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| Open AccessHuman movement and environmental barriers shape the emergence of dengue
Here, using a dynamic modelling approach, the authors find that the spread of dengue through Mexico and Brazil is shaped by specific interactions between human mobility, climate, and the environment. Their models can also be applied to predict future spread in these geographic areas.
- Vinyas Harish
- , Felipe J. Colón-González
- & Oliver J. Brady
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| Open AccessLongitudinal viral shedding and antibody response characteristics of men with acute infection of monkeypox virus: a prospective cohort study
Here the authors measure viral load in samples from skin lesions, saliva, oropharynx, and rectum of 77 patients with acute monkeypox virus infection as well as from environmental fomite swabs and show a high seropositivity rate for antibodies against A29L and H3L.
- Yang Yang
- , Shiyu Niu
- & Yingxia Liu
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| Open AccessPost-COVID conditions following COVID-19 vaccination: a retrospective matched cohort study of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection
The impact of COVID-19 vaccination on post-COVID conditions is not well understood. Here, the authors use electronic health record data from a network of eight integrated healthcare systems in the United States to compare rates of post-COVID conditions in those with and without vaccination.
- Debbie E. Malden
- , In-Lu Amy Liu
- & Sara Y. Tartof
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Article
| Open AccessCytomegalovirus drives Vδ1+ γδ T cell expansion and clonality in common variable immunodeficiency
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is an inborn error of immunity, characterized clinically by low immunoglobulin levels, poor vaccine responses and recurrent sinopulmonary infections. Here authors show that the proportion of Vδ1+ γδ T cells in CVID is higher than in healthy controls and these cells respond to persistent cytomegalovirus viremia with expansion and phenotypic alterations.
- Samantha Chan
- , Benjamin Morgan
- & Lauren J. Howson
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Article
| Open AccessSpatial disparities in the mortality burden of the covid-19 pandemic across 569 European regions (2020-2021)
Excess mortality can be used as an indicator of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, the authors estimate excess mortality in 569 European regions in 25 countries for 2020 and 2021 and describe how impacts changed over time.
- Florian Bonnet
- , Pavel Grigoriev
- & Carlo-Giovanni Camarda
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Article
| Open AccessEnhanced CD95 and interleukin 18 signalling accompany T cell receptor Vβ21.3+ activation in multi-inflammatory syndrome in children
Multi-Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a severe post-infectious presentation related to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here authors used multi-omics approaches to characterise MIS-C cases and found increased CD95 and IL-18 signalling accompanying the expansion of TCR Vβ 21.3+ T cells.
- Zhenguang Zhang
- , Iain R. L. Kean
- & Nazima Pathan
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Article
| Open AccessOriginal COVID-19 priming regimen impacts the immunogenicity of bivalent BA.1 and BA.5 boosters
Waning immunity and the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron lineage led to reduced vaccine effectiveness and required vaccine updates. Here, the authors assess how different priming regimens affect the immunogenicity of BA.1 and BA.5 bivalent boosters.
- Luca M. Zaeck
- , Ngoc H. Tan
- & Rory D. de Vries
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Article
| Open AccessSustained IFN signaling is associated with delayed development of SARS-CoV-2-specific immunity
The role of IFN signaling in SARS-CoV-2 infection and outcome is still debated. Here, the authors longitudinally profiled plasma samples from hospitalized patients and show that a persistent inflammatory response is linked to delayed generation of adaptive immunity and increased risk of death when coupled with severe infection.
- Elsa Brunet-Ratnasingham
- , Sacha Morin
- & Daniel E. Kaufmann
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Article
| Open AccessSerological evidence of zoonotic filovirus exposure among bushmeat hunters in Guinea
In a serological analysis, Bore et al. utilise serum samples, collected from a cohort of individuals associated with bushmeat hunting and butchering, in the forested region of Guinea, a region close to the epicentre of the 2013–2016 West Africa Ebola virus disease epidemic.
- Joseph Akoi Boré
- , Joseph W. S. Timothy
- & Miles W. Carroll
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Article
| Open AccessADAM9 promotes type I interferon-mediated innate immunity during encephalomyocarditis virus infection
Mice lacking A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase 9 (ADAM9) do not mount Type 1 interferon responses against encephalomyocarditis infection. Here, Bazzone et al show that ADAM9 regulates innate immune responses via by MDA5.
