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Viruses Aug 2021Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) infections lead to chronic diseases and remarkable economic losses undermining health and welfare of animals and the sustainability... (Review)
Review
Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) infections lead to chronic diseases and remarkable economic losses undermining health and welfare of animals and the sustainability of farms. Early and definite diagnosis of SRLVs infections is the cornerstone for any control and eradication efforts; however, a "gold standard" test and/or diagnostic protocols with extensive applicability have yet to be developed. The main challenges preventing the development of a universally accepted diagnostic tool with sufficient sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy to be integrated in SRLVs control programs are the genetic variability of SRLVs associated with mutations, recombination, and cross-species transmission and the peculiarities of small ruminants' humoral immune response regarding late seroconversion, as well as intermittent and epitope-specific antibody production. The objectives of this review paper were to summarize the available serological and molecular assays for the diagnosis of SRLVs, to highlight their diagnostic performance emphasizing on advantages and drawbacks of their application, and to discuss current and future perspectives, challenges, limitations and impacts regarding the development of reliable and efficient tools for the diagnosis of SRLVs infections.
Topics: Animals; Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus, Caprine; Goat Diseases; Goats; Lentivirus; Lentivirus Infections; Ruminants; Seroconversion; Serologic Tests; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Virology; Visna-maedi virus
PubMed: 34578292
DOI: 10.3390/v13091711 -
British Journal of Haematology Sep 2023High rates of lung failure have been reported in haematological patients after SARS-CoV2 infection. An early administration of monoclonal antibodies or anti-virals may...
High rates of lung failure have been reported in haematological patients after SARS-CoV2 infection. An early administration of monoclonal antibodies or anti-virals may improve the prognosis. Oral anti-virals may have a wider use independently of the genetic variations of the virus. Prospective data on anti-virals in haematological malignancies (HMs) are still lacking. Outpatients diagnosed with HM and early COVID-19 infection were prospectively treated with the oral anti-virals nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir. Incidence of lung failure, deaths and adverse events was analysed. Long-term outcome at third month was evaluated. Eighty-two outpatients were evaluable for the study objectives. All patients had been treated for their HM within 12 months. COVID-19-related lung failure was 23.1%. Active HM (aOR = 4.42; p = 0.038) and prolonged viral shedding (aOR = 1.04; p = 0.022) resulted independent predictors of severe infection. The vaccination with three to four doses (aOR = 0.02; p = 0.001) and with two doses (aOR = 0.06; p = 0.006) resulted protective. COVID-19-related deaths at 28 days were 6.1%. All-cause mortality at 90-day follow-up was 13.4% (n. 11) and included opportunistic infections and cardiovascular events. In conclusion, this approach reduced the incidence of lung failure and specific mortality compared to previous cohorts, but patients remain at high risk of further complications.
Topics: Humans; Prospective Studies; RNA, Viral; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Hematologic Neoplasms; Antiviral Agents
PubMed: 37259629
DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18895 -
Annual Review of Virology Sep 2019Genetic alleles that contribute to enhanced susceptibility or resistance to viral infections and virally induced diseases have often been first identified in mice before... (Review)
Review
Genetic alleles that contribute to enhanced susceptibility or resistance to viral infections and virally induced diseases have often been first identified in mice before humans due to the significant advantages of the murine system for genetic studies. Herein we review multiple discoveries that have revealed significant insights into virus-host interactions, all made using genetic mapping tools in mice. Factors that have been identified include innate and adaptive immunity genes that contribute to host defense against pathogenic viruses such as herpes viruses, flaviviruses, retroviruses, and coronaviruses. Understanding the genetic mechanisms that affect infectious disease outcomes will aid the development of personalized treatment and preventive strategies for pathogenic infections.
Topics: Adaptive Immunity; Animals; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Mice; Virus Diseases; Virus Physiological Phenomena; Viruses
PubMed: 31567067
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-092818-015544 -
Virus Research Dec 2019Given that approximately 10 virus particles exist on Earth and all of them are parasitic in living organisms, it is not hard to imagine how virus infection might affect...
