Review
Immunology
Mohammad Farahmand, Pegah Khales, Zahra Salavatiha, Milad Sabaei, Malihe Hamidzade, Danesh Aminpanah, Ahmad Tavakoli
Summary: The aim of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis to determine the prevalence of human astrovirus (HAstV) infection in patients with gastroenteritis and to explore the connection between HAstV infection and gastroenteritis. The results showed that the overall pooled prevalence of HAstV infection among 302,423 gastroenteritis patients from 69 different countries was 3.48%. The study also found a positive association between HAstV infection and gastroenteritis.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Qiaoya Zhao, Ye Tian, Liping Liu, Yifei Jiang, Haitao Sun, Shanjie Tan, Bing Huang
Summary: In this study, a rabbit astrovirus strain named Z317 was successfully isolated and its whole genome sequence was obtained. This study provides valuable data to understand the variation and recombination of the virus, and lays a foundation for disease prevention and control as well as molecular epidemiological research.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Hongyu Wei, Kattareeya Kumthip, Pattara Khamrin, Arpaporn Yodmeeklin, Nutthawadee Jampanil, Phitchakorn Phengma, Zhenfeng Xie, Nuthapong Ukarapol, Hiroshi Ushijima, Niwat Maneekarn
Summary: This study identified three novel recombinant strains of HAstV, which underwent intergenotype recombination at the ORF1a-ORF1b-ORF2 regions of the HAstV genome. The study also found that recombination hotspots in the HAstV genome frequently occur near the ORF1a-ORF1b and ORF1b-ORF2 junctions. These findings indicate that intergenotype recombination of HAstV occurs frequently in nature. The emergence of a novel recombinant strain allows the new virus to adapt and successfully escape from the host immune system, eventually becoming the predominant genotype infecting populations lacking herd immunity against novel recombinant strains. The virus may cause outbreaks and needs to be continuously monitored.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Gianvito Lanave, Daniela Loconsole, Francesca Centrone, Cristiana Catella, Paolo Capozza, Georgia Diakoudi, Antonio Parisi, Elisabetta Suffredini, Alessio Buonavoglia, Michele Camero, Maria Chironna, Vito Martella
Summary: A VA1-like AstV was identified from an outbreak of foodborne acute gastroenteritis in Italy in 2018, with genome sequencing showing a relation to the UK1 strain. Similar viruses were also found in pediatric patients with acute gastroenteritis in 2018, although at a low prevalence. Gathering epidemiological data on atypical AstVs is important for assessing the risks posed by such infections in medically fragile patients.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mervat El-Sayed Mashaly, Nashwa M. Alkasaby, Asmaa Bakr, Maysaa El Sayed Zaki, Karim Montasser
Summary: The study found that the infection rate of HPeV in Egyptian children with AGE is 19%, with a high rate of co-infection with other enteric viruses. Children infected with HPeV alone had milder symptoms, with fever being the main presenting symptom.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sanjaya Kumar Shrestha, Jasmin Shrestha, Ashild K. Andreassen, Tor A. Strand, Susanne Dudman, Jennifer L. Dembinski
Summary: The study identified a high diversity of circulating Astrovirus strains in young children in Nepal, with HAstV 5 and HAstV 1 being the most common genotypes.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Jia-Wei Niu, Jin-Hui Li, Jin-Lian Guan, Ke-Hui Deng, Xiu-Wu Wang, Gen Li, Xia Zhou, Min-Sheng Xu, Rui-Ai Chen, Shao-Lun Zhai, Dong-Sheng He
Summary: This article introduces a quadruplex RT-PCR method that can simultaneously detect four porcine enteric coronaviruses. The method has good specificity and low detection limits, making it suitable for monitoring and researching the prevalence of diseases.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ming Qiu, Shubin Li, Yanzhao Xiao, Jixiang Li, Youwen Zhang, Xinshuai Li, Binghui Feng, Chen Li, Hong Lin, Jianzhong Zhu, Nanhua Chen
Summary: This study provides evidence that significant proliferations of PEDV and PKV are closely associated with severe diarrhea in neonatal piglets, while PAstVs likely play limited roles in neonatal piglet diarrhea.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Lijuan Lu, Huaqing Zhong, Menghua Xu, Ran Jia, Pengcheng Liu, Liyun Su, Lingfeng Cao, Xunhua Zhu, Jin Xu
