Method for the detection and quantification of viral contamination during the preparation of gene therapy drugs in a hospital pharmacy.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to develop a method for sampling and detecting an adenovirus-derived gene therapy (GT) vector on isolator worksurfaces.

Methods: We used a quantitative PCR (q-PCR) to detect the viral genome in standard dilutions of pure GT product and extracts of sampled surfaces. We compared three devices for surface sampling (a cotton compress, a cotton swab and a polyester flocked swab) and performed positive control, negative control and induced contamination tests for each.

Virucidal activity of porphyrin-based metal-organic frameworks against highly pathogenic coronaviruses and hepatitis C virus.

The antiviral effect of four porphyrin-based Metal-Organic Frameworks (PMOFs) with Al and Zr, namely Al-TCPP, PCN-222, PCN-223 and PCN-224 was assessed for the first time against HCoV-229E, two highly pathogenic coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Infection tests were done under dark or light exposure for different contact times, and it was found that 15 min of light exposure were enough to give antiviral properties to the materials, therefore inactivating HCoV-229E by 99.98 % and 99.

Hyperforin, the major metabolite of St. John's wort, exhibits pan-coronavirus antiviral activity.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has underscored the urgent necessity for the development of antiviral compounds that can effectively target coronaviruses. In this study, we present the first evidence of the antiviral efficacy of hyperforin, a major metabolite of St. John's wort, for which safety and bioavailability in humans have already been established.

Effect of High Hydrostatic Pressure Processing and Holder Pasteurization of Human Milk on Inactivation of Human Coronavirus 229E and Hepatitis E Virus.

In preterm infants, sterilized donor milk (DM) is frequently used for feeding when breast milk is lacking. Most human milk banks use the Holder pasteurization method (HoP) to ensure the microbiological safety of DM. However, this method degrades many bioactive factors and hormones.

The endocytic recycling compartment serves as a viral factory for hepatitis E virus.

Although hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the major leading cause of enterically transmitted viral hepatitis worldwide, many gaps remain in the understanding of the HEV lifecycle. Notably, viral factories induced by HEV have not been documented yet, and it is currently unknown whether HEV infection leads to cellular membrane modeling as many positive-strand RNA viruses. HEV genome encodes the ORF1 replicase, the ORF2 capsid protein and the ORF3 protein involved in virion egress.

Immunogenicity of BNT162b2 vaccine booster against SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants in nursing home residents: A prospective observational study in older adults aged from 68 to 98 years.

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate the persistent immunogenicity offered by a third dose of BNT162b2 against Delta and Omicron variants, in nursing home (NH) residents.

Methods: In this monocenter prospective observational study, anti-spike IgG levels, S1 domain reactive T cell counts, serum neutralizing antibody titers against Delta and Omicron variants were compared before and up to three months after the BNT162b2 booster dose, in NH residents without COVID-19 (COVID-19 naive) or with COVID-19 prior to initial vaccination (COVID-19 recovered).

Findings: 106 NH residents (median [interquartile range] age: 86·5 [81;91] years) were included.

Impaired Functional T-Cell Response to SARS-CoV-2 After Two Doses of BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine in Older People.

Long-term care facility (LTCF) older residents display physiological alterations of cellular and humoral immunity that affect vaccine responses. Preliminary reports suggested a low early postvaccination antibody response against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The aim of this study was to focus on the specific T-cell response.

National early warning score to predict intensive care unit transfer and mortality in COVID-19 in a French cohort.

Background: No risk stratification tool has been validated in hospitalised patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), despite a high rate of intensive care requirement and in-hospital mortality. We aimed to determine whether the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) at admission can accurately predict in-hospital mortality and ICU transfer.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study from January 24 to April 16, 2020, at Lille University Hospital.

Use of whole-genome sequencing in the molecular investigation of care-associated HCoV-OC43 infections in a hematopoietic stem cell transplant unit.

Background: While respiratory viral infections are recognized as a frequent cause of illness in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients, HCoV-OC43 infections have rarely been investigated as healthcare-associated infections in this population.

Objectives: In this report, HCoV-OC43 isolates collected from HSCT patients were retrospectively characterized to identify potential clusters of infection that may stand for a hospital transmission.

Study Design: Whole-genome and S gene sequences were obtained from nasal swabs using next-generation sequencing and phylogenetic trees were constructed.

The C-terminal domain of the MERS coronavirus M protein contains a -Golgi network localization signal.

Coronavirus M proteins represent the major protein component of the viral envelope. They play an essential role during viral assembly by interacting with all of the other structural proteins. Coronaviruses bud into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC), but the mechanisms by which M proteins are transported from their site of synthesis, the ER, to the budding site remain poorly understood.

Development and Evaluation of a Hybrid Course in Clinical Virology at a Faculty of Pharmacy in Lille, France.

Background: During their studies, pharmacy students must acquire the specific skills in clinical virology required for their subsequent professional practice. Recent experiments on teaching and learning in higher education have shown that hybrid courses strengthen the students' commitment to learning and enable high-quality knowledge acquisition.

Objective: This study concerned the design and deployment of a hybrid course that combines face-to-face and Web-based instruction in clinical virology for fourth-year pharmacy students.

A complete protocol for whole-genome sequencing of virus from clinical samples: Application to coronavirus OC43.

