Lennerstrand
Summary: A novel protease inhibitor against TBEV was discovered, providing valuable information for the development of drugs against TBEV and other flaviviruses.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Kseniya N. Sedenkova, Victoria I. Uvarova, Anna A. Nazarova, Aleksandra V. Peisikova, Evgeny V. Khvatov, Maksim V. Sukhorukov, Vasilisa S. Frolenko, Alexander S. Goryashchenko, Ivan S. Kholodilov, Yuri K. Grishin, Viktor B. Rybakov, Marat T. Makenov, Evgeny S. Morozkin, Lyudmila S. Karan, Liubov I. Kozlovskaya, Aydar A. Ishmukhametov, Dmitry I. Osolodkin, Elena B. Averina
Summary: A series of tetrahydroquinazoline N-oxides were synthesized and their antiviral activity against flaviviruses such as TBEV, YFV, and WNV was assessed. Most of the compounds showed activity against TBEV and WNV, and a few also demonstrated inhibitory activity against YFV. The mechanism of action of these compounds appears to affect the early stages of viral replication cycle after cell entry.
ARCHIV DER PHARMAZIE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Yuan Bai, Yanfang Zhang, Zhengyuan Su, Shuang Tang, Jun Wang, Qiaoli Wu, Juan Yang, Abulimiti Moming, Yujiang Zhang, Lesley Bell-Sakyi, Surong Sun, Shu Shen, Fei Deng
Summary: This study identified and isolated Karshi virus (KSIV) from ticks in Xinjiang, China. KSIV, closely related to tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), was found to infect humans, mammals, and ticks, and cause encephalitis in suckling mice. The study also detected high prevalence of KSIV among ticks and infections in sheep and marmots. Cross-reactivity between KSIV and TBEV was observed in animal serum samples. These findings suggest a need to distinguish KSIV from TBEV and investigate the prevalence and incidence of both viruses in Northwestern China.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sambor Grygorczuk, Justyna Dunaj-Malyszko, Piotr Czupryna, Artur Sulik, Kacper Toczylowski, Agnieszka Siemieniako-Werszko, Agnieszka Zebrowska, Slawomir Pancewicz, Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska
Summary: This study found that the detection of TBEV RNA in plasma may have diagnostic significance in the peripheral phase of TBE. The absence of TBEV RNA in the cerebrospinal fluid suggests a relatively low intrathecal viral burden.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nirmitee Mulgaonkar, Haoqi Wang, Samavath Mallawarachchi, Daniel Ruzek, Byron Martina, Sandun Fernando
Summary: This study identified potential molecules with antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 through virtual screening and investigated the interaction between imatinib and the spike glycoprotein. These findings are significant for the development of novel drugs targeting SARS-CoV-2.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Paulina Maria Lesiczka, Natalia Rudenko, Maryna Golovchenko, Jana Jurankova, Ondrej Danek, David Modry, Kristyna Hrazdilova
Summary: The red fox, a widely distributed carnivore, is known to be a host for various tick-borne pathogens. A study conducted in the Czech Republic revealed the presence of multiple tick-borne pathogens in the red fox population, with Hepatozoon canis and Babesia vulpes being the most frequently detected. This study suggests that foxes play a role in the transmission of tick-borne diseases and may pose a risk to domestic dogs.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(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
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Marta Zimna, Gabriela Brzuska, Jiri Salat, Pavel Svoboda, Klaudia Baranska, Boguslaw Szewczyk, Daniel Ruzek, Ewelina Krol
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes severe neurological infections. Dairy products from infected animals are a common cause. Vaccination of livestock could help reduce human infections. Researchers developed a potential TBEV vaccine based on virus-like particles (VLPs) produced in Leishmania tarentolae cells, which proved to be highly immunogenic and provided full protection from lethal TBE in mice.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Virology
Claude Saegerman, Marie-France Humblet, Marc Leandri, Gaelle Gonzalez, Paul Heyman, Hein Sprong, Monique L'Hostis, Sara Moutailler, Sarah I. Bonnet, Nadia Haddad, Nathalie Boulanger, Stephen Leib, Thierry Hoch, Etienne Thiry, Laure Bournez, Jana Kerlik, Aurelie Velay, Solveig Jore, Elsa Jourdain, Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromont, Katharina Brugger, Julia Geller, Marie Studahl, Natasa Knap, Tatjana Avsic-Zupanc, Daniel P. Ruzek, Tizza Zomer, Rene Bodker, Thomas F. H. Berger, Sandra Martin-Latil, Nick De Regge, Alice A. Raffetin, Sandrine Lacour, Matthias Klein, Tinne Lernout, Elsa Quillery, Zdenek Hubalek, Francisco Ruiz-Fons, Agustin Estrada-Pena, Philippe Fravalo, Pauline Kooh, Florence Etore, Celine M. Gossner, Bethan Purse
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an endemic viral disease in Eurasia, primarily transmitted to humans through ticks and occasionally through unpasteurized milk products. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has reported an increase in TBE incidence over the years, as well as its emergence in new areas. Through expert knowledge elicitation, we identified nine key drivers for TBE emergence and increased incidence, including changes in human behavior, eating habits, landscape, humidity, difficulty in controlling reservoirs and vectors, temperature, wildlife compartments, increase in autochthonous wild mammals, and distribution of tick species vectors.
