Nipah virus survey in of eastern and northeastern region of India, 2022-2023.

Introduction: India has experienced seven outbreaks of the Nipah virus (NiV) since 2001, primarily occurring in the southern and eastern regions of the country. The southern region has been the main site for these outbreaks. In contrast, the eastern region, which borders Bangladesh, has not reported any outbreaks since 2007.

Novel α-mangostin derivatives as promising antiviral agents: Isolation, synthesis, and evaluation against chikungunya virus.

Investigations into fruit and vegetable processing residues (FVPRs) offer huge opportunities to discover novel therapeutics against many diseases. In this study, detailed investigation of Garcinia mangostana fruit peel extract led to the isolation and identification of ten known compounds (1-10). Further, a new series of α-mangostin derived sulphonyl piperzines, aryl alkynes and 1,2,3-triazole derivatives were synthesized using Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cyclo-addition reaction ("click" chemistry).

Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis outbreaks associated with Coxsackievirus A-24 in India, 2023.

Objective: Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC), commonly called pink eye, saw an alarming increase in incidence from July to September 2023 in different parts of India. Pink eye occurrences had reportedly increased three to four times more than in prior years, raising concerns among the community and healthcare professionals. This study aimed to identify the aetiological agent associated with AHC in 2023, genetically characterize the agent and describe the clinical presentation.

Molecular analysis of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis in a tertiary care hospital, Kalburgi district, Karnataka 2023.

Introduction: Viral infections are the predominant cause of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) across the globe. From July to August of 2023, a large-scale conjunctivitis outbreak was witnessed in India, affecting a large number of individuals. The present study was initiated to identify the causative agent responsible for the AHC outbreak in Kalburgi district of Karnataka state.

Short Communication: Coinfection of Japanese Encephalitis and Scrub Typhus in Acute Encephalitis Patients in North India.

Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is a significant public health issue in India, attributed to various etiologies. In eastern Uttar Pradesh, Japanese encephalitis (JE) was the leading cause of AES (10-14% of total AES) until scrub typhus (ST), caused by , was identified in cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples of AES patients contributing more than 60% of AES cases. This study investigates the prevalence of JE-ST coinfection and compares clinical outcomes among JE mono-infection, ST mono-infection, and JE-ST coinfection.

Use of Synthetic Membranes and Bovine Blood in Artificial Feeding Systems of Mosquitoes Improves Feeding Rates: Results from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Artificial blood feeding of mosquitoes is essential for their rearing in insectaries as well as for mosquito-borne pathogen transmission experiments. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the different artificial feeding systems available for mosquitoes to synthesize evidence regarding their efficacy in terms of feeding rates and fecundity. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were systematically searched to retrieve 1,822 experimental studies assessing the efficacy of artificial feeding systems.

Association of IL1RN VNTR and NKG2A polymorphisms with hepatitis E infection, a case study from western India.

Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN) is a competitive inhibitor of interleukin 1 (IL-1). Natural killer cells (NK cells) contribute to the elimination of viruses by their antiviral effector function, which depends on a balance between inhibitory and activating receptor genes such as NKG2D and NKG2A. Using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assays, the association of intronic single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes with viral infection were assessed in 111 patients with hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection and 222 HEV-naive healthy controls.

Norovirus outbreaks due to contaminated drinking water and probable person-to-person transmission, Kerala, India, 2021.

Background: In July 2021, the Alappuzha district in Kerala, India, reported an unexpected number of acute gastroenteritis (772) cases (Outbreak A). On October 10, 2021, a university in Wayanad, Kerala, reported 25 acute gastroenteritis cases (Outbreak B). We described both the outbreaks and determined the agent, source and risk factors.

In-silico evaluation of the T-cell based immune response against SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants.

During of COVID-19 pandemic, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has continuously evolved, resulting in the emergence of several new variants of concerns (VOCs) with numerous mutations. These VOCs dominate in various regions due to increased transmissibility and antibody evasion, potentially reducing vaccine effectiveness. Nonetheless, it remains uncertain whether the recent SARS-CoV-2 VOCs have the ability to circumvent the T cell immunity elicited by either COVID-19 vaccination or natural infection.

An Outbreak of Acute Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis Caused by Coxsackievirus A24 in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India 2023.

Introduction: Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) outbreaks are caused mostly by viruses. During July-August 2023, there was a sudden spike in acute hemorrhage conjunctivitis cases in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. To identify the etiological and gain molecular epidemiology of the agent, the study was conducted.

Humoral and cellular immune response to AZD1222 /Covishield and BV152/Covaxin COVID-19 vaccines among adults in India.

