Phylogeny-aware linear B-cell epitope predictor detects targets associated with immune response to orthopoxviruses.

We introduce a phylogeny-aware framework for predicting linear B-cell epitope (LBCE)-containing regions within proteins. Our approach leverages evolutionary information by using a taxonomic scaffold to build models trained on hierarchically structured data. The resulting models present performance equivalent or superior to generalist methods, despite using simpler features and a fraction of the data volume required by current state-of-the-art predictors.

Low prevalence of anti-Orthopoxvirus neutralizing antibodies in an urban population of Brazil.

Since 1999, Vaccinia virus (VACV) has been described as a causative agent of bovine vaccinia (BV), a zoonotic disease that occurs mainly in rural areas of Brazil. However, the circulation of VACV in urban environments and its associated burden has been poorly explored. Moreover, the current monkeypox (mpox) outbreak has raised questions regarding the immune status of the worldwide population previous vaccinated against smallpox.

SARS-CoV-2 Spillback to Wild Coatis in Sylvatic-Urban Hotspot, Brazil.

We tested coatis (Nasua nasua) living in an urban park near a densely populated area of Brazil and found natural SARS-CoV-2 Zeta variant infections by using quantitative reverse transcription PCR, genomic sequencing, and serologic surveillance. We recommend a One Health strategy to improve surveillance of and response to COVID-19.

Ultrastructural analysis of monkeypox virus replication in Vero cells.

In early May 2022, the first worldwide monkeypox virus (MPXV) outbreak was reported, with different clinical aspects from previously studied human monkeypox infections. Despite monkeypox medical importance, much of its biological aspects remain to be further investigated. In the present work, we evaluated ultrastructural aspects of MPXV asynchronous infections in Vero cells by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Serological Evidence of Infection in Neotropical Primates in Brazil.

The genus (OPXV) of the family comprises several viruses that are capable of infecting a wide range of hosts. One of the most widespread OPXVs is the Vaccinia virus (VACV), which circulates in zoonotic cycles in South America, especially in Brazil, infecting domestic and wild animals and humans and causing economic losses as well as impacting public health. Despite this, little is known about the presence and/or exposure of neotropical primates to orthopoxviruses in the country.

Parasitism in Rattus rattus and sympatric Achatina fulica by Angiostrongylus cantonensis in an urban park in southeast Brazil.

In this study, rodents (Rattus rattus) and mollusks (Achatina fulica) were captured in a small forest located in a large metropolitan city in Brazil, and they were examined to investigate possible parasitism by Angiostrongylus cantonensis. The parasites were recovered as helminths from the pulmonary arteries of the synanthropic rodents and as third-stage larvae (with Metastrongylidae family characteristics) from the mollusks. To confirm the species, these larvae were used to experimentally infect Rattus norvegicus for the posterior recovery of adult helminths.

Validation of molecular diagnostics for the detection of pseudocowpox virus.

The pseudocowpox virus (PCPV) is recognized for causing exanthematic lesions in cattle and humans. The diagnosis is important because it is a zoonosis and its clinical signs can be confused with foot-and-mouth disease, a high-impact bovine disease in livestock. The objective of this work is to validate a SYBR Green qPCR and a conventional PCR for virus detection in bovine samples.

Absence of yellow fever virus circulation in wildlife rodents from Brazil.

Yellow fever (YF), caused by the yellow fever virus (YFV), is an emerging viral zoonosis that affects humans and non-human primates (NHP). In South America, YF is naturally maintained through enzootic/sylvatic cycles involving NHPs and mosquitoes (Haemagogus and Sabethes). In this study, we retrospectively analyzed wildlife rodents to better understand their role in a potential alternative YF sylvatic cycle.

Clostridioides difficile and multi-drug-resistant staphylococci in free-living rodents and marsupials in parks of Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

The global emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a serious threat to human and animal health. Recent studies have shown that synanthropic animals can act as reservoirs and disseminators of pathogens and resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency, distribution, and antimicrobial susceptibility of staphylococcal species and Clostridioides difficile isolated from the feces of free-living rodents and marsupials from two urban parks in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Educational Approach to Prevent the Burden of Vaccinia Virus Infections in a Bovine Vaccinia Endemic Area in Brazil.

Bovine vaccinia (BV), caused by Vaccinia virus (VACV), is a zoonotic disease characterized by exanthematous lesions on the teats of dairy cows and the hands of milkers, and is an important public health issue in Brazil and South America. BV also results in economic losses to the dairy industry, being a burden to the regions involved in milk production. In the past 20 years, much effort has been made to increase the knowledge regarding BV epidemiology, etiologic agents, and interactions with the hosts and the environment.

Twenty Years after Bovine Vaccinia in Brazil: Where We Are and Where Are We Going?

