Multiple Gene Deletion Mutants of Equine Herpesvirus 1 Exhibit Strong Protective Efficacy Against Wild Virus Challenge in a Murine Model.

Background: Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV1) is a ubiquitous viral pathogen infecting the equine population worldwide. EHV1 infection causes respiratory illness, abortion, neonatal foal mortality, and myeloencephalopathy. The currently available modified live EHV1 vaccines have safety and efficacy limitations.

Pathological, immunological and molecular epidemiological analysis of lumpy skin disease virus in Indian cattle during a high-mortality epidemic.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an economically significant, emerging viral disease of Cattle and Buffaloes. This study aimed to investigate the causes of high mortality in a recent LSD epidemic in India. We examined 1618 animals across seventy outbreaks and conducted post-mortem on 48 cattle out of 513 clinically suspected LSD cases.

Evaluation of the immune responses in buffaloes vaccinated with a live-attenuated lumpy skin disease vaccine (Lumpi-ProVac).

Since 2019, Lumpy skin disease (LSD) has suddenly spread in many Asian countries, including India. LSD primarily occurs in cattle. However, recent LSD outbreaks in India have also revealed significant morbidity and production losses in buffaloes.

Hesperetin blocks poxvirus replication with a low tendency to select for drug-resistant viral variants.

In this study, we demonstrated the antiviral efficacy of hesperetin against multiple poxviruses, including buffalopox virus (BPXV), vaccinia virus (VACV), and lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV). The time-of-addition and virus step-specific assays indicated that hesperetin reduces the levels of viral DNA, mRNA, and proteins in the target cells. Further, by immunoprecipitation (IP) of the viral RNA from BPXV-infected Vero cells and a cell-free RNA-IP assay, we demonstrated that hesperetin-induced reduction in BPXV protein synthesis is also consistent with diminished interaction between eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E and the 5' cap of viral mRNA.

Evaluation of immunogenicity and protective efficacy of bacteriophage conjugated haemagglutinin based subunit vaccine against equine influenza virus in a murine model.

Equine influenza (EI) is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of equines caused by the H3N8 subtype of Influenza A virus i.e. equine influenza virus (EIV).

miRNA profiling of primary lamb testicle cells infected with lumpy skin disease virus.

In this study, miRNA profiling of cells infected with lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) was conducted for the first time. When compared to mock-infected cells, LSDV-infected primary lamb testicle (LT) cells showed dysregulation of 64, 85, and 85 miRNAs at 12 hours postinfection (hpi), 48 hpi, and 72 hpi, respectively. While some of these miRNAs were found to be dysregulated at a particular time point following LSDV infection, others were dysregulated at all three time points.

A novel HRM-based gap-qRT-PCR for identification and quantitation of the vaccine and field strain(s) of lumpy skin disease virus.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) has become the most important animal health problem in India due to high morbidity, mortality and production losses caused by it. A homologous live-attenuated LSD vaccine (Lumpi-ProVac) was recently developed by using a local LSD virus (LSDV) strain (LSDV/2019/India/Ranchi) in India which is likely to replace the existing practice of vaccinating cattle with goatpox vaccine. It is essential to differentiate the vaccine and field strains, if a live-attenuated vaccine has been used for control and eradication of the disease.

Evidence of lumpy skin disease virus infection in camels.

Countries in the Indian subcontinent are currently facing a deadly epidemic of lumpy skin disease (LSD).  LSD is primarily a disease of cattle. Buffaloes may sometimes develop mild illness, however, other domestic animals are considered resistant to LSD.

Role of ROCK signaling in virus replication.

Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) is a serine-threonine kinase and is a major downstream effector of the small GTPaseRhoA. Upon activation, Rho/ROCK cell signaling pathway regulates cell morphology, polarity, and cytoskeletal remodeling. Recent years have highlighted the role of ROCK signaling pathway in the replication of diverse group of viruses.

Attenuation of equine herpesvirus 1 through deletion of gE gene and its pathological evaluation in murine model.

Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV1) infection is a global health problem in equines and the virus is responsible for abortions, respiratory disease and myeloencephalitis in horses. Disease management requires proper biosecurity and immunoprophylactic measures. Vaccines strengthening both arms of immunity are essential for proper control and there has been a continuous focus in this area for generation of better vaccines.

Evaluation of the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of a new live-attenuated lumpy skin disease vaccine in India.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) was reported for the first time in India in 2019 and since then, it has become endemic. Since a homologous (LSD-virus based) vaccine was not available in the country, goatpox virus (GPV)-based heterologous vaccine was authorized for mass immunization to induce protection against LSD in cattle. This study describes the evaluation of safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of a new live-attenuated LSD vaccine developed by using an Indian field strain, isolated in 2019 from cattle.

