Raman signatures of type A and B influenza viruses: molecular origin of the "" inactivation mechanism mediated by micrometric silicon nitride powder.

A multiomic study of the structural characteristics of type A and B influenza viruses by means of highly spectrally resolved Raman spectroscopy is presented. Three virus strains, A H1N1, A H3N2, and B98, were selected because of their known structural variety and because they have co-circulated with variable relative prevalence within the human population since the re-emergence of the H1N1 subtype in 1977. Raman signatures of protein side chains tyrosine, tryptophan, and histidine revealed unequivocal and consistent differences for pH characteristics at the virion surface, while different conformations of two C-S bond configurations in and methionine rotamers provided distinct low-wavenumber fingerprints for different virus lineages/subtypes.

Raman Spectroscopic Algorithms for Assessing Virulence in Oral Candidiasis: The Fight-or-Flight Response.

This study aimed to test the effectiveness of Raman spectroscopy in the characterization of the degrees of physiological stress and virulence in clinical swab samples collected from patients affected by oral candidiasis. Raman experiments were conducted on a series of eight isolates, both in an as-collected state and after biofilm purification followed by 3 days of culture. The outputs were matched to optical microscopy observations and the results of conventional chromogenic medium assays.

Ephrin type-A receptor 2-antisense RNA1/2 promote proliferation and migration of MDA-MB-231 cells through -dependent Ras signaling pathway mediated by MAPK8/JNK1, MAPK9/JNK2-NFATC2/NFAT1 and JUND.

Ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EPHA2) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is overexpressed in a variety of cancers, including breast cancer. EPHA2 expression may be causally related to tumorigenesis; therefore, it is important to understand how expression is regulated. We previously reported that EPHA2 antisense RNA (EPHA2-AS), a natural antisense transcript, is an important modulator of EPHA2 mRNA levels and hence production of EPHA2 protein.

Diminished neutralizing activity against the XBB1.5 strain in 55.9% of individuals post 6 months COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccination: insights from a pseudovirus assay on 1,353 participants in the Fukushima vaccination community survey, Japan.

This study investigates the neutralizing activity against the XBB1.5 variant and the ancestral strain in a population post-bivalent vaccination using a pseudo virus assay validated with authentic virus assay. While bivalent booster vaccination and past infections enhanced neutralization against the XBB 1.

Raman Multi-Omic Snapshot and Statistical Validation of Structural Differences between Herpes Simplex Type I and Epstein-Barr Viruses.

Raman spectroscopy was applied to study the structural differences between herpes simplex virus Type I (HSV-1) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Raman spectra were first collected with statistical validity on clusters of the respective virions and analyzed according to principal component analysis (PCA). Then, average spectra were computed and a machine-learning approach applied to deconvolute them into sub-band components in order to perform comparative analyses.

Raman Fingerprints of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Subvariants: Molecular Roots of Virological Characteristics and Evolutionary Directions.

The latest RNA genomic mutation of SARS-CoV-2 virus, termed the Omicron variant, has generated a stream of highly contagious and antibody-resistant strains, which in turn led to classifying Omicron as a variant of concern. We systematically collected Raman spectra from six Omicron subvariants available in Japan (i.e.

Instantaneous Inactivation of Herpes Simplex Virus by Silicon Nitride Bioceramics.

Hydrolytic reactions taking place at the surface of a silicon nitride (SiN) bioceramic were found to induce instantaneous inactivation of Human herpesvirus 1 (HHV-1, also known as Herpes simplex virus 1 or HSV-1). SiN is a non-oxide ceramic compound with strong antibacterial and antiviral properties that has been proven safe for human cells. HSV-1 is a double-stranded DNA virus that infects a variety of host tissues through a lytic and latent cycle.

Mouse Models for HTLV-1 Infection and Adult T Cell Leukemia.

Adult T cell leukemia (ATL) is an aggressive hematologic disease caused by human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection. Various animal models of HTLV-1 infection/ATL have been established to elucidate the pathogenesis of ATL and develop appropriate treatments. For analyses employing murine models, transgenic and immunodeficient mice are used because of the low infectivity of HTLV-1 in mice.

Thymocyte Development of Humanized Mice Is Promoted by Interactions with Human-Derived Antigen Presenting Cells upon Immunization.