Given that approximately 10 virus particles exist on Earth and all of them are parasitic in living organisms, it is not hard to imagine how virus infection might affect the physiology of hosts and their ecosystems. However, traditional virology research tends to focus on viral pathogenicity or the individual pathogenic viruses; hence, the significance of viruses and viral-mediated processes in the global ecosystem has been poorly understood. To identify the previously unrecognized "raison d'etre of viruses" in nature, we established a research community, designated as the 'Neo-virology' consortium. In this consortium, we define a virus as a component of the global ecosystem and our aim is to elucidate its key roles in host organisms, that is, the intra-host ecosystem.
Topics: Biodiversity; Biological Coevolution; Ecosystem; Host Microbial Interactions; Japan; Symbiosis; Virology; Virus Diseases; Virus Physiological Phenomena; Viruses
PubMed: 31520652
DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2019.197751 -
The Lancet. Infectious Diseases Dec 2023
Topics: Humans; Virology
PubMed: 38006884
DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(23)00694-1 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2021The ubiquitin (Ub) proteasome system (UPS) plays a pivotal role in regulation of numerous cellular processes, including innate and adaptive immune responses that are... (Review)
Review
The ubiquitin (Ub) proteasome system (UPS) plays a pivotal role in regulation of numerous cellular processes, including innate and adaptive immune responses that are essential for restriction of the virus life cycle in the infected cells. Deubiquitination by the deubiquitinating enzyme, deubiquitinase (DUB), is a reversible molecular process to remove Ub or Ub chains from the target proteins. Deubiquitination is an integral strategy within the UPS in regulating survival and proliferation of the infecting virus and the virus-invaded cells. Many viruses in the infected cells are reported to encode viral DUB, and these vial DUBs actively disrupt cellular Ub-dependent processes to suppress host antiviral immune response, enhancing virus replication and thus proliferation. This review surveys the types of DUBs encoded by different viruses and their molecular processes for how the infecting viruses take advantage of the DUB system to evade the host immune response and expedite their replication.
Topics: Animals; Deubiquitinating Enzymes; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Immune Evasion; Immunity, Innate; Life Cycle Stages; Ubiquitin; Ubiquitination; Viral Proteins; Virus Diseases; Virus Replication; Viruses
PubMed: 33922750
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094438 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2021While first and foremost considered a respiratory infection, COVID-19 can result in complications affecting multiple organs. Immune responses in COVID-19 can both... (Review)
Review
While first and foremost considered a respiratory infection, COVID-19 can result in complications affecting multiple organs. Immune responses in COVID-19 can both protect against the disease as well as drive it. Insights into these responses, and specifically the targets being recognised by the immune system, are of vital importance in understanding the side effects of COVID-19 and associated pathologies. The body's adaptive immunity recognises and responds against specific targets (antigens) expressed by foreign pathogens, but not usually to target self-antigens. However, if the immune system becomes dysfunctional, adaptive immune cells can react to self-antigens, which can result in autoimmune disease. Viral infections are well reported to be associated with, or exacerbate, autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In COVID-19 patients, both new onset MS and SLE, as well as the occurrence of other autoimmune-like pathologies, have been reported. Additionally, the presence of autoantibodies, both with and without known associations to autoimmune diseases, have been found. Herein we describe the mechanisms of virally induced autoimmunity and summarise some of the emerging reports on the autoimmune-like diseases and autoreactivity that is reported to be associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Topics: Adaptive Immunity; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Autoantibodies; Autoantigens; Autoimmune Diseases; Autoimmunity; COVID-19; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34445670
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168965 -
International Journal of Molecular... Oct 2020Virus detection in natural and clinical samples is a complicated problem in research and diagnostics. There are different approaches for virus isolation and... (Review)
Review
Virus detection in natural and clinical samples is a complicated problem in research and diagnostics. There are different approaches for virus isolation and identification, including PCR, CRISPR/Cas technology, NGS, immunoassays, and cell-based assays. Following the development of genetic engineering methods, approaches that utilize cell cultures have become useful and informative. Molecular biology methods allow increases in the sensitivity and specificity of cell cultures for certain viruses and can be used to generate reporter cell lines. These cell lines express specific reporter proteins (e.g., GFP, luciferase, and CAT) in response to virus infection that can be detected in a laboratory setting. The development of genome editing and synthetic biology methods has given rise to new perspectives regarding the design of virus reporter systems in cell cultures. This review is aimed at describing both virology methods in general and examples of the development of cell-based methods that exist today.