- Lindsey E. Bazzone
- , Junji Zhu
- & Evelyn A. Kurt-Jones
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Article
| Open AccessSafety, immunogenicity and efficacy of the self-amplifying mRNA ARCT-154 COVID-19 vaccine: pooled phase 1, 2, 3a and 3b randomized, controlled trials
In this randomized, controlled integrated phase 1/2/3a/3b clinical trial, the authors show that the self-amplifying mRNA COVID-19 vaccine ARCT-154 shows good immunogenicity and is safe and efficient against COVID-19 (57% against any COVID-19, and 95% against severe COVID-19).
- Nhân Thị Hồ
- , Steven G. Hughes
- & Xuan-Hung Nguyen
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Article
| Open AccessGene editing for latent herpes simplex virus infection reduces viral load and shedding in vivo
The main challenge for anti-HSV therapy is to target latent virus in ganglionic neurons. Here, the authors report a well-tolerated anti-HSV gene editing approach against HSV which targets latent HSV genomes and leads to reductions of ganglionic viral loads, and viral shedding upon reactivation in mouse models.
- Martine Aubert
- , Anoria K. Haick
- & Keith R. Jerome
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Article
| Open AccessHerpes simplex encephalitis due to a mutation in an E3 ubiquitin ligase
Encephalitis is a rare and severe complication of Herpes Simplex type 1 infection. Here, Bibert et al describe a genetic variant in a 2-year-old affected child that impairs interferon production in neuronal cells and enhances viral replication.
- Stéphanie Bibert
- , Mathieu Quinodoz
- & Pierre-Yves Bochud
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| Open AccessPredicting vaccine effectiveness for mpox
Here, based on a systematic review and meta-analysis, the authors analyze the relationship between vaccine immunogenicity and vaccine protection against mpox and predict the durability of protection after vaccination. This helps inform the optimal vaccine deployment in a health emergency.
- Matthew T. Berry
- , Shanchita R. Khan
- & David S. Khoury
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| Open AccessTemporal shifts in 24 notifiable infectious diseases in China before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
Public health and social measures for COVID-19 also impacted the incidence of other infectious diseases. In this study, the authors characterise the impacts of these measures on 24 notifiable infectious diseases in China until December 2023.
- Kangguo Li
- , Jia Rui
- & Tianmu Chen
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Article
| Open AccessSARS-CoV-2 Mpro responds to oxidation by forming disulfide and NOS/SONOS bonds
The main protease, a key enzyme of SARS-CoV-2, can protect itself from oxidative damage. Here, Reinke, Schubert, and colleagues used XFEL radiation to image the enzyme, revealing the disulfide and NOS/SONOS bonds that form in response to oxygen.
- Patrick Y. A. Reinke
- , Robin Schubert
- & Thomas J. Lane
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Article
| Open AccessConcomitant human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and screening for elimination of HPV and cervical cancer
Here the authors report baseline results of a population-based trial testing concomitant human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and HPV-based screening of young women in Sweden and, using a transmission model, suggest that this approach may reduce high-risk HPV infections.
- Laila Sara Arroyo Mühr
- , Andrea Gini
- & Joakim Dillner
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Article
| Open AccessAirway epithelial CD47 plays a critical role in inducing influenza virus-mediated bacterial super-infection
During the influenza pandemic, a large number of deaths resulted from secondary bacterial pneumonia caused by common upper respiratory tract bacteria, such as Staphylococcus. Here, Moon et al, find that the interaction between airway epithelial CD47 and the pathogenic bacterial FnBP is critical in causing bacterial superinfection.
- Sungmin Moon
- , Seunghan Han
- & Ji-Hwan Ryu
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| Open AccessDynamic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 genetic mutations in a lung transplantation patient with persistent COVID-19
In this study, the authors report the case of a patient who underwent lung transplantation and subsequently developed COVID-19 that resulted in persistent infection. Following antiviral treatment, SARS-CoV-2 (BA.5) showed dynamic genetic diversity with remdesivir resistant mutations leading to enhanced fusogenicity.
- Hidetoshi Igari
- , Seiichiro Sakao
- & Eiji Ido
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| Open AccessReservoir displacement by an invasive rodent reduces Lassa virus zoonotic spillover risk
Mastomys natalensis is a rodent species native to West Africa that is the primary reservoir host for Lassa virus. Here, the authors investigate whether the invasive rodent Rattus rattus decreases M. natalensis density and could therefore indirectly decrease zoonotic transmission of Lassa virus to humans.
