Small mammals and associated infections in China: a systematic review and spatial modelling analysis.

Background: As natural reservoirs of diverse pathogens, small mammals are considered a key interface for guarding public health due to their wide geographic distribution, high density and frequent interaction with humans.

Methods: All formally recorded natural occurrences of small mammals (Order: Rodentia, Eulipotyphla, Lagomorpha, and Scandentia) and their associated microbial infections in China were searched in the English and Chinese literature spanning from 1950 to 2021 and geolocated. Machine learning models were applied to determine ecological drivers for the distributions of 45 major small mammal species and two common rodent-borne diseases (RBDs), and model-predicted potential risk locations were mapped.

Inter-city movement pattern of notifiable infectious diseases in China: a social network analysis.

Background: Co-existence of efficient transportation networks and geographic imbalance of medical resources greatly facilitated inter-city migration of patients of infectious diseases in China.

Methods: To characterize the migration patterns of major notifiable infectious diseases (NIDs) during 2016-2020 in China, we collected migratory cases, who had illness onset in one city but were diagnosed and reported in another, from the National Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting System, and conducted a nationwide network analysis of migratory cases of major NIDs at the city (prefecture) level.

Findings: In total, 2,674,892 migratory cases of NIDs were reported in China during 2016-2020.

The global distribution and diversity of wild-bird-associated pathogens: An integrated data analysis and modeling study.

Background: Wild birds are significant vectors in global pathogen transmission, but the diversity and spatial distribution of the pathogens detected in them remain unclear. Understanding the transmission dynamics and hotspots of wild-bird-associated pathogens (WBAPs) is crucial for early disease prevention.

Methods: We compiled an up-to-date dataset encompassing all WBAPs by conducting an extensive search of publications from 1959 to 2022, mapped their diversity and global distribution, and utilized three machine learning algorithms to predict geospatial hotspots where zoonotic and emerging WBAPs were prevalent.

Protocol to evaluate virus-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell responses by spectral flow cytometry.

T cell responses play an important role in viral clearance and prevention of infection. Here, we present a protocol to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific T cell responses using spectral flow cytometry. We describe steps for peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) thawing and stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 spike peptide pools.

Distribution dynamics and urbanization-related factors of Hantaan and Seoul virus infections in China between 2001 and 2020: A machine learning modelling analysis.

Objectives: The epidemical and clinical features of distinct hantavirus infections exhibit heterogeneity. However, the evolving epidemics and distinct determines of the two hantavirus infections remain uncertain.

Methods: Data on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) cases and genotyping were collected from multiple sources to explore the distribution dynamics of different endemic categories.

Changes in Epidemics of Respiratory Viral Infections Resulted From the COVID-19 Pandemic in Shanghai.

To investigate the changing patterns of respiratory viral infections within the context of COVID-19 pandemic. The etiological surveillance data of eight respiratory viral pathogens among patients with ARIs in Shanghai between 2013 and 2023 were analyzed to evaluate the dynamic patterns of respiratory viral infections in Shanghai compared to global other regions during pre-pandemic (period 1), pandemic (period 2), and post-pandemic (period 3) periods of COVID-19. In Shanghai and various other global regions, there was a delay of 2‒4 months in the peak positive rate of IFV and a reverse seasonality for RSV, HMPV, and HBoV was observed following the relaxation of NPIs.

Dynamic changes of neutralizing antibody and memory T cell responses six months post Omicron XBB reinfection.

Introduction: With the continued prevalence of COVID-19, repeated infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 has become common. However, studies on immune persistence post Omicron XBB reinfection are limited.

Methods: We prospectively studied the durability and cross-reactivity of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) and T cell responses among 20 subjects who suffered Omicron BA.

Global risk dynamics of Borrelia miyamotoi in the context of climate change.

The impact of Borrelia miyamotoi on human health, facilitated by the expanding geographical distribution and increasing population of Ixodes ticks, remains obscure in the context of global climate change. We employed multiple models to evaluate the effect of global climate change on the risk of B. miyamotoi worldwide across various scenarios.

Epidemiological and immunological characteristics of middle-aged and elderly people in housing estates after Omicron BA.5 wave in Jinan, China.

A great number of COVID-19 patients was caused by Omicron BA.5 subvariant between December 2022 and January 2023 after the end of the zero-COVID-19 policy in China. In this study, we clarified the epidemiological and immunological characteristics of 457 enrolled middle-aged and elderly population in two housing estates after Omicron BA.

