Displaying publications 121 - 140 of 1514 in total

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  1. [Is the fight against dengue complicated with the emergence of a new viral serotype?]
    Valero N, Quiroz Y
    Invest Clin, 2014 Sep;55(3):203-5.
    PMID: 25272519
    Dengue is a viral acute febrile illness, currently considered one of the most important arbovirosis worldwide in terms of morbidity, mortality and economic impact. Various theories have been proposed to explain the pathogenesis of severe forms of dengue, involving among other factors, features related to the virus, such as the presence of more virulent strains and/or strains with increased replicative capacity. A crucial point at this time is the discovery of a new viral type, dengue 5, from nonhuman primates in Malaysia-Borneo, which could result in greater difficulties for control and vaccine production (currently in efficacy tests). Once the circulation of this viral type has been demonstrated in the human population, the high risk of infection will have extreme or controversial public health implications. Therefore, a worldwide program to combat dengue should include an urgent need to implement continuous vector elimination, community education and prevention and control of the disease. Only then, we will be aiming to reduce the morbidity and transmission risk of dengue, while new technological and effective alternatives come about.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue/virology*
  2. Study on sentinel hosts for surveillance of future COVID-19-like outbreaks
    Li Y, Hu J, Hou J, Lu S, Xiong J, Wang Y, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2024 Oct 19;14(1):24595.
    PMID: 39427096 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-76506-7
    The spread of SARS-CoV-2 to animals has the potential to evolve independently. In this study, we distinguished several sentinel animal species and genera for monitoring the re-emergence of COVID-19 or the new outbreak of COVID-19-like disease. We analyzed SARS-CoV-2 genomic data from human and nonhuman mammals in the taxonomic hierarchies of species, genus, family and order of their host. We find that SARS-CoV-2 carried by domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris), domestic cat (Felis catus), mink (Neovison vison), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) cluster closely to human-origin viruses and show no differences in the majority of amino acids, but have the most positively selected sites and should be monitored to prevent the re-emergence of COVID-19 caused by novel variants of SARS-CoV-2. Viruses from the genera Panthera (especially lion (Panthera leo)), Manis and Rhinolophus differ significantly from human-origin viruses, and long-term surveillance should be undertaken to prevent the future COVID-19-like outbreaks. Investigation of the variation dynamics of sites 142, 501, 655, 681 and 950 within the S protein may be necessary to predict the novel animal SARS-CoV-2 variants.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mink/virology
  3. Vector-borne diseases in Cyprus: A detailed review of the literature
    Seyer-Cagatan A, Ruh E, Taylan-Ozkan A
    Trop Biomed, 2024 Sep 01;41(3):328-344.
    PMID: 39548788 DOI: 10.47665/tb.41.3.014
    Vector-borne diseases have been a growing health concern in recent decades due to the global warming, globalization, and increased international travel. With the typical Mediterranean climate and geographical features, Cyprus provides favorable conditions for the growth and survival of arthropod species. For the purpose of this review article, the terms "Cyprus", "vectors" and "vectorborne diseases" were searched in the National Library of Medicine ('PubMed') and the Google Scholar databases. Published articles in the literature have documented mosquito (including Anopheles, Aedes, Culex, and Culiseta), sandfly (Phlebotomus, Sergentomyia), flea (including Ctenocephalides, Xenopsylla, Leptopsylla), and tick (including Rhipicephalus, Ixodes, Hyalomma, Haemaphysalis) species in the island. The presence of these arthropods poses a risk to public health as they can transmit a variety of diseases to both humans and animals. Research studies in Cyprus have identified infectious agents such as West Nile virus, Leishmania spp., sandfly viruses, Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, and Bartonella spp. in the local arthropods. More importantly, West Nile virus infection and imported malaria cases (mosquitoborne diseases); leishmaniasis and sandfly fever (sandfly-borne diseases); rickettsiosis, tularemia, Q fever, anaplasmosis, tick-borne relapsing fever, and Lyme disease (tick-borne diseases); and flea-borne rickettsiosis were reported in Cyprus. Taken together with the presence of arthropod vectors, published evidence in the literature suggests that Cyprus is an important region for VBDs. In addition to its climatic and geographical conditions, international travels particularly from endemic countries pose a risk for the circulation of VBDs on the island. Therefore, vector control programs should be continuously implemented, and public awareness must be raised in the region. This review, which to the best of our knowledge is the first comprehensive report on VBDs from Cyprus, will provide insight into future islandwide studies and also will be an important contribution to the elimination of VBDs in the region.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ticks/virology
  4. Development of a recombinant non-replicating Newcastle disease virus
    Cheow PS, Tan TK, Song AA, Yusoff K, Chia SL
    Avian Pathol, 2025 Feb;54(1):149-157.