- Evan A. Eskew
- , Brian H. Bird
- & Scott L. Nuismer
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Article
| Open AccessMucosal prime-boost immunization with live murine pneumonia virus-vectored SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is protective in macaques
Immunization via the respiratory route is predicted to increase the effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Here, Kaiser et al. describe a murine pneumonia virus vectored vaccine expressing spike protein, and show that intranasal immunization of male rhesus macaques provides good mucosal and systemic immunogenicity and efficacy.
- Jaclyn A. Kaiser
- , Christine E. Nelson
- & Cyril Le Nouën
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Article
| Open AccessBat-borne H9N2 influenza virus evades MxA restriction and exhibits efficient replication and transmission in ferrets
In this study, the authors report that bat H9N2 influenza A virus replicates and transmits in ferrets, efficiently infects human lung explant cultures, evades MxA antiviral activity in mice, and has low antigenic similarity to seasonal N2, meeting pre-pandemic criteria.
- Nico Joel Halwe
- , Lea Hamberger
- & Martin Beer
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Article
| Open AccessLoss of TRIM29 mitigates viral myocarditis by attenuating PERK-driven ER stress response in male mice
Knowledge of pathogenesis mechanisms and effective treatments for viral myocarditis is lacking. Here, Wang et al show that loss of TRIM29 and PERK inhibitor mitigate viral myocarditis by attenuating PERK-driven ER stress and ROS responses in male mice.
- Junying Wang
- , Wenting Lu
- & Junji Xing
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Article
| Open AccessLong-term monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and variants in Ethiopia provides prediction for immunity and cross-immunity
Detailed data on SARS-CoV-2 dynamics in Africa remain limited. Here, the authors use longitudinal serology and SARS-CoV-2 sequencing data from Ethiopia between August 2020 and July 2022 to characterise circulating variants, identify infection pathways, and explore cross-immunity properties.
- Simon Merkt
- , Solomon Ali
- & Andreas Wieser
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Article
| Open AccessMulti-omics analysis reveals COVID-19 vaccine induced attenuation of inflammatory responses during breakthrough disease
Here, Drury et al study gene, microRNA and protein expression during COVID-19, in a randomised controlled trial of ChAdOx1 nCoV19 vaccine and find that ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 attenuates the inflammatory response, thought to be the basis for severe COVID-19.
- Ruth E. Drury
- , Susana Camara
- & Daniel O’Connor
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Article
| Open AccessMonkeypox virus genomic accordion strategies
The 2023 monkeypox outbreak was caused by a subclade IIb monkeypox virus (MPXV). Here, using advanced sequencing techniques, the authors identify variations on low-complexity regions of the MPXV genome and describe their potential as evolutionary drivers.
- Sara Monzón
- , Sarai Varona
- & Gustavo Palacios
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Article
| Open AccessInflammation and cytomegalovirus viremia during pregnancy drive sex-differentiated differences in mortality and immune development in HIV-exposed infants
HIV exposed but uninfected infants may face an increased risk of serious infection and mortality. In this work, the authors utilise a cohort from rural Zimbabwe to explore the biological mechanisms underlying infant mortality.
- Ceri Evans
- , Kuda Mutasa
- & Andrew J. Prendergast
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Article
| Open AccessImprovement of immune dysregulation in individuals with long COVID at 24-months following SARS-CoV-2 infection
Post-acute sequelae of COVID (PASC) or long-COVID can affect a proportion of those infected but this is not well understood. Here the authors perform a single cell transcriptomics analysis of immune cells from long-COVID patients at 24 months and find that cell changes observed at 3 and 8 months do not persist to 24 months.
- Chansavath Phetsouphanh
- , Brendan Jacka
- & Gail V. Matthews
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Article
| Open AccessEmerging variants develop total escape from potent monoclonal antibodies induced by BA.4/5 infection
Many emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants partially escape the humoral immune response. Here, Liu et al. characterize 28 antibodies from BA.4/5 breakthrough infections and find attrition of neutralization and complete loss of function for variants with Spike mutations at positions 455 and 456.
- Chang Liu
- , Raksha Das
- & Gavin R. Screaton
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Article
| Open AccessUltrasensitive single-step CRISPR detection of monkeypox virus in minutes with a vest-pocket diagnostic device
The recent monkeypox outbreak highlighted the need for rapid and accurate diagnosis of this disease. Here, authors develop an ultrasensitive and streamlined CRISPR assay using miniaturized device, which can detect monkeypox virus in rash fluid swab, oral swab, saliva, and urine within 15 minutes.