Topics: Animals; Cell Culture Techniques; Genes, Reporter; Genetic Engineering; Humans; Synthetic Biology; Virology; Viruses
PubMed: 33121109
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217978 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2021Neutrophils are important components of the innate immune system that mediate pathogen defense by multiple processes including phagocytosis, release of proteolytic... (Review)
Review
Neutrophils are important components of the innate immune system that mediate pathogen defense by multiple processes including phagocytosis, release of proteolytic enzymes, production of reactive oxygen species, and neutrophil extracellular trap formation. Abnormalities of neutrophil count and function have been described in the setting of HIV infection, with the majority of antiretroviral agents (ARVs), excluding zidovudine, having been reported to correct neutropenia. Questions still remain, however, about their impact on neutrophil function, particularly the possibility of persistent neutrophil activation, which could predispose people living with HIV to chronic inflammatory disorders, even in the presence of virally-suppressive treatment. In this context, the effects of protease inhibitors and integrase strand transfer inhibitors, in particular, on neutrophil function remain poorly understood and deserve further study. Besides mediating hemostatic functions, platelets are increasingly recognized as critical role players in the immune response against infection. In the setting of HIV, these cells have been found to harbor the virus, even in the presence of antiretroviral therapy (ART) potentially promoting viral dissemination. While HIV-infected individuals often present with thrombocytopenia, they have also been reported to have increased platelet activation, as measured by an upregulation of expression of CD62P (P-selectin), CD40 ligand, glycoprotein IV, and RANTES. Despite ART-mediated viral suppression, HIV-infected individuals reportedly have sustained platelet activation and dysfunction. This, in turn, contributes to persistent immune activation and an inflammatory vascular environment, seemingly involving neutrophil-platelet-endothelium interactions that increase the risk for development of comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) that has become the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected individuals on treatment, clearly underscoring the importance of unraveling the possible etiologic roles of ARVs. In this context, abacavir and ritonavir-boosted lopinavir and darunavir have all been linked to an increased risk of CVD. This narrative review is therefore focused primarily on the role of neutrophils and platelets in HIV transmission and disease, as well as on the effect of HIV and the most common ARVs on the numbers and functions of these cells, including neutrophil-platelet-endothelial interactions.
Topics: Animals; Anti-HIV Agents; Blood Platelets; HIV; HIV Infections; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Neutrophil Activation; Neutrophils; Platelet Activation; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 33777022
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.634386 -
Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark... Mar 2020N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, which alters gene expression, is the most prevalent internal modification of eukaryotic mRNA. m6A modification is dynamic and... (Review)
Review
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, which alters gene expression, is the most prevalent internal modification of eukaryotic mRNA. m6A modification is dynamic and reversible that is regulated by three associated protein groups: methyltransferases or writers, demethylases or erasers, and m6A-binding proteins or readers. m6A modification is involved in all phases of RNA life, from RNA folding and structure, stability, splicing, nuclear export, translational modulation to RNA degradation. Recent findings show that the abnormal level of m6A modification causes aberrant expression of important viral genes. Here, we reviewe m6A role in gene expression and its contribution to the development of human viral diseases. Particularly, we would focus on viruses associated with human diseases including HIV-1, IAV, HBV, HCV, EBV and so on to find a novel approach and provide a new sight for the innovative treatment of human viral diseases.
Topics: Adenosine; Humans; Methylation; Methyltransferases; RNA Folding; RNA Stability; RNA, Viral; RNA-Binding Proteins; Virus Diseases; Viruses
PubMed: 32114429
DOI: 10.2741/4852