A complex remodeling of cellular homeostasis distinguishes RSV/SARS-CoV-2 co-infected A549-hACE2 expressing cell lines.

Concurrent infections with two or more pathogens with analogous tropism, such as RSV and SARS-CoV-2, may antagonize or facilitate each other, modulating disease outcome. Clinically, discrepancies in the severity of symptoms have been reported in children with RSV/SARS-CoV-2 co-infection. Herein, we propose an co-infection model to assess how RSV/SARS-CoV-2 co-infection alters cellular homeostasis.

Alpha-synuclein shapes monocyte and macrophage cell biology and functions by bridging alterations of autophagy and inflammatory pathways.

Abnormal spreading of alpha-synuclein (αS), a hallmark of Parkinson's disease, is known to promote peripheral inflammation, which occurs in part via functional alterations in monocytes/macrophages. However, underlying intracellular mechanisms remain unclear. Herein we investigate the subcellular, molecular, and functional effects of excess αS in human THP-1 monocytic cell line, THP-1-derived macrophages, and at least preliminarily, in primary monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs).

Dynamics of viral DNA shedding and culture viral DNA positivity in different clinical samples collected during the 2022 mpox outbreak in Lombardy, Italy.

Background: Mpox virus (MPXV) has recently spread outside of sub-Saharan Africa. This large multicentre study was conducted in Lombardy, the most densely populated Italian region accounting for more than 40% of Italian cases. The present study aims to: i) evaluate the presence and the shedding duration of MPXV DNA in different body compartments correlating the MPXV viability with the time to onset of symptoms; ii) provide evidence of MPXV persistence in different body compartment as a source of infection and iii) characterize the MPXV evolution by whole genome sequencing (WGS) during the outbreak occurred in Italy.

Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in HIV-vertically infected young patients after three doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

Background: Data on the efficacy of three SARS-CoV-2 mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine doses and the role of previous SARS-CoV-2-infection in enhancing vaccine immunogenicity in HIV-vertically-infected people living with HIV (PLWH) are limited, as is the duration of vaccine-induced responses.

Methods: SARS-CoV-2 plasma neutralizing activity (NA) against the European (B.1), Delta (B.

Alpha-synuclein dynamics bridge Type-I Interferon response and SARS-CoV-2 replication in peripheral cells.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests a double-faceted role of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) following infection by a variety of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Although α-syn accumulation is known to contribute to cell toxicity and the development and/or exacerbation of neuropathological manifestations, it is also a key to sustaining anti-viral innate immunity. Consistently with α-syn aggregation as a hallmark of Parkinson's disease, most studies investigating the biological function of α-syn focused on neural cells, while reports on the role of α-syn in periphery are limited, especially in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Updated Considerations for the Immunopharmacological Aspects of the "Talented mRNA Vaccines".

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines belong to a new class of medications, RNA therapeutics, including both coding and non-coding RNAs. The use of mRNA as a therapy is based on the biological role of mRNA itself, namely its translation into a functional protein. The goal of mRNA vaccines is to produce a specific antigen in cells to elicit an immune response that might be prophylactic or therapeutic.

The Immunological Profile of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children Is Linked to Clinical Severity and Age.

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is clinically less severe in children, even if the wide variety and degree of severity of symptoms reported in children pose a still-unresolved challenge for clinicians. We performed an in-depth analysis of the immunological profiles of 18 hospitalized SARS-CoV-2-infected children, whose results were compared to those obtained from 13 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). The patients were categorized as paucisymptomatic/moderate (55.

SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission during the first trimester of pregnancy in asymptomatic women.

Objectives: It is now well established that in utero vertical SARS-CoV-2 transmission can occur during the late third trimester. However, little is known about other gestational ages. Recently, an increased risk of early miscarriage was reported in pregnant women who were SARS-CoV-2-positive.

Pregnant Women Develop a Specific Immunological Long-Lived Memory Against SARS-COV-2.

It is well established that pregnancy induces deep changes in the immune system. This is part of the physiological adaptation of the female organism to the pregnancy and the immunological tolerance toward the fetus. Indeed, over the three trimesters, the suppressive T regulatory lymphocytes are progressively more represented, while the expression of co-stimulatory molecules decreases overtime.

Cyclosporine A Inhibits Viral Infection and Release as Well as Cytokine Production in Lung Cells by Three SARS-CoV-2 Variants.

In December 2019, a new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) started spreading worldwide causing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The hyperactivation of the immune system has been proposed to account for disease severity and death in COVID-19 patients. Despite several approaches having been tested, no therapeutic protocol has been approved.