Summary: This study provides valuable information on the diversity and epidemiology of classic and novel HAstV in children with acute gastroenteritis in Shanghai, contributing to the understanding of the molecular epidemiology of these viruses.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Lauren A. Ford-Siltz, Samantha Wales, Kentaro Tohma, Yamei Gao, Gabriel Parra
Summary: This study tested the suitability of human intestinal enteroids as a system to study norovirus neutralization and found that hyperimmune sera showed highly specific neutralization activity against different genotypes of noroviruses.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Pengfei Du, Quanhui Yan, Xiao-Ai Zhang, Weijun Zeng, Kaiyuan Xie, Zhongmao Yuan, Xiaodi Liu, Xueyi Liu, Lihong Zhang, Keke Wu, Xiaowen Li, Shuangqi Fan, Mingqiu Zhao, Jinding Chen
Summary: Recruitment of specific antigenic epitopes from PEDV and TGEV into ADDomer framework allowed the successful generation of recombinant proteins AD, AD-P, AD-T, and AD-PT. These recombinant ADDomer-VLP vaccines demonstrated strong immunogenicity, effectively stimulating the production of neutralizing antibodies against both PEDV and TGEV. The recombinant ADDomer-VLP vaccine induced elevated levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2, and IL-4, and enhanced cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity in the peripheral blood of piglets.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Munazza Fatima, Dilshad A. Khan, Deeba Amraiz, Munir A. Lodhi, Eijaz Ghani, Saifullah K. Niazi, Sakhawat Ali
Summary: This study aimed to detect the genotypic distribution of predominant rotavirus strains in children suffering from acute gastroenteritis in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The results showed that rotavirus infection was mainly found in children aged 2 and below, with the peak incidence at 6-12 months. Subtype G1P[8] was the most prevalent. These findings provide useful information for developing strategies to control and prevent diarrheal infections in children.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Xiaofeng Zhai, Ningning Wang, Houqi Jiao, Jie Zhang, Chaofan Li, Wenkai Ren, Russel J. Reiter, Shuo Su
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed gaps in our knowledge of animal coronavirus prevention and control, while indoles show potential activity against swine coronaviruses. Molecules such as melatonin can inhibit viral replication in cells, providing a basis for the development of new treatments.
JOURNAL OF PINEAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Virology
Emanuele Amodio, Simona De Grazia, Dario Genovese, Floriana Bonura, Chiara Filizzolo, Antonella Collura, Francesca Di Bernardo, Giovanni M. M. Giammanco
Summary: To study the viral agents and epidemiologic features of severe paediatric Viral Acute Gastroenteritis (VAGE), a study was conducted on paediatric patients hospitalized in a major Sicilian paediatric hospital from 2003 to 2013. The study found that rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus, and astrovirus were the main viral agents causing VAGE, with different patterns in terms of age, seasonality, trend over time, and major diagnostic categories. This study provides valuable information for clinicians in identifying and treating VAGE in hospital settings.
Article
Virology
Ignacio Parron, Elsa Plasencia, Thais Cornejo-Sanchez, Mireia Jane, Cristina Perez, Conchita Izquierdo, Susana Guix, Angela Dominguez
Summary: This study investigated an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis caused by human astrovirus in a daycare center, identifying a higher attack rate among household contacts of affected attenders and asymptomatic infections among daycare attendees. The transmission of HAstV extended to household contacts of both affected and non-affected attenders during the outbreak.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Danielle Cleveland, Jo Ellen Hinck, Julia S. Lankton
Summary: The study indicates that biota in the Grand Canyon watershed have taken up uranium and other elements from ore exposure and surface contamination, potentially leading to prolonged exposure risk. However, the specific biological effects of certain mine elements on organisms remain unclear.
