Development and Validation of a Novel COVID-19 nsp8 One-Tube RT-LAMP-CRISPR Assay for SARS-CoV-2 Diagnosis.

Accurate and simple diagnostic tests for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are essential components of the pandemic response. In this study, we evaluated a one-tube reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay coupled with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated protein-mediated endpoint detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in clinical samples. RT-LAMP-CRISPR is fast and affordable, does not require bulky thermocyclers, and minimizes carryover contamination risk.

Human Nasal Organoids Model SARS-CoV-2 Upper Respiratory Infection and Recapitulate the Differential Infectivity of Emerging Variants.

The human upper respiratory tract, specifically the nasopharyngeal epithelium, is the entry portal and primary infection site of respiratory viruses. Productive infection of SARS-CoV-2 in the nasal epithelium constitutes the cellular basis of viral pathogenesis and transmissibility. Yet a robust and well-characterized model of the nasal epithelium remained elusive.

Robustness of the Ferret Model for Influenza Risk Assessment Studies: a Cross-Laboratory Exercise.

Past pandemic influenza viruses with sustained human-to-human transmissibility have emerged from animal influenza viruses. Employment of experimental models to assess the pandemic risk of emerging zoonotic influenza viruses provides critical information supporting public health efforts. Ferret transmission experiments have been utilized to predict the human-to-human transmission potential of novel influenza viruses.

Subinhibitory Concentrations of Antibiotics Exacerbate Staphylococcal Infection by Inducing Bacterial Virulence.

Antibiotics are widely used for the treatment of bacterial infections. However, injudicious use of antibiotics based on an empirical method may lead to the emergence of resistant strains. Despite appropriate administration of antibiotics, their concentrations may remain subinhibitory in the body, due to individual variations in tissue distribution and metabolism rates.

Streptococcus sp. nov. Infection Associated with Guinea Pigs.

Pet bite-related infections are commonly caused by the pet's oral flora transmitted to the animal handlers through the bite wounds. In this study, we isolated a streptococcus, HKU75, in pure culture from the purulent discharge collected from a guinea pig bite wound in a previously healthy young patient. HKU75 was alpha-hemolytic on sheep blood agar and agglutinated with Lancefield group D and group G antisera.

Detection of the Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in Patients with Occult Hepatitis B by Use of an Assay with Enhanced Sensitivity.

Patients with occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) have undetectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by conventional assays but detectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in blood/liver. We evaluated the key performance characteristics of a sensitive HBsAg assay (Architect HBsAg Next qualitative assay, referred to as NEXT) with respect to HBsAg detection. Assay precision, sample carryover, and seroconversion sensitivity of NEXT were evaluated.

Are COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters Needed? The Science behind Boosters.

Waning vaccine-induced immunity coupled with the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants has led to increases in breakthrough infections, prompting consideration for vaccine booster doses. Boosters have been reported to be safe and increase SARS-CoV-2-specific neutralizing antibody levels, but how these doses impact the trajectory of the global pandemic and herd immunity is unknown. Information on immunology, epidemiology, and equitable vaccine distribution should be considered when deciding the timing and eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine boosters.

Susceptibility of Typhoidal, Nontyphoidal, and Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing to Ceftolozane/Tazobactam.

Both typhoidal and nontyphoidal salmonellae are included in the top 15 drug-resistant threats described by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Diversity of Treponema denticola and Other Oral Treponeme Lineages in Subjects with Periodontitis and Gingivitis.

More than 75 species/species-level phylotypes belonging to the genus Treponema inhabit the human oral cavity. Treponema denticola is commonly associated with periodontal disease, but the etiological roles and ecological distributions of other oral treponemes remain more obscure. Here, we compared the clinical distributions of phylogroup 1 and 2 oral treponemes in subgingival plaque sampled from Chinese subjects with periodontitis ( = 10) and gingivitis ( = 8) via sequence analysis of the highly conserved housekeeping gene.

Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies That Target the Spike Receptor Binding Domain Confer Fc Receptor-Independent Protection against SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Syrian Hamsters.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein is the main target for neutralizing antibodies. These antibodies can be elicited through immunization or passively transferred as therapeutics in the form of convalescent-phase sera or monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Potently neutralizing antibodies are expected to confer protection; however, it is unclear whether weakly neutralizing antibodies contribute to protection.

Suppression of JAK-STAT Signaling by Epstein-Barr Virus Tegument Protein BGLF2 through Recruitment of SHP1 Phosphatase and Promotion of STAT2 Degradation.

Some lytic proteins encoded by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) suppress host interferon (IFN) signaling to facilitate viral replication. In this study, we sought to identify and characterize EBV proteins antagonizing IFN signaling. The induction of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) by IFN-β was effectively suppressed by EBV.

Cellular 5'-3' mRNA Exoribonuclease XRN1 Inhibits Interferon Beta Activation and Facilitates Influenza A Virus Replication.

Cellular 5'-3' exoribonuclease 1 (XRN1) is best known for its role as a decay factor, which by degrading 5' monophosphate RNA after the decapping of DCP2 in P-bodies (PBs) in , yeast, and mammals. XRN1 has been shown to degrade host antiviral mRNAs following the influenza A virus (IAV) PA-X-mediated exonucleolytic cleavage processes. However, the mechanistic details of how XRN1 facilitates influenza A virus replication remain unclear.