Article
Environmental Sciences
Emalie K. Hayes, Madison T. Gouthro, Jason J. LeBlanc, Graham A. Gagnon
Summary: A multiplex RT-qPCR-based method was designed for simultaneous detection of influenza A, SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus, and measles virus. The method had comparable sensitivity and linearity to monoplex assays. The assay's performance was validated in the field using wastewater and passive samples, showing accurate estimation of viral loads and suggesting potential improvement with more sensitive sampling methods.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Rogier W. Sanders, John P. Moore
Summary: Most viral vaccines work by inducing neutralizing antibodies against the virus envelope or spike glycoproteins, which are engineered for stability and presentation of key epitopes to optimize vaccine performance. This technique emerged during HIV-1 Env vaccine development and has been widely applied to other viral vaccines, including SARS-CoV-2.
CELL HOST & MICROBE
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Sophie Jullien, Felicity Fitzgerald, Suzanne Keddie, Oliver Baerenbold, Quique Bassat, John Bradley, Jane Falconer, Colin Fink, Ruth Keogh, Heidi Hopkins, Marie Voice
Summary: This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the Luminex NxTAG respiratory pathogen panels for detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza viruses. The results showed high sensitivity and specificity of the test for RSV and influenza A/B. However, the performance of other comparator tests varied. Further research is needed to assess its performance in different populations.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Sherri A. Powledge, Taylor B. McAtee, Amelia R. Woolums, T. Robin Falkner, John T. Groves, Merilee Thoresen, Robert Valeris-Chacin, John T. Richeson
Summary: Vaccination with modified-live virus (MLV) did not have a clear impact on the health or growth of high-risk calves, but intranasal MLV vaccination was associated with increased carriage of Histophilus somni (Hs) in the naris and reduced culture of Mannheimia haemolytica (Mh) from lung tissue samples. This suggests that intranasal MLV vaccination can alter the microbial community in the respiratory tract of cattle.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Kenneth E. Schmader, Christine K. Liu, Theresa Harrington, Wes Rountree, Heidi Auerbach, Emmanuel B. Walter, Elizabeth D. Barnett, Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, Chris A. Todd, Marek Poniewierski, Mary A. Staat, Patricia Wodi, Karen R. Broder
Summary: A randomized blinded clinical trial compared the safety, reactogenicity, and changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores between trivalent adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine (aIIV3) and trivalent high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (HD-IIV3) in adults aged 65 years and older. The study found that both vaccines showed similar safety profiles and HRQOL effects, supporting the use of either vaccine to prevent influenza in older adults.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Hanyuan Zhang, Alanna M. Klose, Benjamin L. Miller
Summary: The study utilized glycan-based receptor analogue microarrays on the AIR platform to achieve label-free, multiplex detection and discrimination of human and avian influenza viruses. The method can be expanded to systematically evaluate influenza virus adaptation in humans, facilitating global influenza surveillance and serving as a new tool enabling quick reactions in the face of a pandemic outbreak for health organizations, governments, research institutes, and laboratories.
BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Camila Covian, Mariana Rios, Roslye Berrios-Rojas, Susan M. Bueno, Alexis M. Kalergis
Summary: Vaccines play a crucial role in protecting humans from various pathogens and can induce trained immunity, providing non-specific memory against a wide range of pathogens. Recombinant BCG vaccines have shown potential in combating respiratory syncytial virus and metapneumovirus by simultaneously inducing specific adaptive immunity and non-specific trained immunity, offering broader protection against pathogenic viruses.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Genta Ito, Takahiro Takazono, Naoki Hosogaya, Naoki Iwanaga, Shogo Miyazawa, Satoki Fujita, Hideaki Watanabe, Hiroshi Mukae
Summary: This retrospective observational study evaluated the factors influencing the start date of the influenza epidemic season and the total number of infected persons per 1,000,000 population in 47 prefectures of Japan. Using a Japanese health insurance claims database, single and multiple regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between the start time of the epidemic and various factors such as absolute humidity, total visitors, and total population. The study found that the earlier the climate became suitable for virus transmission and the higher the human mobility, the earlier the epidemic season tended to begin.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Yingcheng Wang, Ginenus Fekadu, Joyce H. S. You
Summary: This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of AREXVY (R) and ABRYSVO (R) in Hong Kong and finds that a single dose of either vaccine can increase quality-adjusted life-years for older adults over a period of 2 years. The economic benefits of the vaccines are influenced by the vaccine price and RSV attack rate.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xirui Qiu, Siyan Xu, Yang Lu, Zichen Luo, Yangtian Yan, Chuyue Wang, Jianjian Ji
Summary: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major pathogen causing bronchitis and pneumonia in infants and the elderly. No approved preventative vaccine for RSV infection currently exists. However, advances in understanding the RSV surface fusion glycoprotein have provided a new target for vaccine development. Among the six different approaches to preventative RSV therapeutics, mRNA vaccines have shown the most promising results.
