Exposure, infection and disease with the tick-borne pathogen Borrelia miyamotoi in the Netherlands and Sweden, 2007-2019.

The impact of the emerging tick-borne pathogen Borrelia miyamotoi is not fully understood. We utilised a protein array to investigate B. miyamotoi seroreactivity in various human populations in the Netherlands and Sweden.

Combining short- and long-read sequencing unveils geographically structured diversity in .

is an emerging tick-borne human pathogen in the Northern hemisphere. The aim of the current study was to compare whole genome sequences of isolates from different continents. Using a combination of Illumina and PacBio platforms and a novel genome assembly and plasmid typing pipeline, we reveal that the 21 sequenced isolates and publically available genomes from North America, Asia, and Europe form genetically distinct populations and cluster according to their geographical origin, where distinct species are endemic.

Development and Validation of a Protein Array for Detection of Antibodies against the Tick-Borne Pathogen Borrelia miyamotoi.

Current serological tests for the emerging tick-borne pathogen Borrelia miyamotoi lack diagnostic accuracy. To improve serodiagnosis, we investigated a protein array simultaneously screening for IgM and IgG reactivity against multiple recombinant B. miyamotoi antigens.

Molecular epidemiology of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in Russia.

In this report, we present new data on the diversity and geographical distribution of genetic variants in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in Russia. Partial S, M, and L segment sequences of the CCHFV genome were obtained from 500 serum samples from CCHF patients and 103 pools of ticks collected in the south of the European region of Russia in 2007-2017. The investigated viral strains belonged to the lineages Europe 1 (596 samples), Africa 3 (1 sample) and a new genetic lineage, Europe 3 (6 samples).

Comparison of Metrics for Shape Quality Evaluation of Textures Produced by Laser Structuring by Remelting (Waveshape).

The study is focused on investigating approaches for assessing the texture shape deviation obtained by laser structuring by remelting (Waveshape). A number of metrics such as Fourier spectrum harmonic ratio, cross-correlation coefficient (reverse value), and spectral entropy are investigated in terms of surface-texture shape deviation estimation. The metrics are compared with each other by testing two hypotheses: determination of target-like shape of texture (closest to harmonic shape) and determination of texture presence on the cross-section.

Differential Laboratory Diagnosis of Acute Fever in Guinea: Preparedness for the Threat of Hemorrhagic Fevers.

Acute febrile illnesses occur frequently in Guinea. Acute fever itself is not a unique, hallmark indication (pathognomonic sign) of any one illness or disease. In the infectious disease context, fever's underlying cause can be a wide range of viral or bacterial pathogens, including the Ebola virus.

Shape Deviation of Surface Structures Produced by WaveShape (Structuring by Laser Remelting) on Ti6Al4V and a Method for Deviation Reduction.

Laser structuring by remelting (WaveShape) is a manufacturing process for metal surfaces in which structures are generated without material removal. The structuring principle is based on the controlled motion of the three-phase line in the area of the solidification front. The contour of the solidification front is imprinted into the remelting track during the continuous solidification process.

Whole genome sequencing of Borrelia miyamotoi isolate Izh-4: reference for a complex bacterial genome.

Background: The genus Borrelia comprises spirochaetal bacteria maintained in natural transmission cycles by tick vectors and vertebrate reservoir hosts. The main groups are represented by a species complex including the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis and relapsing fever group Borrelia. Borrelia miyamotoi belongs to the relapsing fever group of spirochetes and forms distinct populations in North America, Asia, and Europe.

Draft Whole-Genome Sequences of Two Western European Borrelia miyamotoi Isolates.

We report the draft whole-genome sequences of two strains isolated in The Netherlands. Using next-generation sequencing, we determined the complete sequence of the chromosomes and several plasmids. The two strains show a genotype typical of European strains, distinct from the genomes of strains from Asia or the United States.

Application of the genetic risk model for the analysis of predisposition to nonlacunar ischemic stroke.

The purpose of our study was to analyze the predictive ability of the multiplicative model of genetic risk of nonlacunar ischemic stroke (IS) for independent samples from Russia. A total of 181 patients and 360 healthy controls were included in this study. The discriminative accuracy of model was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Borrelia miyamotoi Disease in an Immunocompetent Patient, Western Europe.