Comparative Genome Analysis of 19 Strains Originating from Different Animal Species Reveal a Genetically Diverse Open Pan-Genome.

is a Gram-positive opportunistic pathogen that causes severe cases of mastitis, metritis, and pneumonia in a wide range of animals, resulting in significant economic losses. Although little is known about the virulence factors involved in the disease pathogenesis, a comprehensive comparative genome analysis of genomes has not been performed till date. Hence, present investigation was carried out to characterize and compare 19 genomes originating in different geographical origins including the draftgenome of the first Indian origin strain Bu5.

ROCK1/MLC2 inhibition induces decay of viral mRNA in BPXV infected cells.

Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) intracellular cell signaling pathway regulates cell morphology, polarity, and cytoskeletal remodeling. We observed the activation of ROCK1/myosin light chain (MLC2) signaling pathway in buffalopox virus (BPXV) infected Vero cells. ROCK1 depletion by siRNA and specific small molecule chemical inhibitors (Thiazovivin and Y27632) resulted in a reduced BPXV replication, as evidenced by reductions in viral mRNA/protein synthesis, genome copy numbers and progeny virus particles.

Resistance Evolution against Host-directed Antiviral Agents: Buffalopox Virus Switches to Use p38-ϒ under Long-term Selective Pressure of an Inhibitor Targeting p38-α.

Host-dependency factors have increasingly been targeted to minimize antiviral drug resistance. In this study, we have demonstrated that inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (a cellular protein) suppresses buffalopox virus (BPXV) protein synthesis by targeting p38-MNK1-eIF4E signaling pathway. In order to provide insights into the evolution of drug resistance, we selected resistant mutants by long-term sequential passages (P; n = 60) in the presence of p38 inhibitor (SB239063).

S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase inhibitor DZNep blocks transcription and translation of SARS-CoV-2 genome with a low tendency to select for drug-resistant viral variants.

We report the in vitro antiviral activity of DZNep (3-Deazaneplanocin A; an inhibitor of S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase) against SARS-CoV-2, besides demonstrating its protective efficacy against lethal infection of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV, a member of the Coronaviridae family). DZNep treatment resulted in reduced synthesis of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and proteins without affecting other steps of viral life cycle. We demonstrated that deposition of N6-methyl adenosine (m6A) in SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the infected cells recruits heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNPA1), an RNA binding protein which serves as a m6A reader.

16S rDNA and ITS Sequence Diversity of Burkholderia mallei Isolated from Glanders-Affected Horses and Mules in India (2013-2019).

Glanders is a highly contagious and fatal infection of equids caused by the bacteria known as Burkholderia mallei. It is one of the notifiable equine diseases and is still present in Asia, South America and Africa. In India, glanders re-emerged in 2006, and thereafter, increasing numbers of cases were reported in different regions of the country.

Studies on Growth Characteristics and Cross-Neutralization of Wild-Type and Delta SARS-CoV-2 From Hisar (India).

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly evolved to generate several antigenic variants. These variants have raised concerns whether pre-existing immunity to vaccination or prior infection would be able to protect against the newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants or not. We isolated SARS-CoV-2 from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-confirmed patients in the beginning of the first (April/May 2020) and second (April/May 2021) waves of COVID-19 in India (Hisar, Haryana).

Characterization of immunoglobulin and cytokine responses in Burkholderia mallei infected equids.

Burkholderia mallei causes a highly fatal infectious disease in equines known as glanders. It is one of the OIE listed notifiable diseases, which entails strict control policy measures once B. mallei infection is confirmed in the susceptible hosts.

Comparative genome analysis of Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum biovars Pullorum and Gallinarum decodes strain specific genes.

Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum biovar Pullorum (bvP) and biovar Gallinarum (bvG) are the etiological agents of pullorum disease (PD) and fowl typhoid (FT) respectively, which cause huge economic losses to poultry industry especially in developing countries including India. Vaccination and biosecurity measures are currently being employed to control and reduce the S. Gallinarum infections.

Molecular Typing of Burkholderia mallei Isolates from Equids with Glanders, India.

We collected 10 Burkholderia mallei isolates from equids in 9 districts in India during glanders outbreaks in 2013-2016. Multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis showed 7 outbreak area-related genotypes. The study highlights the utility of this analysis for epidemiologically tracing of specific B.

Emetine suppresses SARS-CoV-2 replication by inhibiting interaction of viral mRNA with eIF4E.

Emetine is a FDA-approved drug for the treatment of amebiasis. Previously we demonstrated the antiviral efficacy of emetine against some RNA and DNA viruses. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro antiviral efficacy of emetine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and found it to be a low nanomolar (nM) inhibitor.

Phage Display Technique as a Tool for Diagnosis and Antibody Selection for Coronaviruses.

Phage display is one of the important and effective molecular biology techniques and has remained indispensable for research community since its discovery in the year 1985. As a large number of nucleotide fragments may be cloned into the phage genome, a phage library may harbour millions or sometimes billions of unique and distinctive displayed peptide ligands. The ligand-receptor interactions forming the basis of phage display have been well utilized in epitope mapping and antigen presentation on the surface of bacteriophages for screening novel vaccine candidates by using affinity selection-based strategy called biopanning.