Analysis of MLKL, RIP1 and RIP3 Immunostaining Markers in Human Liver Tissue from Fatal Yellow Fever Cases: Insights into Necroptosis.

Necroptosis is a regulated form of cell death implicated in several pathological conditions, including viral infections. In this study, we investigated the expression and correlation of necroptosis markers MLKL, RIP1 and RIP3 in human liver tissue from fatal cases of yellow fever (YF) using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The liver samples were obtained from 21 YF-positive individuals and five flavivirus-negative controls with preserved liver parenchymal architecture.

Scrub Typhus and Influenza A Co-Infection: A Case Report.

Scrub typhus, caused by , is a neglected and reemerging disease that causes considerable morbidity and mortality. It now extends beyond the Tsutsugamushi Triangle, the region wherein it has traditionally been endemic. Influenza has also resurged since the infection control measures against COVID-19 were relaxed.

Diversity of the Amoebozoa and Ciliophora Groups in Non-Human Primates Kept Ex Situ and in Their Handlers in Different Institutions in Brazil.

Parasitic infections in non-human primates (NHPs) kept ex situ can be caused by zoonotic protists like and . In Brazil, little is known about these infections in neotropical species. This study aimed to identify Amoebozoa and Ciliophora groups in fecal samples through in vitro isolation and molecular analysis, mapping their distribution in Brazil.

Emergence of Carbapenem-Resistant Harboring Isolated from River Water in Ghana.

, known for carrying the gene and linked to various diseases, is widely distributed. However, its prevalence in Ghana is unknown, mainly due to misidentification or inadequate research. In this study, for the first time, we characterized from Densu river water in Ghana.

Single Dose of Attenuated Vaccinia Viruses Expressing H5 Hemagglutinin Affords Rapid and Long-Term Protection Against Lethal Infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A H5N1 Virus in Mice and Monkeys.

Background/objectives: In preparation for a potential pandemic caused by the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, pre-pandemic vaccines against several viral clades have been developed and stocked worldwide. Although these vaccines are well tolerated, their immunogenicity and cross-reactivity with viruses of different clades can be improved.

Methods: To address this aspect, we generated recombinant influenza vaccines against H5-subtype viruses using two different strains of highly attenuated vaccinia virus (VACV) vectors.

Duration of infectious virus shedding of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant among immunocompromised patients.

Objective: The duration of viral shedding and criteria for de-isolation in the hospital among immunocompromised patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate viral shedding duration in immunocompromised patients infected with the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed at 2 tertiary medical centers in Japan during the Omicron epidemic waves from July 2022 to January 2023.

Atypical memory B cells from natural malaria infection produced broadly neutralizing antibodies against Plasmodium vivax variants.

Expansion of atypical memory B cells (aMBCs) was demonstrated in malaria-exposed individuals. To date, the generation of P. vivax-specific aMBCs and their function in protective humoral immune responses is unknown.

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB infections boost cross-variant neutralizing antibodies, potentially explaining the observed delay of the JN.1 wave in some Brazilian regions.

Unlabelled: The SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 lineage emerged in late 2023 and quickly replaced the XBB lineages, becoming the predominant Omicron variant worldwide in 2024. We estimate the epidemiologic impact of this SARS-CoV-2 lineage replacement in Brazil and we further assessed the cross-reactive neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses in a cohort of convalescent Brazilian patients infected during 2023.

Genome sequences of four Ixodes species expands understanding of tick evolution.

Background: Ticks, hematophagous Acari, pose a significant threat by transmitting various pathogens to their vertebrate hosts during feeding. Despite advances in tick genomics, high-quality genomes were lacking until recently, particularly in the genus Ixodes, which includes the main vectors of Lyme disease.

Results: Here, we present the genome sequences of four tick species, derived from a single female individual, with a particular focus on the European species Ixodes ricinus, achieving a chromosome-level assembly.

Dysfunctional BCAA degradation triggers neuronal damage through disrupted AMPK-mitochondrial axis due to enhanced PP2Ac interaction.

Metabolic and neurological disorders commonly display dysfunctional branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism, though it is poorly understood how this leads to neurological damage. We investigated this by generating Drosophila mutants lacking BCAA-catabolic activity, resulting in elevated BCAA levels and neurological dysfunction, mimicking disease-relevant symptoms. Our findings reveal a reduction in neuronal AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity, which disrupts autophagy in mutant brain tissues, linking BCAA imbalance to brain dysfunction.

Peptide nucleic acid-immobilised paper combined with multiplex recombinase polymerase amplification for the ultrasensitive and rapid detection of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis.

Rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) is a critical issue with significant implications for patient care, public health, and TB control efforts that necessitate comprehensive strategies for detection. This study presents a novel point-of-care diagnostic tool for RR-TB detection employing a peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-paper-based sensor combined with isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA). The sensor targets mutations in codons 516, 526, and 531 of the rpoB gene, the top three common mutations associated with rifampicin-resistant strains.

Preventive effect of flavor/fragrance components on SARS-CoV-2 infections.

