miR-24-3p Is Antiviral Against SARS-CoV-2 by Downregulating Critical Host Entry Factors.

Despite all the progress in treating SARS-CoV-2, escape mutants to current therapies remain a constant concern. Promising alternative treatments for current and future coronaviruses are those that limit escape mutants by inhibiting multiple pathogenic targets, analogous to the current strategies for treating HCV and HIV. With increasing popularity and ease of manufacturing of RNA technologies for vaccines and drugs, therapeutic microRNAs represent a promising option.

Identifying selection signatures for immune response and resilience to Aleutian disease in mink using genotype data.

Aleutian disease (AD) brings tremendous financial losses to the mink industry. Selecting AD-resilient mink has been conducted to control AD. Such selections could have altered the patterns of genetic variation responding to selection pressures.

Efficacy of a stable broadly protective subunit vaccine platform against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

The emergence and ongoing evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has highlighted the need for rapid vaccine development platforms that can be updated to counteract emerging variants of currently circulating and future emerging coronaviruses. Here we report the development of a "train model" subunit vaccine platform that contains a SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan S1 protein (the "engine") linked to a series of flexible receptor binding domains (RBDs; the "cars") derived from SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs). We demonstrate that these linked subunit vaccines when combined with Sepivac SWE™, a squalene in water emulsion (SWE) adjuvant, are immunogenic in Syrian hamsters and subsequently provide protection from infection with SARS-CoV-2 VOCs Omicron (BA.

Complete Genome Sequencing, Annotation, and Mutational Profiling of the Novel Clade I Human Mpox Virus, Kamituga Strain.

Introduction: Human Mpox (formerly monkeypox) infection is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by the Mpox virus (MPXV). We describe the complete genome annotation, phylogeny, and mutational profile of a novel, sustained Clade I Mpox outbreak in the city of Kamituga in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Methodology: A cross-sectional, observational, cohort study was performed among patients of all ages admitted to the Kamituga Hospital with Mpox infection symptoms between late September 2023 and late January 2024.

PASC (Post Acute Sequelae of COVID-19) is associated with decreased neutralizing antibody titers in both biological sexes and increased ANG-2 and GM-CSF in females.

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) or the continuation of COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) symptoms past 12 weeks may affect as many as 30% of people recovering from a SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2) infection. The mechanisms regulating the development of PASC are currently not known; however, hypotheses include virus reservoirs, pre-existing conditions, microblood clots, immune dysregulation, as well as poor antibody responses. Importantly, virus neutralizing antibodies are essential for COVID-19 recovery and protection from reinfection but there is currently limited information on these immune regulators and associated cytokines in PASC patients.

Influenza virus immune imprinting dictates the clinical outcomes in ferrets challenged with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1.

Zoonotic transmission of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) into the human population is an increasing global threat. The recent 2022 HPAIV outbreak significantly highlighted this possibility, increasing concern in the general population. The clinical outcomes of H5N1 influenza virus exposure can be determined by an individual's primary influenza virus infection (imprinting) or vaccination status.

Inhibition potential of natural flavonoids against selected omicron (B.1.19) mutations in the spike receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2: a molecular modeling approach.

The omicron (B.1.19) variant of contagious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is considered a variant of concern (VOC) due to its increased transmissibility and highly infectious nature.

Third COVID-19 vaccine dose boosts antibody function in Rwandans with high HIV viral load.

SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) causing COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) poses a greater health risk to immunocompromized individuals including people living with HIV (PLWH). However, most studies on PLWH have been conducted in higher-income countries. We investigated the post-vaccination antibody responses of PLWH in Rwanda by collecting peripheral blood from participants after receiving a second or third COVID-19 vaccine.

microRNA-185 Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Infection through the Modulation of the Host's Lipid Microenvironment.

With the emergence of the novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), there has been an urgent need for the development of fast-acting antivirals, particularly in dealing with different variants of concern (VOC). SARS-CoV-2, like other RNA viruses, depends on host cell machinery to propagate and misregulate metabolic pathways to its advantage. Herein, we discovered that the immunometabolic microRNA-185 (miR-185) restricts SARS-CoV-2 propagation by affecting its entry and infectivity.

Previous infection with seasonal coronaviruses does not protect male Syrian hamsters from challenge with SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2 variants and seasonal coronaviruses continue to cause disease and coronaviruses in the animal reservoir pose a constant spillover threat. Importantly, understanding of how previous infection may influence future exposures, especially in the context of seasonal coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 variants, is still limited. Here we adopted a step-wise experimental approach to examine the primary immune response and subsequent immune recall toward antigenically distinct coronaviruses using male Syrian hamsters.

Sex differences in the cardiac stress response following SARS-CoV-2 infection of ferrets.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection damages the heart, increasing the risk of adverse cardiovascular events. Female sex protects against complications of infection; females are less likely to experience severe illness or death, although their risk for postacute sequelae of COVID-19 ("long COVID") is higher than in males. Despite the important role of the heart in COVID-19 outcomes, molecular elements in the heart impacted by SARS-CoV-2 are poorly understood.

Host Transcriptome Analysis of Ferret Tissues Following Henipavirus Infection.

