Publications by authors named "Alexa Foss"
Article Synopsis
- Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) has spilled over into marine mammals in the northeastern U.S., linked to wild birds in the area.* -
- The situation highlights the interaction between different species and the potential spread of the virus.* -
- Ongoing monitoring of both wild coastal birds and marine mammals is essential to assess the pandemic risk of these influenza viruses.*
Background: In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, noninvasive respiratory support (NRS) therapies such as high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and noninvasive ventilation (NIV) were central to respiratory care. The extent to which these treatments increase the generation and dispersion of infectious respiratory aerosols is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to characterize SARS-CoV-2 aerosol dispersion from subjects with COVID-19 undergoing NRS therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSingle domain antibodies (sdAbs), also called nanobodies, have substantial biophysical advantages over conventional antibodies and are increasingly being employed as components of immunotherapeutic agents. One particularly favorable property is the ability to link different sdAbs into heteromultimers. This feature allows production of single molecules capable of simultaneously targeting more than one antigen.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study investigates the diversity and transmission dynamics of influenza A viruses (IAV) across different bird species, particularly focusing on gulls and geese in addition to dabbling ducks.
- It utilizes Bayesian phylodynamic modeling to show how these avian hosts contribute to the spread and evolution of various viral subtypes, especially highlighting the role of gulls in rapid transmission of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5.
- The research emphasizes the need for enhanced surveillance efforts in key geographic areas to monitor IAV spread and improve early detection strategies based on the unique movements and immune responses of diverse bird species.
Phocine distemper virus (PDV) is a morbillivirus that circulates within pinnipeds in the North Atlantic. PDV has caused two known unusual mortality events (UMEs) in western Europe (1988, 2002), and two UMEs in the northwest Atlantic (2006, 2018). Infrequent cross-species transmission and waning immunity are believed to contribute to periodic outbreaks with high mortality in western Europe.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFerrets () are mustelids of special relevance to laboratory studies of respiratory viruses and have been shown to be susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and onward transmission. Here, we report the results of a natural experiment where 29 ferrets in one home had prolonged, direct contact and constant environmental exposure to two humans with symptomatic disease, one of whom was confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2. We observed no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from humans to ferrets based on viral and antibody assays.
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