    PMID: 39318350 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2024.2403412
    Development of nr-NDV.Reverse transfection was applied for the recovery of nr-NDV.Propagation of nr-NDV was done by sub-passaging transfected BSR T7/5 cells.Safety profile was done to prove that the nr-NDV is non-replicating.
    Matched MeSH terms: Chickens/virology
  5. Pathogenicity and phylogenetic analysis of ovine contagious ecthyma virus isolated during a sheeppox outbreak in Morocco
    Bamouh Z, Tifrouin I, Elkarhat Z, Abid L, Fellahi S, Elharrak M
    Microb Pathog, 2024 Dec;197:107023.
    PMID: 39423917 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.107023
    Contagious ecthyma (CE), also known as ORF is a highly contagious zoonotic viral skin disease that affects humans, sheep, goats and other domesticated and wild animals. As reported here-in, the objective of this study was to investigate a suspected outbreak of both sheeppox and ORF diseases in a sheep herd during the winter of 2020 in Northwest Morocco. The affected sheep showed nodules and proliferative scabby skin lesions around the mouth and hairless area of the body. Samples of skin crust were collected for virus identification and isolation. A virus was isolated in Vero cells, lamb testis and heart cells and the cytopathic effect was characterized by cells aggregation, ballooning, and detachment. Initially, the suspensions of skin crust were positive for sheeppox virus (SPPV) by PCR. Subsequent testing of the isolated virus from skin crust of affected animals indicated that the virus was SPPV-negative and ORFV-positive by PCR. Furthermore, nucleotide sequences of the B2L aligned with reference ORFV isolates for genetic analysis. Phylogenetic analyses results confirmed that the isolated virus was ORFV and that the virus was closely related to ORFV strains isolated in Sudan and Malaysia. In conclusion, this study is the first reported detection of ORFV in Morocco, and therefore, poses as an imminent threat to the health of humans, domestic and wild animals.
    Matched MeSH terms: Skin/virology
  6. Metabolic regulation of the tumour and its microenvironment: The role of Epstein-Barr virus
    Lee SH, Khoo AS, Griffiths JR, Mat Lazim N
    Int J Cancer, 2025 Feb 01;156(3):488-498.
    PMID: 39291683 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.35192
    The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the first identified human tumour virus, infects over 95% of the individuals globally and has the potential to induce different types of cancers. It is increasingly recognised that EBV infection not only alters cellular metabolism, contributing to neoplastic transformation, but also utilises several non-cell autonomous mechanisms to shape the metabolic milieu in the tumour microenvironment (TME) and its constituent stromal and immune cells. In this review, we explore how EBV modulates metabolism to shape the interactions between cancer cells, stromal cells, and immune cells within a hypoxic and acidic TME. We highlight how metabolites resulting from EBV infection act as paracrine factors to regulate the TME, and how targeting them can disrupt barriers to immunotherapy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Stromal Cells/virology
  7. Warming and UV Radiation Alleviate the Effect of Virus Infection on the Microalga Emiliania huxleyi
    Fu Q, Huang R, Li F, Beardall J, Hutchins DA, Liu J, et al.
    Plant Cell Environ, 2025 Mar;48(3):1829-1841.
    PMID: 39494748 DOI: 10.1111/pce.15262
    The marine microalga Emiliania huxleyi is widely distributed in the surface oceans and is prone to infection by coccolithoviruses that can terminate its blooms. However, little is known about how global change factors like solar UV radiation (UVR) and ocean warming affect the host-virus interaction. We grew the microalga at 2 temperature levels with or without the virus in the presence or absence of UVR and investigated the physiological and transcriptional responses. We showed that viral infection noticeably reduced photosynthesis and growth of the alga but was less harmful to its physiology under conditions where UVR influenced viral DNA expression. In the virus-infected cells, the combination of UVR and warming (+4°C) led to a 13-fold increase in photosynthetic carbon fixation rate, with warming alone contributing a change of about 5-7-fold. This was attributed to upregulated expression of genes related to carboxylation and light-harvesting proteins under the influence of UVR, and to warming-reduced infectivity. In the absence of UVR, viral infection downregulated the metabolic pathways of photosynthesis and fatty acid degradation. Our results suggest that solar UV exposure in a warming ocean can reduce the severity of viral attack on this ecologically important microalga, potentially prolonging its blooms.
    Matched MeSH terms: Microalgae/virology
  8. Developing a time series prediction modelling for dengue in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
    Md Taib N, Atil A, Dapari R, Hassan MR, Kunasagran PD, Zali SMIRM, et al.
