Publications by authors named "Shelley Honnold"
Article Synopsis
- Venezuelan, eastern, and western equine encephalitis viruses are dangerous viruses that can cause severe illness in both horses and humans, but there are currently no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments for them.
- Vaccine development requires FDA approval based on animal models that accurately reflect human disease, but existing mouse models do not do so effectively, as they result in different disease outcomes than in humans.
- Recent studies indicate that using hamsters as a model for testing vaccines and therapies against these viruses is also ineffective, as their disease symptoms do not align with those seen in humans or non-human primates.
Western, Eastern, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses (WEEV, EEEV, and VEEV, respectively) are important mosquito-borne agents that pose public health and bioterrorism threats. Despite considerable advances in understanding alphavirus replication, there are currently no available effective vaccines or antiviral treatments against these highly lethal pathogens. To develop a potential countermeasure for viral encephalitis, we generated a trivalent, or three-component, EEV vaccine composed of virus-like particles (VLPs).
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- The persistence of the Ebola virus (EBOV) in asymptomatic individuals and the health issues it causes have become major public health concerns following the 2013-2016 EVD outbreak in Western Africa.
- Researchers discovered that EBOV can persist in immune-privileged sites, such as the eyes and brain, of asymptomatic rhesus monkeys, which survived the infection either naturally or after treatment.
- The study highlights the role of certain immune cells (CD68 cells) as reservoirs for the virus in these areas and suggests that this monkey model can help advance understanding of EVD sequelae and inform the development of effective treatments for EBOV persistence.
Article Synopsis
- Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a highly infectious virus recognized as a potential bio-terrorism threat, and there is currently no effective licensed vaccine available.
- Researchers inactivated an attenuated strain of VEEV using a chemical called 1,5-iodonaphthyl azide (INA) and tested its effectiveness against a virulent form of the virus.
- The study found that intramuscular vaccination with the INA-inactivated version (INA-iV3526) resulted in complete protection from the aerosolized virulent VEEV, indicating its potential as a viable vaccine candidate.
Article Synopsis
- Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is a highly fatal virus with no current vaccines or treatments, making research on its effects critical for future developments.
- In a study, female BALB/c mice were infected with EEEV using three different methods—intranasal, aerosol, and subcutaneous—to analyze the virus's impact on brain tissue and pathology.
- Results indicate that EEEV can enter the brain faster through the olfactory system when mice are infected via aerosol or intranasal routes but takes longer through the subcutaneous method, highlighting different pathways of infection and the need for targeted therapeutic research.
Article Synopsis
- Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is a highly lethal arbovirus with a significant fatality rate in both humans (up to 75%) and horses (up to 90%), and poses a potential bioterrorism risk due to its transmissibility.
- The study examined how different exposure routes (aerosol, intranasal, and subcutaneous) affected the clinical progression and outcomes of EEEV in mice, with a specific focus on cytokine expression and viral presence in tissues.
- Results showed that aerosol exposure led to quicker onset of severe clinical symptoms and rapid neuroinvasion, resulting in 100% mortality in affected mice.
Article Synopsis
- Currently, there are no FDA-approved vaccines or treatments for eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) in humans, prompting the development of new vaccine candidates.
- Researchers tested three inactivated EEEV vaccine candidates in mice: formalin-inactivated (fCVEV1219), INA-inactivated (iCVEV1219), and gamma-irradiated (gCVEV1219), finding that fCVEV1219 and gCVEV1219 offered significant protection, while iCVEV1219 did not.
- The studies indicate that fCVEV1219 and gCVEV1219 should proceed to further development as potential vaccines, as neutralizing antibodies were linked to effective protection
Filoviruses are emerging pathogens and causative agents of viral haemorrhagic fever. Case fatality rates of filovirus disease outbreaks are among the highest reported for any human pathogen, exceeding 90% (ref. 1).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor in a two-year-old paint horse.
J Vet Diagn Invest
July 2012
A 2-year-old gelding presented with a history of lethargy and anorexia. Physical examination revealed pleural and abdominal fluid, as well as several masses in the scrotum. The horse became acutely dyspneic despite 7 days of supportive care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Neuroinvasion of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) and subsequent initiation of inflammation in the brain plays a crucial role in the outcome of VEEV infection in mice. Adhesion molecules expressed on microvascular endothelial cells in the brain have been implicated in the modulation of the blood brain barrier (BBB) and inflammation in brain but their role in VEEV pathogenesis is not very well understood. In this study, we evaluated the expression of extracellular matrix and adhesion molecules genes in the brain of VEEV infected mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA 6-yr-old captive-born female fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) had a history of multiple seizures and was treated with diazepam and phenobarbital therapy. Despite medical treatment, the seizures continued. They were intermittent and progressive, resulting in neurologic deficits and death of the animal within 6 mo of onset of the clinical signs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA 12-yr-old, intact male squirrel (Sciurus sp.) presented with a 15 mm-by-20 mm area of alopecia and plaque-like dermal thickening over the left caudolateral thorax. Routine diagnostic tests ruled out more common conditions that result in alopecia, such as dermatophytosis and acariasis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFToxoplasma gondii infection in marine mammals is intriguing and indicative of contamination of the ocean environment with oocysts. T. gondii was identified in a Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) that had visceral and cerebral lesions.
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