Article
Microbiology
Jennifer Kopanke, Justin Lee, Mark Stenglein, Christie Mayo
Summary: The study found that BTV-2 and BTV-10 can reassort across multiple segments, but BTV-2 emerged as the preferred viral backbone in later passages, and certain segments were more likely to be found in reassortant progeny. These findings suggest that there may be preferred segment combinations that emerge during BTV reassortment, and highlight the usefulness of WGS and amplicon-based sequencing approaches in understanding the dynamics of reassortment among segmented viruses like BTV.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Caroline Van Hemert, Robert J. Dusek, Matthew M. Smith, Robert Kaler, Gay Sheffield, Lauren M. Divine, Kathy J. Kuletz, Susan Knowles, Julia S. Lankton, D. Ransom Hardison, R. Wayne Litaker, Timothy Jones, Hillary K. Burgess, Julia K. Parrish
Summary: Between 2014 and 2017, annual widespread seabird mortality events in the Bering and Chukchi seas were likely linked to environmental changes such as harmful algal blooms and reduced sea ice. However, the direct cause of death among the birds examined in this study was starvation, rather than neurotoxins produced by the harmful algal blooms.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Izabela K. Ragan, Lindsay M. Hartson, Taru S. Dutt, Andres Obregon-Henao, Rachel M. Maison, Paul Gordy, Amy Fox, Burton R. Karger, Shaun T. Cross, Marylee L. Kapuscinski, Sarah K. Cooper, Brendan K. Podell, Mark D. Stenglein, Richard A. Bowen, Marcela Henao-Tamayo, Raymond P. Goodrich
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rapid development of vaccine candidates, with new methods being evaluated clinically. This study reports on a novel method for producing an inactivated vaccine candidate and testing its efficacy in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in hamsters, suggesting potential utility in COVID-19 vaccine preparation.
Article
Parasitology
Michelle L. Michalski, Emily Kadolph, Constance L. Roderick, Julia S. Lankton, Rebecca A. Cole
Summary: Several mortality events involving barn swallows and cliff swallows occurred in the Upper Midwestern states in 2017 and 2018, with barn swallows primarily dying from emaciation and air sac nematodiasis, while cliff swallows had lesions consistent with blunt force trauma from suspected car impacts. Sequence analysis of the partial 18S rRNA gene indicated a link between morphological specimens and DNA sequence data for D. obtusa.
JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Julia S. Lankton, Susan Knowles, Saskia Keller, Valerie Shearn-Bochsler, Hon S. Ip
Summary: Rabbit hemorrhagic disease, a notifiable foreign animal disease in the US, was reported for the first time in wild native North American lagomorphs in April 2020. The affected species included desert cottontails and black-tailed jackrabbits, which tested positive for Lagovirus europaeus GI.2. Further research is needed to understand the impact of GI.2/RHDV2/b infection on North American lagomorph populations.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Mycology
Savannah L. Gentry, Jeffrey M. Lorch, Julia S. Lankton, Anne Pringle
Summary: Nannizziopsis guarroi is an ascomycete fungus associated with necrotizing dermatitis in captive green iguanas and bearded dragons across Europe and North America. Fulfilling Koch's postulates criteria in an experiment demonstrated N. guarroi as the primary agent of yellow fungal disease in bearded dragons. Symptoms include swelling, lesion formation, and progression into crusty, yellow, necrotic scales.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Zachary R. Laughrey, Victoria G. Christensen, Robert J. Dusek, Sarena Senegal, Julia S. Lankton, Tracy A. Ziegler, Lee C. Jones, Daniel K. Jones, Brianna M. Williams, Stephanie Gordon, Gerald A. Clyde, Erich B. Emery, Keith A. Loftin
Summary: Concerns are growing over health effects from algal toxin exposure for both humans and animals. A comprehensive review conducted by the U.S. Federal Government on toxin-producing algal blooms in surface waters revealed that at least 11.1% of Federal lands have been affected by algal events. The study highlighted various data gaps and the need for improvements in field and laboratory methods.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Winifred F. Frick, Emily Johnson, Tina L. Cheng, Julia S. Lankton, Robin Warne, Jason Dallas, Katy L. Parise, Jeffrey T. Foster, Justin G. Boyles, Liam P. McGuire