CYTOKINE & GROWTH FACTOR REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Katherine M. Begley, Arnold S. Monto, Lois E. Lamerato, Anurag N. Malani, Adam S. Lauring, H. Keipp Talbot, Manjusha Gaglani, Tresa McNeal, Fernanda P. Silveira, Richard K. Zimmerman, Donald B. Middleton, Shekhar Ghamande, Kempapura Murthy, Lindsay Kim, Jill M. Ferdinands, Manish M. Patel, Emily T. Martin
Summary: In this study, adults hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were found to have worse outcomes compared with influenza. They were more likely to have cardiopulmonary comorbidities, experience a longer stay, and require mechanical ventilation. This study highlights the importance of RSV surveillance and informs future vaccination strategies.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Allergy
Richard B. Kennedy, Inna G. Ovsyannikova, Gregory A. Poland
Summary: Influenza is an annual seasonal epidemic that causes considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines, challenges such as antigenic drift and shift hinder efforts to control the disease. Developing newer, more effective vaccines, including broadly protective universal influenza vaccines, is necessary to address these obstacles.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alaa Atamna, Tanya Babich, Dafi Froimovici, Dafna Yahav, Nadav Sorek, Haim Ben-Zvi, Leonard Leibovici, Jihad Bishara, Tomer Avni
Summary: This study compared the clinical outcomes of patients with laboratory-confirmed RSV and patients with influenza infection, finding that RSV patients had higher rates of complications and were more prone to pneumonia. Hypoalbuminemia, reduced room-air saturation, and RSV infection were identified as predictors of complications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Qianyu Feng, Shujin Lin, Huifang Liu, Bin Yang, Lifen Han, Xiao Han, Lili Xu, Zhengde Xie
Summary: RSV is a common and critical viral pathogen causing respiratory tract infection in children. A meta-analysis of transcriptome data identified differentially expressed genes and altered immune pathways, providing new insights into RSV infection.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Andreas Jensen, Eric A. F. Simoes, Claus Bohn Christiansen, Lone Graff Stensballe
Summary: The study aimed to describe the epidemiology and compare risk factors for hospitalization associated with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus infections in Danish children. It found that prior asthma hospitalization, number of children in the household, chronic disease, and maternal history of asthma hospitalization were the most important risk factors for both RSV and influenza hospitalization. The findings enable targeted vaccination programs for high-risk children with specific risk factors.
Letter
Rheumatology
Olli Ruuskanen, Matti Waris
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Felix B. He, Hira Khan, Moona Huttunen, Pekka Kolehmainen, Krister Melen, Sari Maljanen, Mengmeng Qu, Miao Jiang, Laura Kakkola, Ilkka Julkunen
Summary: Filovirus family is a highly pathogenic virus family that has caused deadly outbreaks, especially in African countries. Previous research has focused on Ebola, Sudan, and Marburg viruses, leaving other filoviruses less studied. These viruses have the ability to downregulate the innate immune system, and VP24 proteins have been shown to interfere with interferon gene expression and signaling.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Paula A. Tahtinen, Lauri Ivaska, Pinja Jalkanen, Laura Kakkola, Leena Kainulainen, Jukka Hytonen, Tytti Vuorinen, Matti Waris, Ville Peltola, Jarmo Oksi, Ilkka Julkunen, Johanna Lempainen
Summary: The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity remained low in health care workers with occupational exposure to COVID-19 in Turku, Finland. Good access to diagnostics and high standards of infection prevention practices seem effective in preventing occupational SARS-CoV-2 infection in a setting with low circulating virus. However, it remains unclear if these protective measures would be effective against more transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Kari Kopra, Nazia Hassan, Emmiliisa Vuorinen, Salla Valtonen, Randa Mahran, Huda Habib, Pinja Jalkanen, Petri Susi, Vesa Hytonen, Minna Hankaniemi, Seppo Yla-Herttuala, Laura Kakkola, Markus Peurla, Harri Harma
Summary: Viruses play a major role in modern society, but current methods for counting viral particles are cumbersome and expensive. To address this issue, researchers have developed a simple and cost-effective time-resolved luminescence-based method that allows for rapid measurement of virus particle count.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Sport Sciences
Olli Ruuskanen, Raakel Luoto, Maarit Valtonen, Olli J. Heinonen, Matti Waris
Summary: Upper respiratory tract infections are common among elite athletes, but the impact of exercise on susceptibility to infections and the clinical implications of immune system changes need further virological studies.
