Mosquito-independent milk-associated transmission of zoonotic Wesselsbron virus in sheep.

Wesselsbron virus (WSLV) is a zoonotic, mosquito-borne orthoflavivirus endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, causing abortions and stillbirths in small ruminants. The life cycle of WSLV involves Aedes mosquitoes and various wildlife and domestic animals. Seminal studies in the 1950s have shown the zoonotic potential of WSLV, notably in accidental infections of laboratory workers exposed to infected material.

A Novel and Rapid Selective Viral Genome Amplification and Sequencing Method for African Swine Fever Virus.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is the etiological agent of African swine fever, a highly contagious hemorrhagic disease affecting both wild boars and domestic pigs with lethality rates up to 100%. Until now, the most effective measure to prevent an outbreak of ASFV was early detection. In this situation, whole genome sequencing (WGS) allows the gathering of detailed information about the identity and epidemiology of the virus.

Multiplex PCR Approach for Rapid African Swine Fever Virus Genotyping.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) has been spreading through Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean after its introduction in Georgia in 2007 and, due to its particularly high mortality rate, poses a continuous threat to the pig industry. The golden standard to trace back the ASFV is whole genome sequencing, but it is a cost and time-intensive methodology. A more efficient way of tracing the virus is to amplify only specific genomic regions relevant for genotyping.

Evaluation of a novel intramuscular prime/intranasal boost vaccination strategy against influenza in the pig model.

Live-attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV) offer advantages over the commonly used inactivated split influenza vaccines. However, finding the optimal balance between sufficient attenuation and immunogenicity has remained a challenge. We recently developed an alternative LAIV based on the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus with a truncated NS1 protein and lacking PA-X protein expression (NS1(1-126)-ΔPAX).

New Generation Self-Replicating RNA Vaccines Derived from Pestivirus Genome.

While mRNA vaccines have shown their worth, they have the same failing as inactivated vaccines, namely they have limited half-life, are non-replicating, and therefore limited to the size of the vaccine payload for the amount of material translated. New advances averting these problems are combining replicon RNA (RepRNA) technology with nanotechnology. RepRNA are large self-replicating RNA molecules (typically 12-15 kb) derived from viral genomes defective in at least one essential structural protein gene.

Differential Gene Expression in Porcine Lung Compartments after Experimental Infection with .

(Mhyo) is the causative agent of porcine enzootic pneumonia (EP), as well as one of the main pathogens involved in the porcine respiratory disease complex. The host-pathogen interaction between Mhyo and infected pigs is complex and not completely understood; however, improving the understanding of these intricacies is essential for the development of effective control strategies of EP. In order to improve our knowledge about this interaction, laser-capture microdissection was used to collect bronchi, bronchi-associated lymphoid tissue, and lung parenchyma from animals infected with different strains of Mhyo, and mRNA expression levels of different molecules involved in Mhyo infection (ICAM1, IL-8, IL-10, IL-23, IFN-α, IFN-γ, TGF-β, and TNF-α) were analyzed by qPCR.

High pathogenic avian influenza A(H5) viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b in Europe-Why trends of virus evolution are more difficult to predict.

Since 2016, A(H5Nx) high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus of clade 2.3.4.

Molecular Epidemiology of Peste Des Petits Ruminants Virus in West Africa: Is Lineage IV Replacing Lineage II in Burkina Faso?

This study aimed at investigating the genetic lineages of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) currently circulating in Burkina Faso. As part of PPR surveillance in 2021 and 2022, suspected outbreaks in different regions were investigated. A risk map was produced to determine high-risk areas for PPR transmission.

Evolutionary-Related High- and Low-Virulent Classical Swine Fever Virus Isolates Reveal Viral Determinants of Virulence.

Classical swine fever (CSF) has been eradicated from Western and Central Europe but remains endemic in parts of Central and South America, Asia, and the Caribbean. CSF virus (CSFV) has been endemic in Cuba since 1993, most likely following an escape of the highly virulent Margarita/1958 strain. In recent years, chronic and persistent infections with low-virulent CSFV have been observed.

2023 International African Swine Fever Workshop: Critical Issues That Need to Be Addressed for ASF Control.

The 2023 International African Swine Fever Workshop (IASFW) took place in Beijing, China, on 18-20 September 2023. It was jointly organized by the U.S.