Ferrets are commonly used as experimental models of infection for a variety of viruses due to their susceptibility to human respiratory viruses and the close resemblance of pathological outcomes found in human infections. Even though ferret-specific reagents are limited, the use of ferrets as a preclinical experimental model of infection has gained considerable interest since the publication of the ferret transcriptome and draft ferret genome. These advances have made it feasible to easily perform whole-genome gene expression analysis in the ferret infection model.

Population genomics of American mink using genotype data.

Understanding the genetic structure of the target population is critically important to develop an efficient genomic selection program in domestic animals. In this study, 2,973 American mink of six color types from two farms (Canadian Centre for Fur Animal Research (CCFAR), Truro, NS and Millbank Fur Farm (MFF), Rockwood, ON) were genotyped with the Affymetrix Mink 70K panel to compute their linkage disequilibrium (LD) patterns, effective population size (), genetic diversity, genetic distances, and population differentiation and structure. The LD pattern represented by average , decreased to <0.

Corrigendum: Population genomics of American mink using genotype data.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.

Longitudinal analysis of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection reveals distinct kinetics and emergence of cross-neutralizing antibodies to variants of concern.

The ongoing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 continues to raise new questions regarding the duration of immunity to reinfection with emerging variants. To address these knowledge gaps, controlled investigations in established animal models are needed to assess duration of immunity induced by each SARS-CoV-2 lineage and precisely evaluate the extent of cross-reactivity and cross-protection afforded. Using the Syrian hamster model, we specifically investigated duration of infection acquired immunity to SARS-CoV-2 ancestral Wuhan strain over 12 months.

Drug repurposing for Mpox: Discovery of small molecules as potential inhibitors against DNA-dependent RNA polymerase using molecular modeling approach.

Mpox (formerly Monkeypox), a zoonotic illness caused by the Mpox virus, belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. To design and develop effective antiviral therapeutics against DNA viruses, the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (DdRp) of poxviruses has emerged as a promising drug target. In the present study, we modeled the three-dimensional (3D) structure of DdRp using a template-based homology approach.

The influenza universe in an mRNA vaccine.

An mRNA-lipid nanoparticle vaccine protects animals from 20 influenza lineages.

Genetic and phenotypic correlations between Aleutian disease tests with body weight, growth, and feed efficiency traits in mink.

The ineffectiveness of vaccination, medicine, and culling strategy leads mink farmers to control Aleutian disease (AD) by selecting AD-resilient mink based on AD tests. However, the genetic background of AD tests and their correlations with economically important or AD-resilient traits are limited. This study estimated the genetic and phenotypic correlations between four AD tests and seven body weight (BW) traits, six growth parameters from the Richards growth model, and eight feed-related traits.

After the virus has cleared-Can preclinical models be employed for Long COVID research?

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) can cause the life-threatening acute respiratory disease called COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) as well as debilitating multiorgan dysfunction that persists after the initial viral phase has resolved. Long COVID or Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) is manifested by a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, dyspnea, arthralgia, myalgia, heart palpitations, and memory issues sometimes affecting between 30% and 75% of recovering COVID-19 patients. However, little is known about the mechanisms causing Long COVID and there are no widely accepted treatments or therapeutics.

Molecular mechanisms responsible for SARS-CoV-2 antibody waning and vaccine escape in Omicron sublineages BA.4 and BA.5.

Mutations in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome continue to threaten the global landscape of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The Omicron variant (B.1.

Sex and age bias viral burden and interferon responses during SARS-CoV-2 infection in ferrets.

SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) hospitalizations and deaths disportionally affect males and older ages. Here we investigated the impact of male sex and age comparing sex-matched or age-matched ferrets infected with SARS-CoV-2. Differences in temperature regulation was identified for male ferrets which was accompanied by prolonged viral replication in the upper respiratory tract after infection.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Syrian hamster model causes inflammation as well as type I interferon dysregulation in both respiratory and non-respiratory tissues including the heart and kidney.

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infection is a disease affecting several organ systems. A model that captures all clinical symptoms of COVID-19 as well as long-haulers disease is needed. We investigated the host responses associated with infection in several major organ systems including the respiratory tract, the heart, and the kidneys after SARS-CoV-2 infection in Syrian hamsters.

Centenarians and extremely old people living with frailty can elicit durable SARS-CoV-2 spike specific IgG antibodies with virus neutralization functions following virus infection as determined by serological study.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2) has led to more than 165 million COVID-19 cases and >3.4 million deaths worldwide. Epidemiological analysis has revealed that the risk of developing severe COVID-19 increases with age.

The Intersection of Age and Influenza Severity: Utility of Ferrets for Dissecting the Age-Dependent Immune Responses and Relevance to Age-Specific Vaccine Development.

Many factors impact the host response to influenza virus infection and vaccination. Ferrets have been an indispensable reagent for influenza virus research for almost one hundred years. One of the most significant and well-known factors affecting human disease after infection is host age.

Development and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines for those most vulnerable.

Development of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines is a global priority and the best hope for ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Remarkably, in less than 1 year, vaccines have been developed and shown to be efficacious and are already being deployed worldwide. Yet, many challenges remain.