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Daniel Ruzek
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Srishylam Penjarla, Paidi Yella Reddy, Santhosh Penta, Yogesh S. Sanghvi, Ludek Eyer, Michal Stefanik, Daniel Ruzek, Shyamapada Banerjee
Summary: An efficient synthetic approach leading to novel C-nucleosides containing oxadiazole or thiadiazole ring system is reported. This provides an ideal framework for the development of new antiviral and antitumor drugs. Two of the synthesized compounds showed mild anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, with a decrease in viral titers by <1 log10 PFU/ml compared with controls. Mechanism for the formation of 5-substituted 1,3,4-thiadiazole ring is proposed and a structure-activity relationship is established with these C-nucleosides.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Andrea Fortova, Andrey Barkhash, Martina Pychova, Lenka Krbkova, Martin Palus, Jiri Salat, Daniel Ruzek
Summary: This study investigated the association between selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in innate immunity genes and susceptibility to tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in the Czech population. The results showed an association between SNPs in IFIT1 and DDX58 genes and TBE susceptibility, highlighting the role of innate immunity genes in TBE pathogenesis.
JOURNAL OF NEUROVIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kseniya A. Mariewskaya, Daniil A. Gvozdev, Alexey A. Chistov, Petra Strakova, Ivana Huvarova, Pavel Svoboda, Jan Kotoucek, Nikita M. Ivanov, Maxim S. Krasilnikov, Mikhail Y. Zhitlov, Alexandra M. Pak, Igor E. Mikhnovets, Timofei D. Nikitin, Vladimir A. Korshun, Vera A. Alferova, Josef Masek, Daniel Rfzek, Ludek Eyer, Alexey V. Ustinov
Summary: Novel perylenylethynylphenols show promising antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and FIPV by blocking viral entry and generating singlet oxygen under visible light. These compounds possess a unique combination of shape and singlet oxygen production, making them effective against enveloped viruses.
Review
Virology
Gabriele Chiffi, Denis Grandgirard, Stephen L. Leib, Ales Chrdle, Daniel Ruzek
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a common flavivirus in Europe and Asia, with increasing cases and an emerging public health problem. It can be transmitted through infected tick bites, as well as through infected milk consumption or aerosols.
REVIEWS IN MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
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
Microbiology
Maria Kazimirova, Lenka Mahrikova, Zuzana Hamsikova, Michal Stanko, Maryna Golovchenko, Natalie Rudenko
Summary: Lyme borreliosis is a prevalent tick-borne infection in Europe, particularly in Slovakia. A study in Slovakia found spatial and temporal variations in the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) species in ticks collected from different ecological habitats. The findings highlight the epidemiological risk of Lyme borreliosis in various areas of Slovakia.
Article
Immunology
Natalie Rudenko, Maryna Golovchenko, Ales Horak, Libor Grubhoffer, Emmanuel F. Mongodin, Claire M. Fraser, Weigang Qiu, Benjamin J. Luft, Richard G. Morgan, Sherwood R. Casjens, Steven E. Schutzer
Summary: Lyme disease is primarily caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, but a new strain called B. garinii has been found to cause Lyme disease in islands off the coast of Canada. We isolated and sequenced the whole genome of a B. garinii isolate from a cotton mouse in South Carolina, USA, and identified another B. garinii isolate from the same repository. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these isolates are not associated with the previously described B. garinii isolates from Canada.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Igor E. Mikhnovets, Jiri Holoubek, Irina S. Panina, Jan Kotoucek, Daniil A. Gvozdev, Stepan P. Chumakov, Maxim S. Krasilnikov, Mikhail Y. Zhitlov, Evgeny L. Gulyak, Alexey A. Chistov, Timofei D. Nikitin, Vladimir A. Korshun, Roman G. Efremov, Vera A. Alferova, Daniel Ruzek, Ludek Eyer, Alexey V. Ustinov
Summary: Amphipathic perylene derivatives are effective antiviral compounds that target the viral envelope and act as fusion inhibitors. They damage the viral envelope using lipophilic perylene and singlet oxygen generated by light. Short alkyl chains contribute to strong antiviral activity, while longer alkyl chains reduce activity due to increased lipophilicity and aggregation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Virology
Naiqing Xu, Xinen Tang, Xin Wang, Miao Cai, Xiaowen Liu, Xiaolong Lu, Shunlin Hu, Min Gu, Jiao Hu, Ruyi Gao, Kaituo Liu, Yu Chen, Xiufan Liu, Xiaoquan Wang
Summary: This study found that the H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus has a high airborne transmissibility, while the H7N9 virus does not. The Hemagglutinin protein of the H9N2 virus was found to play a key role in replication, stability, and airborne transmission.