An RNA replicon system to investigate promising inhibitors of feline coronavirus.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal feline disease, caused by a feline coronavirus (FCoV), namely feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV). We produced a baby hamster kidney 21 (BHK) cell line expressing a serotype I FCoV replicon RNA with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene (BHK-F-Rep) and used it as an screening system to test different antiviral compounds. Two inhibitors of the FCoV main protease (M), namely GC376 and Nirmatrelvir, as well as the nucleoside analog Remdesivir proved to be effective in inhibiting the replicon system.

A sensitive luciferase reporter assay for the detection of infectious African swine fever virus.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a complex DNA virus causing severe hemorrhagic disease in domestic pigs and wild boar. The disease has spread worldwide, with important socio-economic consequences. Early virus detection and control measures are crucial as there are no effective vaccines nor antivirals on the market.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Peste des petits ruminants in different production systems in Uganda.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious and fatal disease of mostly domestic goats and sheep. First reported in Uganda in 2007, the extent of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) exposure, geographical distribution and risk factors of its transmission and spread are not clearly understood. In this study, we used cluster random sampling methodology to select study villages from three districts representing three different production systems along Uganda's "cattle corridor".

Pharmacological inhibition of bromodomain and extra-terminal proteins induces an NRF-2-mediated antiviral state that is subverted by SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Inhibitors of bromodomain and extra-terminal proteins (iBETs), including JQ-1, have been suggested as potential prophylactics against SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, molecular mechanisms underlying JQ-1-mediated antiviral activity and its susceptibility to viral subversion remain incompletely understood. Pretreatment of cells with iBETs inhibited infection by SARS-CoV-2 variants and SARS-CoV, but not MERS-CoV.

Optimization of real-time PCR protocols from lymph node bovine tissue for direct detection of complex.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a zoonotic disease and a global health problem that is subjected to obligatory eradication programs in the European Union. Microbiological culture is an imperfect technique for bTB diagnosis. This study aims to compare and validate two DNA isolation protocols and three different specific DNA targets, IS6110, IS4, and mpb70, to confirm complex (MTC) infection by real-time PCR directly from fresh tissue samples.

One for all-human kidney Caki-1 cells are highly susceptible to infection with corona- and other respiratory viruses.

investigations of host-virus interactions are reliant on suitable cell and tissue culture models. Results are only as good as the model they are generated in. However, choosing cell models for work often depends on availability and previous use alone.

Neuroinvasion and anosmia are independent phenomena upon infection with SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.

Anosmia was identified as a hallmark of COVID-19 early in the pandemic, however, with the emergence of variants of concern, the clinical profile induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection has changed, with anosmia being less frequent. Here, we assessed the clinical, olfactory and neuroinflammatory conditions of golden hamsters infected with the original Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 strain, its isogenic ORF7-deletion mutant and three variants: Gamma, Delta, and Omicron/BA.1.

Reverse Genetic Assessment of the Roles Played by the Spike Protein and ORF3 in Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Pathogenicity.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus is a swine pathogen that has been responsible for significant animal and economic losses worldwide in recent years. In this manuscript, we report the generation of a reverse genetics system C(RGS) for the highly virulent US PEDV strain Minnesota (PEDV-MN; GenBank accession number KF468752), which was based on the assembly and cloning of synthetic DNA, using vaccinia virus as a cloning vector. Viral rescue was only possible following the substitution of 2 nucleotides within the 5'UTR and 2 additional nucleotides within the spike gene, based on the sequence of the cell culture-adapted strains.

RTN3 and RTN4: Architects of SARS-CoV-2 replication organelles.

SARS-CoV-2 depends on host proteins for successful replication. In this issue, Williams et al. (2023.

Impact of supplementation with dihydroxylated vitamin D on performance parameters and gut health in weaned Iberian piglets under indoor/outdoor conditions.

Background: Vitamin D may improve innate antimicrobial response and the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier representing an alternative to antibiotics for improving pig health. Therefore, benefits of dietary supplementation with a product based on vitamin D metabolite-rich plant extracts were assessed in 252 purebred Iberian piglets for a period of 60 days. The study group received 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)D) (100 ppm) in the conventional feed, which already included vitamin D (2000 IU in the starter and 1000 IU in the adaptation diets, respectively).