- Yunxiang Wang
- , Hong Chen
- & Shengqi Wang
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Article
| Open AccessPerinatal outcomes after admission with COVID-19 in pregnancy: a UK national cohort study
The impacts of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on newborns are not well understood. Here, the authors perform a national cohort study using data on births in the UK from March 2020—March 2022 and find that moderate to severe maternal COVID-19 was associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.
- Hilde Marie Engjom
- , Rema Ramakrishnan
- & Marian Knight
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Article
| Open AccessPositive selection underlies repeated knockout of ORF8 in SARS-CoV-2 evolution
SARS-CoV-2 constantly evolves but the roles of resulting mutations are not always clear. In this study, the authors report that ORF8 knockout confers a fitness advantage to SARS-CoV-2 using genomic surveillance data, highlighting how different types of adaptations across the SARS-CoV-2 genome can drive variant fitness.
- Cassia Wagner
- , Kathryn E. Kistler
- & Trevor Bedford
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Article
| Open AccessDeep learning predictions of TCR-epitope interactions reveal epitope-specific chains in dual alpha T cells
Prediction of the specificity of a T cell receptor from amino acid sequence has been performed using different methods and approaches. Here the authors use TCRab sequences with known specificity to develop a deep learning TCR-epitope interaction predictor and use this method to predict specificity of dual alpha chain TCRs and TCRs specific for different antigens.
- Giancarlo Croce
- , Sara Bobisse
- & David Gfeller
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Article
| Open AccessThe genomic evolutionary dynamics and global circulation patterns of respiratory syncytial virus
This study on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) reveals global genomic gaps. Using INFORM-RSV data, it uncovers selection’s impact on RSVA and RSVB diversity. Analysing full genomes, it highlights non-neutral epidemic processes. The research emphasises air travel’s influence on global spread, underscoring the need for comprehensive RSV genomic surveillance.
- Annefleur C. Langedijk
- , Bram Vrancken
- & Shabir A. Madhi
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Article
| Open AccessBat species assemblage predicts coronavirus prevalence
Human encroachment into nature alters species communities and can lead to changes in disease dynamics. Here, Meyer et al. find that coronavirus prevalence increased in less diverse bat communities, which were dominated by susceptible host species.
- Magdalena Meyer
- , Dominik W. Melville
- & Simone Sommer
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| Open AccessMonoclonal antibodies targeting sites in respiratory syncytial virus attachment G protein provide protection against RSV-A and RSV-B in mice
Effective antibodies targeting various respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) proteins are needed to address public health burden of RSV. Here the authors shows that in addition to the currently approved F-targeting monoclonal antibodies, anti-G cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies to RSV-A and RSV-B strains can provide cross-protection and prevent from RSV disease.
- Youri Lee
- , Laura Klenow
- & Surender Khurana
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Article
| Open AccessEarly detection of emerging viral variants through analysis of community structure of coordinated substitution networks
Rise of new viral strains is a major public health challenge, demanding advanced detection and forecasting methods. This study shows how examining communities within networks of viral mutations enables early detection of emerging strains.
- Fatemeh Mohebbi
- , Alex Zelikovsky
- & Pavel Skums
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Article
| Open AccessMaternal hybrid immunity and risk of infant COVID-19 hospitalizations: national case-control study in Israel
Maternal anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies can provide protection against severe COVID-19 in infants, but the relative protection conferred by maternal infection, vaccination, and hybrid immunity is unknown. Here, the authors use data from Israel and show that infants born to mothers with hybrid immunity had lowest rates of COVID-19 hospitalisation.
- Joshua Guedalia
- , Michal Lipschuetz
- & Ofer Beharier
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Article
| Open AccessIncident allergic diseases in post-COVID-19 condition: multinational cohort studies from South Korea, Japan and the UK
SARS-CoV-2 infection has been linked to various persistent or new-onset health consequences, including disruption of the immune system. Here, the authors investigate the risk of new-onset allergic diseases following SARS-CoV-2 infection using data from South Korea, Japan, and the UK.
- Jiyeon Oh
- , Myeongcheol Lee
- & Dong Keon Yon
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Article
| Open AccessGasdermin D promotes influenza virus-induced mortality through neutrophil amplification of inflammation
Gasdermin D (GSDMD) is a pore forming protein activated by inflammasome derived caspases. Here the authors characterize the function of GSDMD in mouse influenza virus infection and show that immunopathology is reduced in the absence of GSDMD and involves changes in neutrophil function.