Summary: Disease outcomes are influenced by interactions between host, pathogen, and environment. Inoculation trials provide insights into these interactions and offer valuable information for managing diseases in complex natural environments. This study investigated the impact of temperature and humidity on disease severity and fungal growth in tri-colored bats infected with Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). Surprisingly, the results showed that temperature and humidity did not affect infection response, but temperature had a distinct effect on fungal growth on media plates.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Devin N. Jones, Gregory L. Boyer, Julia S. Lankton, M. Megan Woller-Skar, Amy L. Russell
Summary: This study investigates the potential transfer of cyanobacterial hepatotoxin microcystin from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems through trophic interactions, using bats as a case study.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Caroline Van Hemert, John R. Harley, Gwen Baluss, Matthew M. Smith, Robert J. Dusek, Julia S. Lankton, D. Ransom Hardison, Sarah K. Schoen, Robert S. A. Kaler
Summary: Harmful algal blooms, intensified by recent climatic changes, have resulted in increased mortality events for wildlife, including Arctic Terns in Alaska. This study investigated a mortality event in 2019 and found elevated concentrations of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) in bird, forage fish, and mussel samples. The study provides evidence of PST exposure in terns through their prey and highlights the significant hazard PSTs pose to Arctic Terns and other northern seabirds.
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Barnett A. Rattner, Catherine E. Wazniak, Julia S. Lankton, Peter C. McGowan, Serguei V. Drovetski, Todd A. Egerton
Summary: The Chesapeake Bay, as the largest estuary in the United States, is crucial for wildlife. However, there has been limited attention to the potential exposure and effects of algal toxins on wildlife in this region. This study reviews the literature on algal toxins and harmful algal bloom (HAB) events in different parts of the world and compiles information on wildlife mortality events associated with potentially toxic algae and HABs in the Chesapeake Bay from 2000 to 2020. The findings suggest that while there have been some incidents definitively linked to HABs, there is still a need for more research on the exposure routes, sensitivity to toxins, and risks posed to wildlife.
Article
Virology
Ariel E. Leon, Della Garelle, Airn Hartwig, Elizabeth A. Falendysz, Hon S. Ip, Julia S. Lankton, Tyler N. Tretten, Terry R. Spraker, Richard Bowen, Tonie E. Rocke
Summary: A preliminary vaccination trial in captive black-footed ferrets was conducted to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity, and anti-viral efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. Vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunit protein significantly increased antibody titers in the ferrets. In vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed the anti-viral activity of the vaccinated ferrets. A challenge study showed no clinical disease in both vaccinated and naive animals, indicating a low risk of SARS-CoV-2 affecting wild black-footed ferret populations.
Article
Virology
Steven B. Tillis, Jillian M. Josimovich, Melissa A. Miller, Laura L. Hoon-Hanks, Arik M. Hartmann, Natalie M. Claunch, Marley E. Iredale, Tracey D. Logan, Amy A. Yackel A. Adams, Ian A. Bartoszek, John S. Humphrey, Bryan M. Kluever, Mark D. Stenglein, Robert N. Reed, Christina M. Romagosa, James F. X. Wellehan Jr, Robert J. Ossiboff
Summary: Burmese pythons, an invasive snake in southern Florida, have been found to carry serpentoviruses. This study is the first to characterize serpentoviruses in wild free-ranging pythons or any free-ranging North American reptile. The presence of these viruses in invasive and native species warrants further investigation.
Letter
Immunology
Jeffrey M. Lorch, Steven J. Price, Julia S. Lankton, Andrea N. Drayer
Summary: Ophidiomycosis poses a threat to wild snake populations, and its history has not been thoroughly investigated.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