Genome sequencing of virus has become a useful tool for better understanding of virus pathogenicity and epidemiological surveillance. Obtaining virus genome sequence directly from clinical samples is still a challenging task due to the low load of virus genetic material compared to the host DNA, and to the difficulty to get an accurate genome assembly. Here we introduce a complete sequencing and analyzing protocol called V-ASAP for Virus Amplicon Sequencing Assembly Pipeline.

HCoV-229E spike protein fusion activation by trypsin-like serine proteases is mediated by proteolytic processing in the S2' region.

Human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) is responsible for common colds. Like other coronaviruses, HCoV-229E exploits cellular proteases to activate fusion mediated by the spike protein. We analysed the proteolytic processing of the HCoV-229E spike protein by trypsin-like serine proteases leading to activation of the fusion process.

High association of Cryptosporidium spp. infection with colon adenocarcinoma in Lebanese patients.

Background: The association between Cryptosporidium and human colon cancer has been reported in different populations. However, this association has not been well studied. In order to add new strong arguments for a probable link between cryptosporidiosis and colon human cancer, the aim of this study was to determine prevalence and to identify species of Cryptosporidium among Lebanese patients.

Comparison of three molecular assays for detection of enteric viruses in stool samples.

Three molecular assays (FTD Viral GE from Fast-track diagnostics, RIDAGENE VSP1 from R-Biopharm, and Xpert Norovirus from Cepheid) were compared for virus detection in acute diarrhea samples. RIDAGENE and FTD Viral GE showed perfect/almost perfect agreement for Rotavirus, Sapovirus and Norovirus, substantial agreement for Adenovirus, and moderate agreement for Astrovirus.

Hepatitis E Virus Lifecycle and Identification of 3 Forms of the ORF2 Capsid Protein.

Background & Aims: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a major cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. Approximately 2 billion people live in areas endemic for HEV and are at risk of infection. The HEV genome encodes 3 proteins, including the ORF2 capsid protein.

Alphacoronaviruses Detected in French Bats Are Phylogeographically Linked to Coronaviruses of European Bats.

Bats are a reservoir for a diverse range of viruses, including coronaviruses (CoVs). To determine the presence of CoVs in French bats, fecal samples were collected between July and August of 2014 from four bat species in seven different locations around the city of Bourges in France. We present for the first time the presence of alpha-CoVs in French Pipistrellus pipistrellus bat species with an estimated prevalence of 4.

A charter for biomedical research ethics in a progressive, caring society.

Background: Given that advances in research continuously raise new ethical issues, a multidisciplinary working group of investigators involved in biomedical research has gathered to discuss and compare ethical viewpoints in their daily practice.

Methods: The working group has drafted a Charter for Ethics in Biomedical Research that encompasses all the steps in the research process, i.e.

Virus and cystic fibrosis: rhinoviruses are associated with exacerbations in adult patients.

Background: Few studies have suggested the potential role of respiratory viruses in cystic fibrosis (CF) exacerbation, but their real impact is probably underestimated.

Method: Sixty-four sputum samples collected from 46 adult patients were included in the study: 33 samples were collected during exacerbation of CF, and 31 during the stable phase. After extraction, nucleic acids were tested for the presence of respiratory viruses.

Distinct immune response in two MERS-CoV-infected patients: can we go from bench to bedside?

One year after the occurrence of the first case of infection by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) there is no clear consensus on the best treatment to propose. The World Health Organization, as well as several other national agencies, are still working on different clinical approaches to implement the most relevant treatment in MERS-CoV infection. We compared innate and adaptive immune responses of two patients infected with MERS-CoV to understand the underlying mechanisms involved in the response and propose potential therapeutic approaches.

Successful management of Panton-Valentine leukocidine-positive necrotising pneumonia and A/H1N12009 influenzavirus coinfection in adult.

This paper presents a case of community-acquired necrotising pneumonia due to Panton-Valentine leukocidine-positive methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and A/H1N12009 influenzavirus co-infection in a 26-year-old woman. Despite the presence of pejorative prognostic factors, the clinical course of the patient was favourable.

Clinical features and viral diagnosis of two cases of infection with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus: a report of nosocomial transmission.

Background: Human infection with a novel coronavirus named Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first identified in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East in September, 2012, with 44 laboratory-confirmed cases as of May 23, 2013. We report detailed clinical and virological data for two related cases of MERS-CoV disease, after nosocomial transmission of the virus from one patient to another in a French hospital.

Methods: Patient 1 visited Dubai in April, 2013; patient 2 lives in France and did not travel abroad.

Specificity of the coxsackievirus B4 VP4 capsid protein investigated in silico.

The Enterovirus genus encompasses several species and various serotypes, like coxsackievirus-B1 (CV-B1) to CV-B6, and many variants. The role of these viruses, especially CV-B4, in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes is strongly suspected. It has been reported that antibodies directed towards the region of amino acids 11-30 of the VP4 capsid protein enhance the infection of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with CV-B4.

Enteroviruses and type 1 diabetes: towards a better understanding of the relationship.

Environmental factors, especially viruses, are involved in the initiation or the acceleration of type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis. Epidemiological data strongly suggest that enteroviruses, such as coxsackievirus B4 (CV-B4), can be associated with T1D. It has been demonstrated that enterovirus infections were significantly more prevalent in at risk individuals, such as siblings of diabetic patients, when they developed anti-beta-cell autoantibodies or T1D, and in recently diagnosed diabetic patients, compared with control subjects.