Oligomerization of bacterially expressed H1N1 recombinant hemagglutinin contributes to protection against viral challenge.

Vaccination is the most effective intervention to prevent influenza and control the spread of the virus. Alternatives are needed to the traditional egg-based vaccine strategy for a more rapid response to new outbreaks. Two different hemagglutinin (HA) fragments (rHA1 and rHA1) derived from influenza A virus subtype H1N1 were expressed in Escherichia coli and characterized by immunoblot, gel filtration, hemagglutination, and competitive binding assays.

Combination Nanovaccine Demonstrates Synergistic Enhancement in Efficacy against Influenza.

H5N1 influenza virus has the potential to become a significant global health threat, and next generation vaccine technologies are needed. In this work, the combined efficacy of two nanoadjuvant platforms (polyanhydride nanoparticles and pentablock copolymer-based hydrogels) to induce protective immunity against H5N1 influenza virus was examined. Mice received two subcutaneous vaccinations (day 0 and 21) containing 10 μg of H5 hemagglutinin trimer alone or in combination with the nanovaccine platforms.

Comparison of FilmArray and Quantitative Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase PCR for Detection of Zaire Ebolavirus from Contrived and Clinical Specimens.

Rapid, reliable, and easy-to-use diagnostic assays for detection of Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) are urgently needed. The goal of this study was to examine the agreement among emergency use authorization (EUA) tests for the detection of ZEBOV nucleic acids, including the BioFire FilmArray BioThreat (BT) panel, the FilmArray BT-E panel, and the NP2 and VP40 quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase (qRT) PCR assays from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Specimens used in this study included whole blood spiked with inactivated ZEBOV at known titers and whole-blood, plasma, and urine clinical specimens collected from persons diagnosed with Ebola virus disease (EVD).

Hemagglutinin-based polyanhydride nanovaccines against H5N1 influenza elicit protective virus neutralizing titers and cell-mediated immunity.

H5N1 avian influenza is a significant global concern with the potential to become the next pandemic threat. Recombinant subunit vaccines are an attractive alternative for pandemic vaccines compared to traditional vaccine technologies. In particular, polyanhydride nanoparticles encapsulating subunit proteins have been shown to enhance humoral and cell-mediated immunity and provide protection upon lethal challenge.

Validation of the Cepheid Xpert Flu A real time RT-PCR detection panel for emergency use authorization.

Background: In April 2009, the United States Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency concerning the 2009 influenza H1N1 outbreak. This declaration allowed the FDA to issue Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of approved in vitro diagnostics to detect the 2009 influenza H1N1 in clinical specimens.

Objectives: This report outlines the validation testing of the Cepheid Xpert Flu A Panel for the qualitative detection of 2009 H1N1 viral RNA.

Use of rapid influenza diagnostic tests under field conditions as a screening tool during an outbreak of the 2009 novel influenza virus: practical considerations.

Background: Rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) are used in various settings as a first-line screen of patient specimens. During the initial outbreak of the 2009 novel influenza A/H1N1 virus, the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) adopted a testing algorithm, attempting to maximize the usefulness of RIDTs. However, it became apparent that a high percentage of the positive specimens received from off-site facilities were negative for influenza viruses by the confirmatory test, the Luminex xTAG Respiratory Viral Panel (RVP) molecular assay.

Antigenic and genetic characteristics of swine-origin 2009 A(H1N1) influenza viruses circulating in humans.

Since its identification in April 2009, an A(H1N1) virus containing a unique combination of gene segments from both North American and Eurasian swine lineages has continued to circulate in humans. The lack of similarity between the 2009 A(H1N1) virus and its nearest relatives indicates that its gene segments have been circulating undetected for an extended period. Its low genetic diversity suggests that the introduction into humans was a single event or multiple events of similar viruses.

Evaluation of a new West Nile Virus lateral-flow rapid IgM assay.

This study evaluated the performance of a new Food and Drug Administration-approved lateral-flow diagnostic screening test for qualitative detection of West Nile Virus (WNV) immunoglobulin M (IgM) in serum or plasma. Five public health laboratories across the United States performed retrospective testing on blinded serum samples from patients with physician reported diagnoses of WNV infection. The results of the RapidWN WNV IgM assay were compared with two commercially available WNV IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (EIA) and two public health-developed WNV-IgM tests.

Designing a biocontainment unit to care for patients with serious communicable diseases: a consensus statement.

In spite of great advances in medicine, serious communicable diseases are a significant threat. Hospitals must be prepared to deal with patients who are infected with pathogens introduced by a bioterrorist act (e.g.

Performance of a commercial immunoglobulin M antibody capture assay using analyte-specific reagents to screen for interfering factors during a West Nile virus epidemic season in Nebraska.

In 2003, the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory tested more than 10,371 serum and 516 cerebral spinal fluid specimens. Results showed that without performing the interfering factors screen for specimens in the low positive index value range of >1.1 to View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Geographic factors contributing to a high seroprevalence of West Nile virus-specific antibodies in humans following an epidemic.

Sera of 624 blood donors were evaluated to determine seroprevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) antibodies following the 2003 WNV epidemic in Nebraska. Geographic factors contributing to differences in WNV seropositivity were evaluated. The overall prevalence of WNV in Nebraska was higher than reported previously in other U.