Immune responses in humanized mice are generally inefficient without co-transplantation of human thymus or HLA transgenes. Previously, we generated humanized mice via the intra-bone marrow injection of CD133+ cord blood cells into irradiated adult immunodeficient mice (IBMI-huNSG mice), which could mount functional immune responses against HTLV-1, although the underlying mechanisms were still unknown. Here, we investigated thymocyte development in IBMI-huNSG mice, focusing on the roles of human and mouse MHC restriction.

Cytolytic Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Viruses Expressing STLV-1 Receptor Specifically Eliminate STLV-1 Env-Expressing Cells in an HTLV-1 Surrogate Model In Vitro.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) causes serious and intractable diseases in some carriers after infection. The elimination of infected cells is considered important to prevent this onset, but there are currently no means by which to accomplish this. We previously developed "virotherapy", a therapeutic method that targets and kills HTLV-1-infected cells using a cytolytic recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV).

How we secured a COVID-19 convalescent plasma procurement scheme in Japan.

Background: In order to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, a COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) procurement program was initiated in Japan in April 2020. The program was a collaboration between a government-managed national hospital, an infectious disease research institute, and a blood banking organization. Each party assumed different responsibilities: recruitment, SARS-CoV-2 antibody profiling, and plasmapheresis; conduction of screening tests; and SARS-CoV-2 blood testing, respectively.

No SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in the convalescent plasma of COVID-19 patients with different disease severity.

Introduction: Convalescent plasma transfusion (CPT), a potential therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), requires strict quality control of the donor blood. Whether to confirm the disappearance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA (RNAemia) in convalescent donor blood or not is unclear. Reports recommending the proof of viral disappearance from the blood are controversial.

First case of molecularly identified and genetically characterized human T-cell leukemia virus type 2 infection in a pregnant woman in non-endemic Japan.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 2 (HTLV-2) is non-endemic in Japan unlike the related HTLV type 1. Previously, although HTLV-2-seropositivity was identified via western blotting in one male blood donor in Japan, there have been no reports of HTLV-2 provirus detection by nucleic acid testing. In this report, one Japanese pregnant woman was clinically diagnosed as being HTLV-2-infected with a line immunoassay for specific antibodies after primary testing through prenatal screening in Japan.

HTLV-1 targets human placental trophoblasts in seropositive pregnant women.

Human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is mainly transmitted vertically through breast milk. The rate of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) through formula feeding, although significantly lower than through breastfeeding, is approximately 2.4%-3.

Establishment of a novel diagnostic test algorithm for human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 infection with line immunoassay replacement of western blotting: a collaborative study for performance evaluation of diagnostic assays in Japan.

Background: The reliable diagnosis of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection is important, particularly as it can be vertically transmitted by breast feeding mothers to their infants. However, current diagnosis in Japan requires a confirmatory western blot (WB) test after screening/primary testing for HTLV-1 antibodies, but this test often gives indeterminate results. Thus, this collaborative study evaluated the reliability of diagnostic assays for HTLV-1 infection, including a WB-based one, along with line immunoassay (LIA) as an alternative to WB for confirmatory testing.

Frequent horizontal and mother-to-child transmission may contribute to high prevalence of STLV-1 infection in Japanese macaques.

Background: Simian T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (STLV-1) is disseminated among various non-human primate species and is closely related to human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the causative agent of adult T-cell leukemia and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. Notably, the prevalence of STLV-1 infection in Japanese macaques (JMs) is estimated to be > 60%, much greater than that in other non-human primates; however, the mechanism and mode of STLV-1 transmission remain unknown. The aim of this study is to examine the epidemiological background by which STLV-1 infection is highly prevalent in JMs.

Activation of PERK-ATF4-CHOP pathway as a novel therapeutic approach for efficient elimination of HTLV-1-infected cells.

Patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) exhibit a poor prognosis and overall survival rate when treated with standard chemotherapy, highlighting the continued requirement for the development of novel safe and effective therapies for human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-related diseases. In this study, we demonstrated that MK-2048, a second-generation HIV-1 integrase (IN) inhibitor, potently and selectively kills HTLV-1-infected cells. Differential transcriptome profiling revealed significantly elevated levels of gene expression of the unfolded protein response (UPR) PKR-like ER kinase (PERK) signaling pathway in ATL cell lines following MK-2048 treatment.