Orthopoxvirus (OPV) infections have been present in human life for hundreds of years. It is known that Variola virus (VARV) killed over 300 million people in the past; however, it had an end thanks to the physician Edward Jenner (who developed the first vaccine in history) and also thanks to a massive vaccination program in the 20th century all over the world. Although the first vaccine was created using the Cowpox virus (CPXV), it turned out later that the Vaccinia virus was the one used during the vaccination program.

Here, There, and Everywhere: The Wide Host Range and Geographic Distribution of Zoonotic Orthopoxviruses.

The global emergence of zoonotic viruses, including poxviruses, poses one of the greatest threats to human and animal health. Forty years after the eradication of smallpox, emerging zoonotic orthopoxviruses, such as monkeypox, cowpox, and vaccinia viruses continue to infect humans as well as wild and domestic animals. Currently, the geographical distribution of poxviruses in a broad range of hosts worldwide raises concerns regarding the possibility of outbreaks or viral dissemination to new geographical regions.

qPCR assay for the detection of pseudocowpox virus.

Pseudocowpox is a zoonosis caused by pseudocowpox virus (PCPV), which mainly affects cows but can be an occupational disease of humans. The aim of the study was to validate a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for the detection of PCPV. The assay was able to detect up to 1000 copies of PCPV per µL in field samples, with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 100%.

Re-Emergence of Yellow Fever in Brazil during 2016-2019: Challenges, Lessons Learned, and Perspectives.

Yellow fever (YF) is a re-emerging viral zoonosis caused by the (YFV), affecting humans and non-human primates (NHP). YF is endemic in South America and Africa, being considered a burden for public health worldwide despite the availability of an effective vaccine. Acute infectious disease can progress to severe hemorrhagic conditions and has high rates of morbidity and mortality in endemic countries.

Neighbor danger: Yellow fever virus epizootics in urban and urban-rural transition areas of Minas Gerais state, during 2017-2018 yellow fever outbreaks in Brazil.

Background: From the end of 2016 until the beginning of 2019, Brazil faced a massive sylvatic yellow fever (YF) outbreak. The 2016-2019 YF epidemics affected densely populated areas, especially the Southeast region, causing thousands of deaths of humans and non-human primates (NHP).

Methodology/principal Findings: We conducted a molecular investigation of yellow fever virus (YFV) RNA in 781 NHP carcasses collected in the urban, urban-rural interface, and rural areas of Minas Gerais state, from January 2017 to December 2018.

Spatial epidemiology of yellow fever: Identification of determinants of the 2016-2018 epidemics and at-risk areas in Brazil.

Optimise control strategies of infectious diseases, identify factors that favour the circulation of pathogens, and propose risk maps are crucial challenges for global health. Ecological niche modelling, once relying on an adequate framework and environmental descriptors can be a helpful tool for such purposes. Despite the existence of a vaccine, yellow fever (YF) is still a public health issue.

Absence of YF-neutralizing antibodies in vulnerable populations of Brazil: A warning for epidemiological surveillance and the potential risks for future outbreaks.

Yellow Fever (YF) is an acute febrile illness caused by yellow fever virus (YFV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus transmitted to humans and non-human primates. In Brazil, YF is a public health threat and may cause recurrent epidemics, even with the availability of a vaccine. We evaluated the sero-status for YFV in 581 individuals living in a risk area for YF in Brazil.

Circulation of vaccinia virus in southern and south-eastern wildlife, Brazil.

We evaluated 345 wild animals from southern and south-eastern Brazil to understand their role in vaccinia virus (VACV) transmission cycle. VACV DNA was detected in rodents, marsupials, chiroptera and cingulate, expanding the knowledge of VACV host range in wildlife that could potentially act as source of infection in rural and urban areas.

Recent sylvatic yellow fever virus transmission in Brazil: the news from an old disease.

Yellow fever (YF) is an acute viral disease, affecting humans and non-human primates (NHP), caused by the yellow fever virus (YFV). Despite the existence of a safe vaccine, YF continues to cause morbidity and mortality in thousands of people in Africa and South America. Since 2016, massive YF outbreaks have taken place in Brazil, reaching YF-free zones, causing thousands of deaths of humans and NHP.

Silent Circulation of the Saint Louis Encephalitis Virus among Humans and Equids, Southeast Brazil.

Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that occurs throughout the Americas, and is considered a public health threat. In Brazil, SLEV has been detected from human cases associated with dengue-like disease, but no neurological symptoms were reported. Furthermore, the epidemiology of SLEV in human populations is still poorly explored in the country.

Exposure of free-ranging capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) to the vaccinia virus.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of free-ranging animals/hunting dogs as sources of infection in the vaccinia virus (VACV) transmission chain. Serological, cell culture and molecular assays were conducted in 56 free-ranging animals and 22 hunting dogs. ELISA/neutralizing assays showed that two (2.