Virulence and host specificity of staphylococci from Staphylococcus intermedius group of pigeon origin with an emphasis on Staphylococcus intermedius.

The Staphylococcus intermedius group (SIG) includes coagulase-positive staphylococci commonly found in animals. The taxonomic classification within the SIG has evolved with molecular techniques distinguishing five species. Despite their similarities, these species exhibit varied host affinities, with unclear implications for virulence and host interaction.

Natural Infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A/H5N1 Virus in Pet Ferrets.

The study involved five ferrets from one household in Poland, comprising three sick 9-week-old juveniles, their healthy mother, and another clinically normal adult, admitted to the veterinary clinic in June 2023. The juvenile ferrets displayed significant lethargy and a pronounced unwillingness to move with accompanying pulmonary distress. Prompted by concurrent outbreaks of A/H5N1 influenza virus infections in Polish cats, point-of-care tests were conducted that revealed type A influenza antigens in the throat swabs of all five ferrets.

Upper Respiratory Tract Disease in a Dog Infected by a Highly Pathogenic Avian A/H5N1 Virus.

In summer 2023, during an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in cats in Poland, a 16-year-old dog was presented to the veterinary clinic with persistent, debilitating, dry cough, submandibular lymphadenomegaly, mild serous nasal discharge, and left apical heart murmur. A preliminary diagnosis of kennel cough was made and the treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and dexamethasone was initiated. Due to the lack of improvement within 2 days, a blood check-up, thoracic radiography and ultrasonography, and echocardiography were performed.

A Fatal A/H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus Infection in a Cat in Poland.

A European Shorthair male cat, neutered, approximately 6 years of age, was presented to the veterinary clinic due to apathy and anorexia. The cat lived mostly outdoors and was fed raw chicken meat. After 3 days of diagnostic procedures and symptomatic treatment, respiratory distress and neurological signs developed and progressed into epileptic seizures, followed by respiratory and cardiac arrest within the next 3 days.

Is Vitamin D3 a Worthy Supplement Protecting against Secondary Infections in Dogs with Atopic Dermatitis?

Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a common, chronic, inflammatory skin disease in dogs worldwide. This disease often predisposes for secondary organisms overgrowth and skin infections with pathogens, such as and . Unfortunately, the causes of this disease in both humans and animals are not fully understood; therefore, the only possible option is a lifelong, symptomatic treatment.

(EHV-1) Influences Morphology and Function of Neuronal Mitochondria In Vitro.

Mitochondria are key cellular organelles responsible for many essential functions, including ATP production, ion homeostasis and apoptosis induction. Recent studies indicate their significant role during viral infection. In the present study, we examined the effects of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection on the morphology and mitochondrial function in primary murine neurons in vitro.

Challenges of the Immunotherapy: Perspectives and Limitations of the Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment.

Immunotherapy is a quickly developing type of treatment and the future of therapy in oncology. This paper is a review of recent findings in the field of immunotherapy with an emphasis on immune checkpoint inhibitors. The challenges that immunotherapy might face in near future, such as primary and acquired resistance and the irAEs, are described in this article, as well as the perspectives such as identification of environmental modifiers of immunity and development of anti-cancer vaccines and combined therapies.

Pigeons as Carriers of Clinically Relevant Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens-A Clinical Case Report and Literature Review.

Pigeons are widespread bird species in urban regions ( forma ) and may carry pathogens with zoonotic potential. In recent years, more and more data indicate that these zoonotic pathogens are multidrug resistant. Our results confirmed that global trend.

Coronaviruses - a new old menace.

The current pandemic caused by novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been described as a global health emergency. The outbreak of this virus has raised a number of questions: what exactly is SARS-CoV-2? How transmissible the novel coronavirus is? How severely affected are patients infected with SARS-CoV-2? What are the risk factors for COVID-19? What are the differences between this novel coronavirus and other coronaviruses? To answer these questions, a comparative study of three pathogenic coronaviruses that primarily invade the human respiratory system and may cause death, namely, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-1), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). This review describes the source of origin, transmission, and pathogenicity of these viruses.

Neuropathogenic and non-neuropathogenic EHV-1 strains induce the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated Tau in primary murine neurons.

Equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) causes respiratory disease, abortion and neurological disorders in horses. Similarly, to other alphaherpesviruses, EHV-1 is neurotropic and establishes latency in the neurons of its natural host. Despite the fact that many studies have been devoted to the pathogenesis of various clinical forms of EHV-1 infection, mechanisms of the neuronal damage are still not fully understood.

Human herpesvirus type 1 and type 2 disrupt mitochondrial dynamics in human keratinocytes.

Mitochondrial movement and distribution throughout the cytoplasm is crucial for maintaining cell homeostasis. Mitochondria are dynamic organelles but can be functionally disrupted during infection. Here, we show that the ubiquitous human pathogens HHV-1 and HHV-2 induce changes in the mitochondrial morphology and distribution in the early and late phases of productive infection in human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells).

Deletion of psbQ' gene in Cyanidioschyzon merolae reveals the function of extrinsic PsbQ' in PSII.

We have successfully produced single-cell colonies of C. merolae mutants, lacking the PsbQ' subunit in its PSII complex by application of DTA-aided mutant selection. We have investigated the physiological changes in PSII function and structure and proposed a tentative explanation of the function of PsbQ' subunit in the PSII complex.

Influence of long-term equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection on primary murine neurons-the possible effects of the multiple passages of EHV-1 on its neurovirulence.

Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1), like other members of the Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily, is a neurotropic virus causing latent infections in the nervous system of the natural host. In the present study, we have investigated EHV-1 replication (wild-type Jan-E strain and Rac-H laboratory strain) during long-term infection and during the passages of the virus in cultured neurons. The studies were performed on primary murine neurons, which are an excellent in vitro model for studying neurotropism and neurovirulence of EHV-1.

Transformation of the Cyanidioschyzon merolae chloroplast genome: prospects for understanding chloroplast function in extreme environments.

We have successfully transformed an exthemophilic red alga with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene, rendering this organism insensitive to its toxicity. Our work paves the way to further work with this new modelorganism. Here we report the first successful attempt to achieve a stable, under selectable pressure, chloroplast transformation in Cyanidioschizon merolae-an extremophilic red alga of increasing importance as a new model organism.

Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase-a new selectable marker in stable nuclear transformation of the red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae.

In this study, we have shown the applicability of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase as a new and convenient selectable marker for stable nuclear transformation as well as potential chloroplast transformation of Cyanidioschyzon merolae-a new model organism, which offers unique opportunities for studding the mitochondrial and plastid physiology as well as various evolutionary, structural, and functional features of the photosynthetic apparatus.

The generation of CD8+ T-cell population specific for vaccinia virus epitope involved in the antiviral protection against ectromelia virus challenge.

Eradication of smallpox has led to cessation of vaccination programs. This has rendered the human population increasingly susceptible not only to variola virus infection but also to infections with other representatives of Poxviridae family that cause zoonotic variola-like diseases. Thus, new approaches for designing improved vaccine against smallpox are required.

Equid herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) disrupts actin cytoskeleton during productive infection in equine leukocytes.

Equid herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is a prevalent causative agent of equine diseases worldwide. After primary replication in the respiratory epithelium the virus disseminates systemically through a peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-associated viraemia. EHV-1 is the only alphaherpes- virus known so far which is capable of establishing latent infection not only in neurons but also in immune system cells (mainly in lymphocytes and macrophages).

Autophagy in cultured murine neurons infected with equid herpesvirus 1.

In this study we investigated the relationship of equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) infection to autophagy in primary culture of murine neurons. Infection with both Jan-E and Rac-H strains of EHV-1 resulted in the formation of autophagosomes in the cytoplasm during early stages of infection, while in late stages of infection autophagosomes were mainly concentrated around the nucleus what suggests the induction of nuclear envelope-derived autophagy (NEDA). No significant effect of an authophagy inhibitor-chloroquine on final virus titers demonstrated that autophagy is not essential for EHV-1 replication.

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1)-induced rearrangements of actin filaments in productively infected primary murine neurons.

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) causes respiratory disease, abortion and neurological disorders in horses. In the present study, we investigated reorganization of the cytoskeleton in neurons infected with two EHV-1 strains: Jan-E (wild-type strain) and Rac-H (attenuated strain). The studies were performed on primary murine neurons, which are an excellent model for studying neurotropism and neurovirulence of EHV-1.

Primary cultures of murine neurons for studying herpes simplex virus 1 infection and its inhibition by antivirals.

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) establishes life-long latency in peripheral neurons, where productive replication is suppressed. To study the specific relationship between the virus and peripheral neurons that would not be affected by other cells usually present in in vivo systems, we present an in vitro model system based on primary cultures of murine neurons. This model system can be used for characterization of various virus strains and testing of cytotoxicity and inhibitory activity of acyclovir (ACV), cidofovir (CDV) and other antivirals.

[Herpesviruses survival strategies--latency and apoptosis].

Apoptosis is a process of programmed cell death in response to various stimuli, including virus infection. Herpesviruses have evolved the ability to interfere with apoptosis by its inhibition or activation in host cells. They can interfere with the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of apoptosis.

Influence of importin alpha/beta and exportin 1 on equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) replication in primary murine neurons.

Viruses replicating in the nucleus need to cross the nuclear membrane barrier during infection, therefore disruption of specific nuclear transport pathways is crucial for their replication cycle. In the present study we have investigated the influence of nucleo-cytoplasmic transport inhibitors -- ivermectin and leptomycin B, on EHV-1 replication in primary murine neurons. Obtained results suggest that the examined proteins -- exportin 1 and importin alpha/beta may participate, but are not required, during EHV-1 infection.

HybProbes-based real-time PCR assay for rapid detection of equine herpesvirus type 2 DNA.

Equid herpesvirus type 2 (EHV-2) together with equid herpesvirus type 5 are members of Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily, genus Rhadinovirus. EHV-2 is one of major agents causing diseases of horses common worldwide. A possible role of EHV-2 in reactivating latent equid herpesvirus type-1 has been suggested, because reactivation of latent EHV-1 was always accompanied by EHV-2 replication.

Role of cytoskeletal motor proteins in viral infection.

Cytoskeleton, composed of actin filaments, microtubules and intermediate filaments, regulates many processes in the cell, e.g. intracellular transport.

The xCELLigence system for real-time and label-free analysis of neuronal and dermal cell response to equine herpesvirus type 1 infection.

Real-time cell electronic sensing (RT-CES) based on impedance measurements is an emerging technology for analyzing the status of cells in vitro. It allows label-free, real time monitoring of the biological status of cells. The present study was designed to assess dynamic data on the cell processes during equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection of ED (equine dermal) cells and primary murine neuronal cell culture.