    Med J Malaysia, 2025 Mar;80(2):161-167.
    PMID: 40145157
    INTRODUCTION: Dengue is a major public health issue, with 3,900,000 people living in 129 dengue-endemic countries globally facing a risk of contracting dengue fever. Dengue incidence in Sabah is among the highest in Malaysia. In 2022, Kota Kinabalu District reported 22% of the total number of dengue cases in Sabah. The objective of this study was to develop a prediction model for dengue incidence using meteorological, entomological, and environmental parameters in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: An ecological study was conducted from 2016 to 2021 using the dengue database and meteorological data. The forecasting model for dengue incidence was performed with R software using the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model. The model was fitted based on the reported weekly incidence of dengue from 2016 to 2020 and validated using data collected between January and December 2021.

    RESULTS: SARIMA (1,1,1) (1,1,0)52 with the external regressor maximal temperature, Aedes index, and vacant lot were the models with minimal measurement errors, as indicated by the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) values of 3.04, Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of 4.43, and Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) of 1354.82.

    CONCLUSIONS: The predicted values in 2021 accurately forecasted the capability to serve as an early warning system for proactive dengue measures. This information is deemed valuable to healthcare administrators for enhancing the level of preparedness.

    Matched MeSH terms: Aedes/virology
  9. Effect of Domain Manipulation in the Staphylococcal Phage Endolysin, Endo88, on Lytic Efficiency and Host Range
    Krishnan M, Tham HY, Wan Nur Ismah WAK, Yusoff K, Song AA
    Mol Biotechnol, 2025 Jun;67(6):2536-2544.
    PMID: 38904894 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-024-01216-4
    The bacteriophage endolysin Endo88 targeting Staphylococcus aureus PS88 consists of the CHAP and Amidase-2 enzymatic domains and one SH3b targeting domain. In this study, the effects of domain manipulations on Endo88 functionality were determined. Three truncated mutants of Endo88 (CHAP, CHAPAmidase and CHAPSH3) and two chimeras (CHAPAmidase-Cpl7Cpl7 and Endo88-Cpl7Cpl7) containing the Cpl7Cpl7 targeting domains of the streptococcal LambdaSa2-ECC endolysin were cloned in E. coli (pET28a), expressed, and then purified. Lytic efficiency and host range were assessed through plate lysis assays and turbidity reduction assays. Endo88 required all domains for maximum functionality, with activity detected against Staphylococcus aureus PS88 (host strain), S. aureus Mu50 (VISA), CoNS (Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus hominis), and Enterococcus faecalis. The truncated constructs maintained the original host range but with reduced lytic efficiency. The Amidase-2 and SH3b domains are interdependent in maximizing functionality. The chimera constructs demonstrated reduced functionality, without activity against Streptococcus agalactiae in both assays. This study provides insights into domain function in a staphylococcal endolysin, which could enable the development of prospective engineered antimicrobials against multidrug-resistant pathogens.
    Matched MeSH terms: Staphylococcus aureus/virology
  10. First molecular detection of porcine bocavirus in Malaysia
    Mohan Jacob D, Lee CY, Arshad SS, Selvarajah GT, Bande F, Ong BL, et al.
    Trop Anim Health Prod, 2018 Apr;50(4):733-739.
    PMID: 29243138 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-017-1489-z
    Several strains of porcine bocaviruses have been reported worldwide since their first detection in Sweden in 2009. Subsequently, the virus has been reported to be associated with gastrointestinal and respiratory signs in weaner and grower pigs. Although Malaysia is host to a self-sufficient swine livestock industry, there is no study that describes porcine bocavirus in the country. This report is the first to describe porcine bocavirus (PBoV) in Malaysian swine herds. PBoV was identified in various tissues from sick and runt pigs using the conventional PCR method with primers targeting conserved regions encoding for the nonstructural protein (NS1) gene. Out of 103 samples tested from 17 pigs, 32 samples from 15 pigs were positive for porcine bocavirus. In addition, a higher detection rate was identified from mesenteric lymph nodes (52.9%), followed by tonsil (37.0%), and lungs (33.3%). Pairwise comparison and phylogenetic analyses based on a 658-bp fragment of NS1 gene revealed that the Malaysian PBoV strains are highly similar to PBoV3 isolated in Minnesota, USA. The presence of porcine bocavirus in Malaysia and their phylogenetic bond was marked for the first time by this study. Further studies will establish the molecular epidemiology of PBoV in Malaysia and clarify pathogenicity of the local isolates.