Several COVID-19 vaccines were developed using different approaches to prevent both symptomatic COVID-19 cases and fatalities. The adults were vaccinated with two doses of AZD1222/Covishield ( = 77) [manufactured by Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd] vaccine and BV152/Covaxin ( = 99) [manufactured by Bharat Biotech] vaccine. They were assessed for immune response at pre-vaccination, 1 month post first and 6 months post second dose for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody, surrogate neutralizing antibody (NAbs), immune phenotypes, antigen specific NK, B and T cell response, their effector functionality by ELISPOT and plasma cytokine profile.

Phylo-geo haplotype network-based characterization of SARS-CoV-2 strains circulating in India (2020-2022).

Background & objectives Genetic analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains circulating in India during 2020-2022 was carried out to understand the evolution of potentially expanding and divergent clades. Methods SARS-CoV-2 sequences (n=612) randomly selected from among the sequences of samples collected through a nationwide network of Virus Research Diagnostic Laboratories during 2020 (n=1532) and Indian sequences available in Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data during March 2020-March 2022 (n=53077), were analyzed using the phylo-geo haplotype network approach with reference to the Wuhan prototype sequence. Results On haplotype analysis, 420 haplotypes were revealed from 643 segregating sites among the sequences.

Exploring Niclosamide as a Multi-target Drug Against SARS-CoV-2: Molecular Dynamics Simulation Studies on Host and Viral Proteins.

Niclosamide has emerged as a promising repurposed drug against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In vitro studies suggested that niclosamide inhibits the host transmembrane protein 16F (hTMEM16F), crucial for lipid scramblase activity, which consequently reduces syncytia formation that aids viral spread. Based on other in vitro reports, niclosamide may also target viral proteases such as papain-like protease (PLpro) and main protease (Mpro), essential for viral replication and maturation.

RNAi-Induced Gene Silencing against Chikungunya and COVID-19: What Have We Learned So Far, and What Is the Way Forward?

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which small RNA molecules (such as small interfering RNAs or siRNAs) bind to specific messenger RNAs (mRNAs), leading to its degradation and inhibition of protein synthesis. Our studies have shown that RNAi can effectively silence genes involved in the replication of the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in cells. However, these investigations were performed only in laboratory settings and have yet to be tested in human clinical trials.

Evolution of drug resistance against antiviral agents that target cellular factors.

Antiviral drugs have classically been developed by directly disrupting the functions of viral proteins. However, this strategy has been largely unsuccessful due to the rapid generation of viral escape mutants. It has been well established that as compared to the virus-centric approach, the strategy of developing antiviral drugs by targeting host-dependency factors (HDFs) minimizes drug resistance.

Phytochemicals of Different Medicinal Herbs as Potential Inhibitors Against Dengue Serotype 2 Virus: A Computational Approach.

Dengue is one of the major mosquito-borne infectious diseases of the present century, reported to affect about 100-400 million people globally. The lack of effective therapeutic options has inspired several in vitro and in silico studies for the search of antivirals. Our previous study revealed the anti-dengue activity of different plant extracts from Plumeria alba, Bacopa monnieri, Vitex negundo, and Ancistrocladus heyneanus.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein: Reactivity against Delta and Omicron BA.1 variants.

The cross-species transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 infection has necessitated development of specific reagents for detecting infection in various animal species. The spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2, which is involved in viral entry, is a highly immunogenic protein. To develop assays targeting this protein, we generated eight monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the S1 and seven against the S1/S2 protein (ectodomain) of SARS CoV-2.

Leptospirosis in central India: A retrospective study to explore burden of tropical illness.

Leptospirosis, an underdiagnosed zoonotic disease in India, was studied retrospectively in Madhya Pradesh, Central India. Between 2018 and 2019, 2617 samples from patients with hepatitis-related symptoms were collected. Of these, 518 tested negative for hepatitis and other tropical viral diseases under the VRDL project were analyzed for leptospira IgM using ELISA.

Rubella immunity among pregnant women and the burden of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in India, 2022.

Background: India aims to eliminate rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) by 2023. We conducted serosurveys among pregnant women to monitor the trend of rubella immunity and estimate the CRS burden in India following a nationwide measles and rubella vaccination campaign.

Methods: We surveyed pregnant women at 13 sentinel sites across India from Aug to Oct 2022 to estimate seroprevalence of rubella IgG antibodies.

Identification of coxsackievirus A-24 GIV C5 strain as the cause of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis outbreak in Hyderabad, India in 2022.

Viral infection is frequently the cause for acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) epidemics. AHC can result from adenoviruses, with enterovirus 70 and coxsackievirus A24 being the primary agents. AHC was initially identified in Ghana in 1969, caused by enterovirus 70 and leading to a global pandemic.