Article
Virology
Samar S. Ewies, Sabry M. Tamam, Ahmed S. Abdel-Moneim, Sherin R. Rouby
Summary: Contagious ecthyma (CE) is a highly contagious viral disease of sheep and goats worldwide. The study provided a clinical description of CE and screened for genetic variation in the B2L gene. Infected sheep exhibited anorexia and oral lesions, while inoculated chicken embryos showed pock lesions. The B2L gene was successfully amplified and found to be highly conserved.
Article
Virology
Yigal Farnoushi, Dan Heller, Avishai Lublin
Summary: In recent years, new variants of avian reovirus (ARV) have caused a variety of symptoms in chickens worldwide, including viral arthritis/tenosynovitis. This study analyzed emerging ARV variants in Israel and found significant genetic diversity. Most ARV isolates in Israel belonged to genotypic cluster 5 (GC5). The study suggests that Israel has not experienced the emergence of new ARV variants since the introduction of the live vaccine (ISR-7585), but ongoing monitoring is needed due to the continuous emergence of ARV variants.
Article
Virology
Shigeru Tajima, Michiyo Kataoka, Yuki Takamatsu, Hideki Ebihara, Chang-Kweng Lim
Summary: Yokose virus (YOKV), a bat-associated flavivirus, was found to replicate at a slower rate in mosquito cells compared to other mosquito-borne flaviviruses. Specific nucleotide mutations in the virus were identified to enhance its proliferation ability in mosquito cells.
Article
Virology
Alejandra Borjabad, Baojun Dong, Wei Chao, David J. Volsky, Mary Jane Potash
Summary: This study investigated HIV brain disease using a mouse model, and found that poly I:C can reverse associated cognitive impairment and reduce virus burden. The results also revealed transcriptional changes related to neuronal function and innate immune responses.
Article
Virology
Ching-Hung Lin, Feng-Cheng Hsieh, Meilin Wang, Chieh Hsu, Hsuan-Wei Hsu, Chun-Chun Yang, Cheng-Yao Yang, Hung-Yi Wu
Summary: This study demonstrates that the synthesis of coronavirus subgenomic mRNA is not solely determined by the sequence homology between the leader TRS and TRS-B, but also by the disassociation of the coronavirus polymerase from the viral genome. This finding provides a new insight into the transcription mechanism of coronaviruses.
Article
Virology
Nicholas S. Kron, Benjamin W. Neuman, Sathish Kumar, Patricia L. Blackwelder, Dayana Vidal, Delphina Z. Walker-Phelan, Patrick D. I. Gibbs, Lynne A. Fieber, Michael C. Schmale
Summary: Two recent studies documented the genome of a novel virus in marine animals, finding that the virus is widespread in apparently healthy animals but not highly expressed in neurons. The studies also identified viral replication factories and high levels of defective genomes in chronically infected animals.
Article
Virology
Andrew M. Ramey, Laura C. Scott, Christina A. Ahlstrom, Evan J. Buck, Alison R. Williams, Mia Kim Torchetti, David E. Stallknecht, Rebecca L. Poulson
Summary: We successfully detected and characterized highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in hunter-harvested wild waterfowl samples from western Alaska. Genomic analysis revealed three independent viral introductions into Alaska. Our findings demonstrate the utility and potential limitations of using molecular processing approaches directly on original swab samples for viral research and monitoring.
Article
Virology
Ting Gong, Dongdong Wu, Yongzhi Feng, Xing Liu, Qi Gao, Xiaoyu Zheng, Zebu Song, Heng Wang, Guihong Zhang, Lang Gong
Summary: This study discovered that quercetin can inhibit PEDV replication both in vivo and in vitro, and alleviate the clinical symptoms and intestinal injury caused by the virus. This provides a new direction for the development of PED antiviral drugs.
Article
Virology
Min Zhu, Hao Zeng, Jianqiao He, Yaohui Zhu, Pingping Wang, Jianing Guo, Jinfan Guo, Huabo Zhou, Yifeng Qin, Kang Ouyang, Zuzhang Wei, Weijian Huang, Ying Chen
Summary: The reassortment between avian H9N2 and Eurasian avian-like (EA) H1N1 viruses may have potentially changed from avian-to-mammals adaptation. This study found that the introduction of EA H1N1 internal genes into H9N2 virus restored the replication capability and resulted in extreme virulence in some cases. This raises new concerns for public health due to the possible coexistence of H9N2 and EA H1N1 viruses in dogs.