Borrelia miyamotoi disease is a hard tick-borne relapsing fever illness that occurs across the temperate climate zone. Human B. miyamotoi disease in immunocompetent patients has been described in Russia, North America, and Japan.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Clinical Isolates of Borrelia miyamotoi.

is an emerging relapsing fever (RF) species that is reported to cause human disease in regions in which Lyme borreliosis is endemic. We recently showed that tick isolates are resistant to amoxicillin ; however, clinical isolates have not been studied. Therefore, our aim was to show the antimicrobial susceptibility of recently obtained clinical isolates of A dilution series of various antibiotics was made in modified Kelly-Pettenkofer medium with 10% fetal calf serum.

Whole-Genome Sequencing of Six Clinical Strains Isolated in Russia.

Here, we report the whole-genome sequence of six clinical isolates from the Russian Federation. Using two independent next-generation sequencing platforms, we determined the complete sequence of the chromosome and several plasmids. All strains have an Asian genotype with 99.

Insufficient efficacy and safety of intravenous ribavirin in treatment of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome caused by Puumala virus.

Background: Intravenous ribavirin has been reported to be an effective treatment for haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Hantaan virus in Asia. However, its therapeutic benefits for HFRS caused by Puumala virus (PUUV) in Europe are still unknown.

Methods: A randomized, open-label study of efficacy and safety of intravenous ribavirin in the treatment of HFRS was conducted in the European part of Russia.

Evaluation of a serological test for the diagnosis of Borrelia miyamotoi disease in Europe.

Background: Borrelia miyamotoi causes systemic febrile illness and is transmitted by the same tick species that transmits Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and tick-borne encephalitis virus. We describe a serological test using a fragment of glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (GlpQ) as an antigen, and determined its performance in well-defined patient categories.

Methods: Serum of patients with PCR-confirmed Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD), Lyme borreliosis (LB), tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), and healthy blood donors (HBD) were collected in Udmurt Republic, Russia.

How to Tackle Natural Focal Infections: From Risk Assessment to Vaccination Strategies.

Natural focal diseases are caused by biological agents associated with specific landscapes. The natural focus of such diseases is defined as any natural ecosystem containing the pathogen's population as an essential component. In such context, the agent circulates independently on human presence, and humans may become accidentally infected through contact with vectors or reservoirs.

Variable Major Proteins as Targets for Specific Antibodies against Borrelia miyamotoi.

Borrelia miyamotoi is a relapsing fever spirochete in Ixodes ticks that has been recently identified as a human pathogen causing hard tick-borne relapsing fever (HTBRF) across the Northern Hemisphere. No validated serologic test exists, and current serologic assays have low sensitivity in early HTBRF. To examine the humoral immune response against B.

Borrelia miyamotoi sensu lato seroreactivity and seroprevalence in the northeastern United States.

Borrelia miyamotoi sensu lato, a relapsing fever Borrelia sp., is transmitted by the same ticks that transmit B. burgdorferi (the Lyme disease pathogen) and occurs in all Lyme disease-endemic areas of the United States.

The incidence of West Nile disease in Russia in relation to climatic and environmental factors.

Since 1999, human cases of West Nile fever/neuroinvasive disease (WND) have been reported annually in Russia. The highest incidence has been recorded in three provinces of southern European Russia (Volgograd, Astrakhan and Rostov Provinces), yet in 2010-2012 the distribution of human cases expanded northwards considerably. From year to year, the number of WND cases varied widely, with major WND outbreaks in 1999, 2007, 2010, and 2012.

The deduced evolution history of Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus.

Omsk hemorrhagic fever (OHF) is a severe disease that emerged in the 1940s in Siberia, Russia. It is caused by the OHF virus (OHFV), belonging to the Flavivirus genus. In wildlife, the principal vector of OHFV is the Dermacentor reticulatus tick.

The human-animal interface and zoonotic threats: the Russian Federation approach.

Zoonotic pathogens have caused the majority of emerging infectious disease events in the past 6 decades. With most emerging infectious diseases arising from animal origins, including many of the select agents identified as most likely candidates for bioterrorism, linking human and animal surveillance systems will be critical to effective disease identification and control in the future. Lack of this linkage has been the focus of a number of important policy papers in recent years.

Epidemiological history and phylogeography of West Nile virus lineage 2.

West Nile virus (WNV) was first isolated in Uganda. In Europe WNV was sporadically detected until 1996, since then the virus has been regularly isolated from birds and mosquitoes and caused several outbreaks in horses and humans. Phylogenetic analysis showed two main different WNV lineages.