Virology

Article Virology

Isolation, characterization, and phylogenetic analysis of two new porcine parvovirus 1 isolates from Northern China

Huiwei Deng, Guangyi Cong, Hongfeng Wang, Zedong Hu, Da Shi, Hongyan Shi, Changyou Xia, Fang Fu, Li Feng

Summary: This study isolated and sequenced two new PPV1 strains from northern China, and analyzed their evolution and phylogeny. The new isolates had amino acid substitutions and were in the same phylogenetic cluster as strain 27a. The evolutionary tree results showed that Chinese strains were evolving in two directions. The study also compared the proliferation ability of the isolated strains in susceptible cells.

VIRUS RESEARCH (2024)

Article Biochemical Research Methods

Metagenomics in the fight against zoonotic viral infections: A focus on SARS-CoV-2 analogues

Atif Khurshid Wani, Chirag Chopra, Daljeet Singh Dhanjal, Nahid Akhtar, Himanshu Singh, Poorvi Bhau, Anjuvan Singh, Varun Sharma, Rafael Silvio Bonilha Pinheiro, Juliana Heloisa Pine Americo-Pinheiro, Reena Singh

Summary: Zoonotic viral infections pose significant threats to global public health. Understanding the origins and dynamics of these infections is crucial for prevention and management of future outbreaks. Metagenomics is a powerful tool for studying the diversity of viral populations and potential zoonotic events.

JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS (2024)

Article Virology

Hemagglutinin affects replication, stability and airborne transmission of the H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus

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.

VIROLOGY (2024)

Article Virology

Expression dynamics of the aplysia abyssovirus

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.

VIROLOGY (2024)

Article Biochemical Research Methods

Comparison of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay performance in detecting Decapod penstylhamaparvovirus 1 in penaeid shrimp

Arun K. Dhar, Roberto Cruz-Flores, Hung N. Mai, Janet Warg

Summary: A sensitive and robust TaqMan PCR method for detecting IHHNV in three commercially important shrimp species was developed and compared with other published methods. Multiple primer/probe sets, including qIH-Fw/qIH-Rv and 3144F/3232R, are recommended for the detection of IHHNV. These findings are valuable for large-scale screening of shrimp using a TaqMan real-time PCR assay.

JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS (2024)

Article Biochemical Research Methods

A sensitive luciferase reporter assay for the detection of infectious African swine fever virus

Kemal Mehinagic, Matthias Liniger, Maksym Samoilenko, Nick Soltermann, Markus Gerber, Nicolas Ruggli

Summary: A plasmid-based reporter assay has been developed for sensitive detection and titration of infectious African swine fever virus (ASFV). This novel method allows accurate measurement of ASFV titers and is applicable to ASFV of different genotypes, virulence, and sources.

JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS (2024)

Article Virology

Innate immune responses reverse HIV cognitive disease in mice: Profile by RNAseq in the brain

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.

VIROLOGY (2024)

Article Biochemical Research Methods

The value of point-of-care tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

Jan Van Slambrouck, Charlotte Schoenaers, Lies Laenen, Xin Jin, Kurt Beuselinck, Ann Verdonck, Joost Wauters, Geert Molenberghs, Bart M. Vanaudenaerde, Robin Vos, Peter Mombaerts, Katrien Lagrou, Laurens J. Ceulemans

Summary: The ability to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen in BAL fluid samples using point-of-care tests (POCTs) can reduce the risk of developing severe COVID-19 after lung transplantation.

JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS (2024)

Article Virology

Reassortant H9N2 canine influenza viruses containing the pandemic H1N1/ 2009 ribonucleoprotein complex circulating in pigs acquired enhanced virulence in mice

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.

