Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza virus (PIV) are two respiratory pathogens of paramount medical significance that exert high mortality. At present, there is no reliable vaccine or antiviral drug against either virus. Using an RNA interference (RNAi) approach, we show that individual as well as joint infection by RSV and PIV can be specifically prevented and inhibited by short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), instilled intranasally in the mouse, with or without transfection reagents. The degree of protection matched the antiviral activity of the siRNA in cell culture, allowing an avenue for quick screening of an efficacious siRNA. When targeting both viruses in a joint infection, excess of one siRNA moderated the inhibitory effect of the other, suggesting competition for the RNAi machinery. Our results suggest that, if properly designed, low dosages of inhaled siRNA might offer a fast, potent and easily administrable antiviral regimen against respiratory viral diseases in humans.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nm1164 | DOI Listing |
JMIR Res Protoc
January 2025
South African Medical Research Council/University of Johannesburg Pan African Centre for Epidemics Research Extramural Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Background: HIV testing is the cornerstone of HIV prevention and a pivotal step in realizing the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) goal of ending AIDS by 2030. Despite the availability of relevant survey data, there exists a research gap in using machine learning (ML) to analyze and predict HIV testing among adults in South Africa. Further investigation is needed to bridge this knowledge gap and inform evidence-based interventions to improve HIV testing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Foot Ankle Surg
January 2025
Division of Foot and Ankle, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710. Electronic address:
As the incidence of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) for the management of end-stage arthritis is on the rise, identification of risk factors for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is essential. There has been limited research exploring the use of radiographic soft tissue thickness in TAA despite its predictive value in other forms of arthroplasty. This study evaluated the predictive capabilities of radiographic soft-tissue thickness for PJI following TAA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Prolif
January 2025
Engineering Research Center of Southwest Animal Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Chengdu, China.
Herpesviruses rely on host RNA polymerae II (RNA Pol II) for their mRNA transcription, yet the mechanisms of which has been poorly defined, while certain herpesviruses can enhance viral gene transcription by altering the RNA Pol II location, modulating its phosphorylation, or directly interacting with RNA Pol II. However, the influence of herpesviruses on RNA Pol II transcription extends beyond these direct effects. Here, we present a novel mechanism by which the host cell cycle regulates viral gene transcription via RNA Pol II during infection by Anatid Herpesvirus 1 (AnHV-1), an avian alpha-herpesvirus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Infect Dis
January 2025
Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics, and Informatics, Interdisciplinary Centre for Health Sciences, Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle Saale, Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Epidemiology Research Group Epidemiological and Statistical Methods, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany. Electronic address:
Objectives: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) often occur in early childhood and are mostly self-limited. However, they impose a high socioeconomic burden and can be associated with chronic diseases later in life. To date, data on self-reported ARI beyond infancy are limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBrucellosis, caused by a facultative intracellular gram-negative coccobacillus, is one of the most common zoonotic infections worldwide. Very rarely, brucellosis can cause periprosthetic joint infections (PJI). In this case-based literature review, we summarize the current medical literature regarding Brucella PJI, with the aim to raise awareness among clinicians, particularly in non-endemic areas.
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