The SARS-CoV-2 infection has spread to various areas of the world, and the number of infected people, seriously ill people, and deaths have increased in 2020∼2023. It is important to suppress the spread of virus from infected people to non-infected people in order to prevent the disease from becoming more severe. To protect widespread of virus, flavor/fragrances composition was selected as a convenient effective material to protect the inhibition.

MicroRNA-3145 as a potential therapeutic target for hepatitis B virus: inhibition of viral replication via downregulation of HBS and HBX.

Current treatments for hepatitis B virus (HBV), such as interferons and nucleic acid analogs, have limitations due to side effects like depression and the development of drug-resistant mutants, highlighting the need for new therapeutic approaches. In this study, we identified microRNA-3145 (miR-3145) as a host-derived miRNA with antiviral activity that is upregulated in primary hepatocytes during HBV infection. The expression of its precursor, pri-miR-3145, increased in response to the the virus infection, and miR-3145 downregulated the hepatitis B virus S (HBS) antigen and hepatitis B virus X (HBX), thereby inhibiting viral replication.

Advances in nucleic acid-based cancer vaccines.

Nucleic acid vaccines have emerged as crucial advancements in vaccine technology, particularly highlighted by the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The widespread administration of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 to billions globally marks a significant milestone. Furthermore, the approval of an mRNA vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) this year underscores the versatility of this technology.

Segment-specific promoter activity for RNA synthesis in the genome of Oz virus, genus Thogotovirus.

Oz virus (OZV), a tick-borne, six-segmented negative-strand RNA virus in the genus Thogotovirus, caused a fatal human infection in Japan in 2023. To study viral RNA synthesis, we developed an OZV minigenome assay using mammalian cells. This revealed variations in promoter activities among the six genome segments.

Seasonal activities, morphological characteristics, and veterinary importance of Haemaphysalis mageshimaensis in Ishigaki and Yonaguni, Okinawa, Japan.

Ticks are of veterinary importance as they transmit various pathogens to animals. In Yaeyama, Okinawa, Japan, Haemaphysalis longicornis became the dominant tick species after the eradication of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in the 1990s. However, any recent changes remained unclear due to lack of surveys.

Targeted sputum sequencing for rapid and broad drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Purpose: Rapid detection of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) from clinical samples facilitates the timely provision of optimal treatment regimens for tuberculosis (TB) patients.

Methods: In November, 2023, the WHO released its second catalogue of resistance-conferring mutations in Mtb. Utilizing this information, we developed a single 17-plex PCR assay covering 16 key resistance genes and modified thermo-protection buffer to amplify 30 kbp DNA directly from sputum samples for nanopore sequencing.

FilmArray® Effectively Detects All Clades of F41 but Encounters Challenges with Other Adenovirus Species.

The BioFire FilmArray® Gastrointestinal (GI) Panel, a widely used diagnostic tool, is designed to detect the genetic material of 22 common pathogens responsible for gastroenteritis, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It can detect human adenovirus (HAdV) species F, particularly serotypes F40 and F41, which are the major causes of diarrhea and mortality in children. However, its potential shortcomings in detecting other HAdV species limit its effectiveness in broader HAdV detection in clinical settings and outbreak investigations.

Enhancing safety with an AI-empowered assessment and monitoring system for BSL-3 facilities.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent demand for research, which has spurred the development of enhanced biosafety protocols in biosafety level (BSL)-3 laboratories to safeguard against the risks associated with handling highly contagious pathogens. Laboratory management failures can pose significant hazards.

Methods: An external system captured images of personnel entering a laboratory, which were then analyzed by an AI-based system to verify their compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) regulations, thereby introducing an additional layer of protection.

Multidisciplinary nursing care in chronic Chagas disease: a scoping review.

Background: Nurses provide essential care for symptomatic chronic Chagas disease carriers, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, offering crucial support, symptom management, medication administration, and monitoring to enhance their health-related quality of life.

Objective: To increase healthcare professionals' awareness of the critical role played by high-quality care in the management of patients with chronic Chagas disease.

Methods: This scoping review employed the PRISMA-ScR method as a framework for article selection.

Neutrophil adhesion to vessel walls impairs pulmonary circulation in COVID-19 pathology.

Microthrombus formation is associated with COVID-19 severity; however, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated mouse models with severe pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection by using our in vivo two-photon imaging system. In the lungs of SARS-CoV-2-infected mice, increased expression of adhesion molecules in intravascular neutrophils prolonged adhesion time to the vessel wall, resulting in platelet aggregation and impaired lung perfusion.

Effectiveness of the Facility for Elderly Surveillance System (FESSy) in Two Public Health Center Jurisdictions in Japan: Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Residents of facilities for older people are vulnerable to COVID-19 outbreaks. Nevertheless, timely recognition of outbreaks at facilities for older people at public health centers has been impossible in Japan since May 8, 2023, when the Japanese government discontinued aggressive countermeasures against COVID-19 because of the waning severity of the dominant Omicron strain. The Facility for Elderly Surveillance System (FESSy) has been developed to improve information collection.