- Samuel Speaks
- , Matthew I. McFadden
- & Jacob S. Yount
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Article
| Open AccessThe SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody response to SD1 and its evasion by BA.2.86
Due to the focus of vaccination on the SARS CoV-2 spike protein, spike has been associated with high levels of viral mutation and subsequent immune escape. Here the authors study a conserved epitope in SARS CoV-2 sub-domain-1 and characterise the neutralising antibody response and evasion in contemporary SARS COV-2 viral strains.
- Daming Zhou
- , Piyada Supasa
- & Gavin R. Screaton
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Perspective
| Open AccessEcological countermeasures to prevent pathogen spillover and subsequent pandemics
In this Perspective, the authors discuss the importance of preventing zoonotic spillover to prevent pandemics. They highlight mechanisms by which environmental changes can enable spillover, identify ecological interventions for spillover prevention and suggest policy frameworks through which interventions can be implemented.
- Raina K. Plowright
- , Aliyu N. Ahmed
- & Annika T. H. Keeley
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Article
| Open AccessPrior infection with unrelated neurotropic virus exacerbates influenza disease and impairs lung T cell responses
Co-infections are much less studied than single pathogen infections. Here, the authors show that co-infection with two unrelated viruses, neurotropic Semliki Forest virus and influenza A virus, exacerbates influenza-related lung pathology and prolongs lung virus replication in a mouse model.
- Isabelle Jia-Hui Foo
- , Brendon Y. Chua
- & Lukasz Kedzierski
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Article
| Open AccessImmunization with V987H-stabilized Spike glycoprotein protects K18-hACE2 mice and golden Syrian hamsters upon SARS-CoV-2 infection
In this study, the authors report a mutation that increases the production of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike and exposure of the RBD. In animal models, a Spike-based vaccine containing the mutation induces strong immunogenicity, provides protection from disease and results in faster tissue viral clearance.
- Carlos Ávila-Nieto
- , Júlia Vergara-Alert
- & Jorge Carrillo
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Article
| Open AccessLong-term effects of Omicron BA.2 breakthrough infection on immunity-metabolism balance: a 6-month prospective study
Here the authors study recovery from mild to moderate Omicron breakthrough infection at six months post infection. Serum proteomics, PBMC single-cell transcriptomics and clinical parameters indicate slow recovery with coagulation abnormalities and an imbalance of the immune response and metabolism remaining.
- Yanhua Li
- , Shijie Qin
- & George Fu Gao
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Article
| Open AccessTargeted metagenomics reveals association between severity and pathogen co-detection in infants with respiratory syncytial virus
The impact of other pathogens on disease outcome was studied in European infants with RSV infection. Additional viruses were commonly co-detected during infection but were weakly linked to severity. However, presence of Haemophilus bacteria strongly associated with severe cases.
- Gu-Lung Lin
- , Simon B. Drysdale
- & Andrew J. Pollard
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Article
| Open AccessFilamentous fungus-produced human monoclonal antibody provides protection against SARS-CoV-2 in hamster and non-human primate models
The filamentous fungus expression system Thermothelomyces heterothallica (C1) is a protein expression system that may be useful for large scale antibody production. Here the authors characterise the production of a human monoclonal antibody that neutralises SARS-CoV-2 and compare functional properties in vitro and in animal models to antibodies produced using other methods.
- Franziska K. Kaiser
- , Mariana Gonzalez Hernandez
- & Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus
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Article
| Open AccessBacteriophage DNA induces an interrupted immune response during phage therapy in a chicken model
Bacteriophage are potential therapeutics to target bacterial infections, but recent studies suggest that bacteriophage may induce immune responses in eukaryotic cells. Here the authors show that bacteriophage DNA induces interrupted host immunity in a chicken infection model.
- Magdalena Podlacha
- , Lidia Gaffke
- & Alicja Węgrzyn
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Article
| Open AccessQuantifying how single dose Ad26.COV2.S vaccine efficacy depends on Spike sequence features
SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations in spike have emerged during the pandemic. Magaret et al. show that in Latin America, efficacy of the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine against moderate to severe–critical COVID-19 varied by sequence features, antibody escape scores, and neutralization impacting features of the SARS-CoV-2 variant.
- Craig A. Magaret
- , Li Li
- & Peter B. Gilbert