Article
Immunology
Antti Hurme, Pinja Jalkanen, Jemna Heroum, Oona Liedes, Saimi Vara, Merit Melin, Johanna Teraesjaervi, Qiushui He, Sakari Poeysti, Arno Haenninen, Jarmo Oksi, Tytti Vuorinen, Anu Kantele, Paula A. Taehtinen, Lauri Ivaska, Laura Kakkola, Johanna Lempainen, Ilkka Julkunen
Summary: Despite the emergence of novel variants of SARS-CoV-2, vaccines can still provide protection against Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants for at least 6 months.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Pinja Jalkanen, Pekka Kolehmainen, Anu Haveri, Moona Huttunen, Larissa Laine, Pamela Osterlund, Paula A. Tahtinen, Lauri Ivaska, Sari Maljanen, Arttu Reinholm, Milja Belik, Teemu Smura, Hanni K. Hakkinen, Eeva Ortamo, Anu Kantele, Ilkka Julkunen, Johanna Lempainen, Laura Kakkola
Summary: The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants has raised concerns about the efficacy of vaccines, and this study shows that the mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 can induce persistent neutralizing antibodies against the variants for at least 6 months.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Pekka Kolehmainen, Jemna Heroum, Pinja Jalkanen, Moona Huttunen, Laura Toivonen, Varpu Marjomaki, Matti Waris, Teemu Smura, Laura Kakkola, Sisko Tauriainen, Ville Peltola, Ilkka Julkunen
Summary: Seasonal coronaviruses cause respiratory infections in children, and the duration of antibody levels following the first infections is limited. This study found that seasonal coronavirus infections and reinfections are common in early childhood, and the antibody levels decline relatively rapidly.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Virology
Niklas Lindblad, Timo Hanninen, Maarit Valtonen, Olli J. Heinonen, Matti Waris, Olli Ruuskanen
Summary: Influenza A outbreaks occurred in two professional hockey teams after they played against each other, resulting in 13 players and 2 staff members falling ill during the prevalent COVID-19 period. Seven players missed an important game due to influenza. Rapid diagnosis enabled effective control of the outbreaks through pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical measures.
Article
Immunology
Milja Belik, Oona Liedes, Saimi Vara, Anu Haveri, Sakari Poysti, Pekka Kolehmainen, Sari Maljanen, Moona Huttunen, Arttu Reinholm, Rickard Lundberg, Marika Skoen, Pamela osterlund, Merit Melin, Arno Hanninen, Antti Hurme, Lauri Ivaska, Paula A. Taehtinen, Johanna Lempainen, Laura Kakkola, Pinja Jalkanen, Ilkka Julkunen
Summary: The study shows that the third dose of mRNA vaccine can activate both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in healthcare workers, resulting in elevated levels of neutralizing antibodies against Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants. Although antibody levels decline at a similar rate as after the second dose, spike-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells remain relatively stable and continue to recognize the spike protein peptides from different Omicron subvariants. These findings suggest durable cell-mediated immunity and protection against SARS-CoV-2.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pekka Kolehmainen, Moona Huttunen, Alina Iakubovskaia, Sari Maljanen, Sisko Tauriainen, Emrah Yatkin, Arja Pasternack, Rauno Naves, Laura Toivonen, Paula A. Tahtinen, Lauri Ivaska, Johanna Lempainen, Ville Peltola, Matti Waris, Laura Kakkola, Olli Ritvos, Ilkka Julkunen
Summary: This study analyzed the changes in HCoV antibody levels in children and healthcare workers through longitudinal serological studies. The results showed that the seropositivity for seasonal HCoVs increased with age in children and diagnostic antibody rises were observed in healthcare workers against specific HCoVs. Vaccination with BNT162b2 increased anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies but did not lead to an increase in seasonal coronavirus antibodies. Cross-reactivity was observed between certain alpha-CoVs and beta-CoVs.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ahmed M. Awad, Kamryn Hansen, Diana Del Rio, Derek Flores, Reham F. Barghash, Laura Kakkola, Ilkka Julkunen, Kareem Awad
Summary: This article provides a summary of coronavirus classification and characterization, as well as the clinical consequences of SARS-CoV-2 activation of the ACE2 receptor. It also presents information on the chemical nature of potential therapeutics and their target biomolecules, aiming to aid in the search for new drugs to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Vilja Pietiainen, Minttu Polso, Ede Migh, Christian Guckelsberger, Maria Harmati, Akos Diosdi, Laura Turunen, Antti Hassinen, Swapnil Potdar, Annika Koponen, Edina Gyukity Sebestyen, Ferenc Kovacs, Andras Kriston, Reka Hollandi, Katalin Burian, Gabriella Terhes, Adam Visnyovszki, Eszter Fodor, Zsombor Lacza, Anu Kantele, Pekka Kolehmainen, Laura Kakkola, Tomas Strandin, Lev Levanov, Olli Kallioniemi, Lajos Kemeny, Ilkka Julkunen, Olli Vapalahti, Krisztina Buzas, Lassi Paavolainen, Peter Horvath, Jussi Hepojoki
Summary: We have developed a miniaturized immunofluorescence assay (mini-IFA) that utilizes machine learning-guided image analysis to measure antibody response against different viral antigens. This method allows simultaneous measurement of IgM, IgA, and IgG responses and can differentiate between vaccine-induced and infection-induced antibody responses. The assay has the potential for clinical diagnostics.
CELL REPORTS METHODS
(2023)
Article
Sport Sciences
Raakel Luoto, Olli Ruuskanen, Johanna K. Ihalainen, Satu Pekkala, Jukka Hintikka, Noora Kanerva, Matti Waris, Olli J. Heinonen, Maarit Valtonen
Summary: The study found that Finnish elite cross-country skiers had lower concentrations of CRP but higher concentrations of IL-10, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma compared to moderately-exercising controls. There was no significant difference in IL-6 and GlycA levels between athletes and controls.
JOURNAL OF SCIENCE IN SPORT AND EXERCISE
(2023)