SARS-CoV-2 reinfection broadens the antibody responses and promotes the phenotypic differentiation of virus-specific memory T cells in adolescents.

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron subvariants raises concerns regarding the effectiveness of immunity acquired from previous Omicron subvariants breakthrough infections (BTIs) or reinfections (RIs) against the current circulating Omicron subvariants. In this study, we prospectively investigate the dynamic changes of virus-specific antibody and T cell responses among 77 adolescents following Omicron BA.2.

Decoding the RNA viromes in shrew lungs along the eastern coast of China.

Shrews being insectivores, serve as natural reservoirs for a wide array of zoonotic viruses, including the recently discovered Langya henipavirus (LayV) in China in 2018. It is crucial to understand the shrew-associated virome, viral diversity, and new viruses. In the current study, we conducted high-throughput sequencing on lung samples obtained from 398 shrews captured along the eastern coast of China, and characterized the high-depth virome of 6 common shrew species (Anourosorex squamipes, Crocidura lasiura, Crocidura shantungensis, Crocidura tanakae, Sorex caecutiens, and Suncus murinus).

Humoral and cellular immune responses following Omicron BA.2.2 breakthrough infection and Omicron BA.5 reinfection.

The emergence of novel Omicron subvariants has raised concerns regarding the efficacy of immunity induced by prior Omicron subvariants breakthrough infection (BTI) or reinfection against current circulating Omicron subvariants. Here, we prospectively investigated the durability of antibody and T cell responses in individuals post Omicron BA.2.

Mapping the distribution of sandflies and sandfly-associated pathogens in China.

Background: Understanding and mapping the distribution of sandflies and sandfly-associated pathogens (SAPs) is crucial for guiding the surveillance and control effort. However, their distribution and the related risk burden in China remain poorly understood.

Methods: We mapped the distribution of sandflies and SAPs using literature data from 1940 to 2022.

Mapping the distribution of Nipah virus infections: a geospatial modelling analysis.

Background: Nipah virus is a zoonotic paramyxovirus responsible for disease outbreaks with high fatality rates in south and southeast Asia. However, knowledge of the potential geographical extent and risk patterns of the virus is poor. We aimed to establish an integrated spatiotemporal and phylogenetic database of Nipah virus infections in humans and animals across south and southeast Asia.

Epidemiological characteristics and antibody kinetics of elderly population with booster vaccination following both Omicron BA.5 and XBB waves in China.

After the termination of zero-COVID-19 policy, the populace in China has experienced both Omicron BA.5 and XBB waves. Considering the poor antibody responses and severe outcomes observed among the elderly following infection, we conducted a longitudinal investigation to examine the epidemiological characteristics and antibody kinetics among 107 boosted elderly participants following the Omicron BA.

The global distribution and the risk prediction of relapsing fever group Borrelia: a data review with modelling analysis.

Background: The recent discovery of emerging relapsing fever group Borrelia (RFGB) species, such as Borrelia miyamotoi, poses a growing threat to public health. However, the global distribution and associated risk burden of these species remain uncertain. We aimed to map the diversity, distribution, and potential infection risk of RFGB.

Interactions among acute respiratory viruses in Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, China, 2009-2019.

Background: A viral infection can modify the risk to subsequent viral infections via cross-protective immunity, increased immunopathology, or disease-driven behavioral change. There is limited understanding of virus-virus interactions due to lack of long-term population-level data.

Methods: Our study leverages passive surveillance data of 10 human acute respiratory viruses from Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai collected during 2009 to 2019: influenza A and B viruses; respiratory syncytial virus A and B; human parainfluenza virus (HPIV), adenovirus, metapneumovirus (HMPV), coronavirus, bocavirus (HBoV), and rhinovirus (HRV).

Projecting spatiotemporal dynamics of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in the mainland of China.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease with increasing incidence and geographic extent. The extent to which global climate change affects the incidence of SFTS disease remains obscure. We use an integrated multi-model, multi-scenario framework to assess the impact of global climate change on SFTS disease in China.

Transmissibility quantification of norovirus outbreaks in 2016-2021 in Beijing, China.

The transmissibility is a crucial feature for norovirus, yet its quantitative estimation has been limited. Our objective was to estimate the basic reproduction number (R ) of norovirus and investigate its variation characteristics. Norovirus outbreaks reported from September 2016 to August 2021 in Beijing were analyzed.