Immunological Characterization of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 Coinfected Young Individuals.

While the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or COVID-19 disease progression in the general population has been largely assessed, its impact on HIV-positive individuals remains unclear. We present clinical and immunological data collected in a cohort of HIV-infected young individuals during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 RNA, virus-specific antibodies, as well as the expression of factors involved in the anti-viral immune response were analyzed.

MiRNA Profiling in Plasma and Placenta of SARS-CoV-2-Infected Pregnant Women.

MicroRNAs are gene expression regulators associated with several human pathologies, including those generated by viral infections. Their role in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 has been investigated and reviewed in many informative studies; however, a thorough miRNA outline in SARS-CoV-2-infected pregnant women (SIPW), at both systemic and placental levels, is missing. To fill this gap, blood and placenta biopsies collected at delivery from 15 asymptomatic SIPW were immediately analysed for: miRNA expression ( = 84) (QPCR array), antiviral/immune mRNA target expression ( = 74) (QGene) and cytokine/chemokines production ( = 27) (Multiplex ELISA).

The Modulation of Cholesterol Metabolism Is Involved in the Antiviral Effect of Nitazoxanide.

We previously investigated the role of Nitazoxanide (NTZ), a thiazolide endowed with antiviral and antiparasitic activity, in HIV-1 infection. NTZ treatment in primary isolated PBMCs was able to reduce HIV-1 infection in vitro by inducing the expression of a number of type-I interferon-stimulated genes. Among them, NTZ was able to induce cholesterol-25-hydroxylase (CH25H), which is involved in cholesterol metabolism.

SARS-CoV-2 Entry: At the Crossroads of CD147 and ACE2.

In late 2019, the betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was identified as the viral agent responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Coronaviruses Spike proteins are responsible for their ability to interact with host membrane receptors and different proteins have been identified as SARS-CoV-2 interactors, among which Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and Basigin2/EMMPRIN/CD147 (CD147). CD147 plays an important role in human immunodeficiency virus type 1, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infections.

CovidArray: A Microarray-Based Assay with High Sensitivity for the Detection of Sars-Cov-2 in Nasopharyngeal Swabs.

A new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) caused the current coronavirus disease (Covid-19) epidemic. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is used as the gold standard for clinical detection of SARS-CoV-2. Under ideal conditions, RT-qPCR Covid-19 assays have analytical sensitivity and specificity greater than 95%.

Early-Transmitted Variants and Their Evolution in a HIV-1 Positive Couple: NGS and Phylogenetic Analyses.

We had access to both components of a couple who became infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 through sexual behavior during the early initial phase of infection and before initiation of therapy. We analyzed blood samples obtained at the time of diagnosis and after six months of combined antiretroviral therapy. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and phylogenetic analyses were used to investigate the transmission and evolution of HIV-1 quasispecies.

UV-C irradiation is highly effective in inactivating SARS-CoV-2 replication.

The potential virucidal effects of UV-C irradiation on SARS-CoV-2 were experimentally evaluated for different illumination doses and virus concentrations (1000, 5, 0.05 MOI). At a virus density comparable to that observed in SARS-CoV-2 infection, an UV-C dose of just 3.

ERAPs Reduce In Vitro HIV Infection by Activating Innate Immune Response.

Recombinant human (rh) ERAP2-treated PBMCs are less susceptible to in vitro HIV-1 infection even when CD8 T cells are depleted. We therefore investigated whether ERAP2 can trigger other immunocompetent cells, boosting their antiviral potential. To this end, human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) differentiated from PBMCs of 15 healthy donors were in vitro HIV-1 infected in the presence/absence of 100 ng/ml of rhERAP2, rhERAP1, or rhERAP1+rhERAP2.

Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission during pregnancy.

The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection during gestation remains unclear. Here, we analyse the viral genome on maternal and newborns nasopharyngeal swabs, vaginal swabs, maternal and umbilical cord plasma, placenta and umbilical cord biopsies, amniotic fluids and milk from 31 mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, we also test specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and expression of genes involved in inflammatory responses in placentas, and in maternal and umbilical cord plasma.

Sterol metabolism modulates susceptibility to HIV-1 Infection.

Background: 25-hydroxylase (CH25H) is an interferon-stimulated gene (ISG), which catalyzes the synthesis of 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC). 25HC intervenes in metabolic and infectious processes and controls cholesterol homeostasis and influences viral entry into host cells. We verified whether natural resistance to HIV-1 infection in HIV-1-exposed seronegative (HESN) individuals is at least partially mediated by particularities in sterol biosynthesis.