VIROLOGY (2024)

Article Biochemical Research Methods

Approaches to produce and characterize recombinant protein VP1-2A of HAV for serological rapid test application

Michel V. F. Sucupira, Ana P. C. Argondizzo, Mariana Miguez, Anna E. de Araujo, Leila B. R. Silva, Marcelle B. Mello, Christiane F. S. Marques, Danielle Brito Cunha, Renata C. Bastos, Vanessa S. de Paula, Luciane A. Amado Leon

Summary: This study focuses on improving the purification, solubility, and protein expression levels of recombinant VP1-2A, a hepatitis A virus (HAV) structural protein with immunogenic activity. The results show that the modified approach successfully produces biologically active HAV VP1-2A, which can be used as a diagnostic tool for HAV infection.

JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS (2024)

Article Virology

Contagious ecthyma in Egypt: Clinical, virological and molecular explorations

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.

VIROLOGY (2024)

Article Virology

Molecular detection and characterization of highly pathogenic H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b avian influenza viruses among hunter-harvested wild birds provides evidence for three independent introductions into Alaska

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.

VIROLOGY (2024)

Article Virology

Inhibitory effects of quercetin on porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in vitro and in vivo

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.

VIROLOGY (2024)

Article Virology

Genetic characterization of newly emerging avian reovirus variants in chickens with viral arthritis/tenosynovitis in Israel

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.

VIROLOGY (2024)

Article Virology

Mutations in the 3′ non-coding region of a no-known vector flavivirus Yokose virus increased its replication ability in mosquito C6/36 cells

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.

VIROLOGY (2024)

Article Virology

Identification of subgenomic mRNAs derived from the coronavirus 1a/1b protein gene: Implications for coronavirus transcription

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.

VIROLOGY (2024)

Article Virology

The successive emergence of ERVL-MaLRs in primates

Zheng Zuo

Summary: This study thoroughly investigates the evolutionary history and relationship of ERVL-mammalian-apparent LTR retrotransposons (MaLRs), the fourth largest family of transposable elements in the human genome. It reveals that each MaLR member evolved from its predecessor successively and had a limited activity period during primate evolution. Additionally, a new MaLR member is discovered, and evidence is provided for the previously proposed arms race model between ZNF430/ZNF100 and THE1B/THE1A.

VIRUS EVOLUTION (2023)

Article Immunology

Near-Full-Length Genome Analysis of a HIV-1 CRF01_AE/B Recombinant Strain Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Chengde City, China

Shuofan Dong, Xinli Lu, Yingying Wang, Ning An, Meng Liu, Yan Li, Qi Li

Summary: In this study, a unique recombinant form (URF) of HIV, composed of multiple subtypes, was identified in a man who has sex with men in China. The study also found that this URF showed high-level resistance to certain antiretroviral drugs.

AIDS RESEARCH AND HUMAN RETROVIRUSES (2023)

Article Virology

Reconstructing relative transmission rates in Bayesian phylodynamics: Two-fold transmission advantage of Omicron in Berlin, Germany during December 2021

Ariane Weber, Sanni Oeversti, Denise Kuehnert

Summary: Phylodynamic methods are crucial for understanding the spread of infectious diseases, and large-scale genomic surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the potential for dynamic inference from viral genomes. In this study, a new extension to the BEAST2 package called BDSKYλ is introduced and validated, which allows for the quantification of transmission rate differences between circulating variants. Using this method, the transmission advantage of the Omicron variant over the Delta variant in Berlin, Germany is quantified, highlighting the importance of incorporating lineage-specific transmission differences in phylodynamic inference.

VIRUS EVOLUTION (2023)

Article Genetics & Heredity

Full-length genome characterization of a novel mitovirus isolated from the root rot fungus Armillaria mellea

Sila Erkmen, Ergin Sahin, Ilgaz Akata

Summary: Members of the genus Armillaria are known as one of the causative agents of white root rot in infected plants, but the existence of mitoviruses in this genus has not been reported. This study identified a new mitovirus, Armillaria mellea mitovirus 1 (AmMV1), in Armillaria mellea samples, marking the first known instance of a mitovirus in this genus.

VIRUS GENES (2023)