Pathogen transcriptional profile in nasopharyngeal aspirates of children with acute respiratory tract infection.

Background: Acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) present a significant morbidity and pose a global health burden. Patients are frequently treated with antibiotics although ARI are most commonly caused by virus, strengthening the need for improved diagnostic methods.

Objectives: Detect viral and bacterial RNA in nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) from children aged 6-23 months with ARI using nCounter.

Sampling variability between two mid-turbinate swabs of the same patient has implications for influenza viral load monitoring.

Background: With the clinical development of several antiviral intervention strategies for influenza, it becomes crucial to explore viral load shedding in the nasal cavity as a biomarker for treatment success, but also to explore sampling strategies for sensible and reliable virus collection.

Findings: In this study, 244 patients suffering from Influenza like Illness and/or acute respiratory tract infection were enrolled. Sampling was done using mid-turbinate flocked swabs and two swabs per patient were collected (one swab per nostril).

Protection and mechanism of action of a novel human respiratory syncytial virus vaccine candidate based on the extracellular domain of small hydrophobic protein.

Infections with human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) occur globally in all age groups and can have devastating consequences in young infants. We demonstrate that a vaccine based on the extracellular domain (SHe) of the small hydrophobic (SH) protein of HRSV, reduced viral replication in challenged laboratory mice and in cotton rats. We show that this suppression of viral replication can be transferred by serum and depends on a functional IgG receptor compartment with a major contribution of FcγRI and FcγRIII.

Comparison of the FilmArray RP, Verigene RV+, and Prodesse ProFLU+/FAST+ multiplex platforms for detection of influenza viruses in clinical samples from the 2011-2012 influenza season in Belgium.

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are caused by a plethora of viral and bacterial pathogens. In particular, lower RTIs are a leading cause of hospitalization and mortality. Timely detection of the infecting respiratory pathogens is crucial to optimize treatment and care.

In vivo evaluation of antiviral compounds on respiratory syncytial virus using a juvenile vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) infection model.

Several animal models with varying susceptibilities to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection have been developed to study the specific aspects of RSV disease. Many of these models are used for testing antiviral compounds or in vaccine efficacy studies during preclinical evaluation. In this chapter, we describe the study design of an efficacy study of an RSV inhibitor, performed in a juvenile vervet monkey model for RSV.

The comparative genomics of human respiratory syncytial virus subgroups A and B: genetic variability and molecular evolutionary dynamics.

Genomic variation and related evolutionary dynamics of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common causative agent of severe lower respiratory tract infections, may affect its transmission behavior. RSV evolutionary patterns are likely to be influenced by a precarious interplay between selection favoring variants with higher replicative fitness and variants that evade host immune responses. Studying RSV genetic variation can reveal both the genes and the individual codons within these genes that are most crucial for RSV survival.

Circulation of HRSV in Belgium: from multiple genotype circulation to prolonged circulation of predominant genotypes.

Molecular surveillance of HRSV in Belgium for 15 consecutive seasons (1996-2011) revealed a shift from a regular 3-yearly cyclic pattern, into a yearly alternating periodicity where HRSV-B is replaced by HRSV-A. Phylogenetic analysis for HRSV-A demonstrated the stable circulation of GA2 and GA5, with GA2 being dominant over GA5 during 5 consecutive seasons (2006-2011). We also identified 2 new genotype specific amino acid mutations of the GA2 genotype (A122 and Q156) and 7 new GA5 genotype specific amino acid mutations (F102, I108, T111, I125, D161, S191 and L217).

Genetic variability among complete human respiratory syncytial virus subgroup A genomes: bridging molecular evolutionary dynamics and epidemiology.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of severe lower respiratory tract infections in infants and the elderly. In the vast majority of cases, however, RSV infections run mild and symptoms resemble those of a common cold. The immunological, clinical, and epidemiological profile of severe RSV infections suggests a disease caused by a virus with typical seasonal transmission behavior, lacking clear-cut virulence factors, but instead causing disease by modifying the host's immune response in a way that stimulates pathogenesis.

Susceptibility of the PER.C6 cell line for infection with clinical human respiratory syncytial virus isolates.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is one of the most important agents causing upper respiratory infection in infants. The susceptibility of the PER.C6 cell line for infection with clinical HRSV strains was investigated.

Molecular characterization of hepatitis B virus strains circulating in Belgian patients co-infected with HIV and HBV: overt and occult infection.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have similar transmission routes, implying that patients infected with HIV are at particular risk for HBV infection. Patients who are co-infected with HIV and HBV progress more rapidly to end-stage liver disease and different HBV genotypes may have a distinct impact on disease progression. One hundred ninety-one anti-HBc-positive sera from Belgian patients co-infected with HIV and HBV were collected during 1998-2008.

Exhaled breath condensate sampling is not a new method for detection of respiratory viruses.

Background: Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) sampling has been considered an inventive and novel method for the isolation of respiratory viruses.

Methods: In our study, 102 volunteers experiencing upper airway infection were recruited over the winter and early spring of 2008/2009 and the first half of the winter of 2009/2010. Ninety-nine EBCs were successfully obtained and screened for 14 commonly circulating respiratory viruses.