Novel replication-competent reporter-expressing Rift Valley fever viruses for molecular studies.

Unlabelled: Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease that causes severe disease in both domestic and wild ungulates and humans, making it a significant threat to livestock and public health. The RVFV genome consists of three single-stranded, negative-sense RNA segments differing in size: small (S), medium (M), and large (L). Segment S encodes the virus nucleoprotein N and the virulence-associated factor non-structural (NSs) protein in opposite orientations, separated by an intergenic region (IGR).

The Rift Valley fever (RVF) vaccine candidate 40Fp8 shows an extreme attenuation in IFNARKO mice following intranasal inoculation.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an important zoonotic viral disease affecting several species of domestic and wild ruminants, causing major economic losses and dozens of human deaths in various geographical areas of Africa, where it is endemic. Although it is not present in Europe, there is a risk of its introduction and spread linked to globalisation and climate change. At present, the only measure that could help to prevent the disease is vaccination of flocks in areas at risk of RVF.

Safety and Efficacy upon Infection in Sheep with Rift Valley Fever Virus ZH548-rA2, a Triple Mutant Rescued Virus.

The introduction of three single nucleotide mutations into the genome of the virulent RVFV ZH548 strain allows for the rescue of a fully attenuated virus in mice (ZH548-rA2). These mutations are located in the viral genes encoding the RdRp and the non-structural protein NSs. This paper shows the results obtained after the subcutaneous inoculation of ZH548-rA2 in adult sheep and the subsequent challenge with the parental virus (ZH548-rC1).

Inhibition of Orbivirus Replication by Aurintricarboxylic Acid.

Bluetongue virus (BTV) and African horse sickness virus (AHSV) are vector-borne viruses belonging to the genus, which are transmitted between hosts primarily by biting midges of the genus . With recent BTV and AHSV outbreaks causing epidemics and important economy losses, there is a pressing need for efficacious drugs to treat and control the spread of these infections. The polyanionic aromatic compound aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) has been shown to have a broad-spectrum antiviral activity.

Status of novel cardiovascular risk factor and cardiovascular disease risk in an urban Cuban population--a pilot study.

Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death in Cuba, yet the prevalence of novel risk factors is not known. To examine the prevalence of risk factors of traditional and novel cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) among an urban Cuban population, a cross-sectional pilot survey was undertaken in Havana city, Cuba. Ninety-seven adults aged 45-60 years registered to receive medical care at a policlinic.

Sexual behaviour, history of sexually transmitted diseases, and the risk of prostate cancer: a case-control study in Cuba.

Background: The relationship between the risk of prostate cancer and sexual activity and history of sexually transmitted diseases was investigated in a case-control study conducted in Cuba aimed at assessing the effect of lifestyle and environmental factors, as well as hormonal and genetic factors, on the occurrence of this disease.

Methods: During the period 1998-2000, all men up to 84 yr old with newly diagnosed, cytologically and/or histologically confirmed prostatic cancer who were resident in Havana City were identified in nine major hospitals in the area. Controls were resident in the same city, frequency-matched by age (+/-5 years) and hospital.