    Matched MeSH terms: Parvoviridae Infections/virology; Swine/virology*; Swine Diseases/virology*
  11. Fulltext The Main Risk Factors of Nipah Disease and Its Risk Analysis in China
    Yu J, Lv X, Yang Z, Gao S, Li C, Cai Y, et al.
    Viruses, 2018 10 19;10(10).
    PMID: 30347642 DOI: 10.3390/v10100572
    Nipah disease is a highly fatal zoonosis which is caused by the Nipah virus. The Nipah virus is a BSL-4 virus with fruit bats being its natural host. It is mainly prevalent in Southeast Asia. The virus was first discovered in 1997 in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Currently, it is mainly harmful to pigs and humans with a high mortality rate. This study describes the route of transmission of the Nipah virus in different countries and analyzes the possibility of the primary disease being in China and the method of its transmission to China. The risk factors are analyzed for different susceptible populations to Nipah disease. The aim is to improve people's risk awareness and prevention and control of the disease and reduce its risk of occurring and spreading in China.
    Matched MeSH terms: Swine Diseases/virology*; Zoonoses/virology; Henipavirus Infections/virology*
  12. Fulltext Molecular detection and characterisation of feline morbillivirus in domestic cats in Malaysia
    Mohd Isa NH, Selvarajah GT, Khor KH, Tan SW, Manoraj H, Omar NH, et al.
    Vet Microbiol, 2019 Sep;236:108382.
    PMID: 31500720 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2019.08.005
    Feline morbillivirus (FeMV), a novel virus from the family of Paramyxoviridae, was first identified in stray cat populations. The objectives of the current study were to (i) determine the molecular prevalence of FeMV in Malaysia; (ii) identify risk factors associated with FeMV infection; and (iii) characterise any FeMV isolates by phylogenetic analyses. Molecular analysis utilising nested RT-PCR assay targeting the L gene of FeMV performed on either urine, blood and/or kidney samples collected from 208 cats in this study revealed 82 (39.4%) positive cats. FeMV-positive samples were obtained from 63/124 (50.8%) urine and 20/25 (80.0%) kidneys while all blood samples were negative for FeMV. In addition, from the 35 cats that had more than one type of samples collected (blood and urine; blood and kidney; blood, urine and kidney), only one cat had FeMV RNA in the urine and kidney samples. Risk factors such as gender, presence of kidney-associated symptoms and cat source were also investigated. Male cats had a higher risk (p = 0.031) of FeMV infection than females. In addition, no significant association (p = 0.083) was observed between the presence of kidney-associated symptoms with FeMV status. From the 82 positive samples, FeMV RNA was detected from 48/82 (58.5%) pet cats and 34/126 (27.0%) shelter cats (p 
    Matched MeSH terms: Cat Diseases/virology*; Kidney Diseases/virology; Morbillivirus Infections/virology
  13. Genome sequencing and phylogenetic reconstruction reveal a potential fourth rhinovirus species and its worldwide distribution
    Ng KT, Takebe Y, Kamarulzaman A, Tee KK
    Arch Virol, 2021 Jan;166(1):225-229.
    PMID: 33084935 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-020-04855-5
    Genome sequences of members of a potential fourth rhinovirus (RV) species, provisionally denoted as rhinovirus A clade D, from patients with acute respiratory infection were determined. Bayesian coalescent analysis estimated that clade D emerged around the 1940s and diverged further around 2006-2007 into two distinctive sublineages (RV-A8-like and RV-A45-like) that harbored unique "clade-defining" substitutions. Similarity plots and bootscan mapping revealed a recombination breakpoint located in the 5'-UTR region of members of the RV-A8-like sublineage. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed the distribution of clade D viruses in the Asia Pacific region and in Europe, underlining its worldwide distribution.
    Matched MeSH terms: Enterovirus Infections/virology; Picornaviridae Infections/virology*; Respiratory Tract Infections/virology
  14. Fulltext Probable Pangolin Origin of SARS-CoV-2 Associated with the COVID-19 Outbreak
    Zhang T, Wu Q, Zhang Z
    Curr Biol, 2020 Apr 06;30(7):1346-1351.e2.
    PMID: 32197085 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.03.022
    An outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) began in the city of Wuhan in China and has widely spread worldwide. Currently, it is vital to explore potential intermediate hosts of SARS-CoV-2 to control COVID-19 spread. Therefore, we reinvestigated published data from pangolin lung samples from which SARS-CoV-like CoVs were detected by Liu et al. [1]. We found genomic and evolutionary evidence of the occurrence of a SARS-CoV-2-like CoV (named Pangolin-CoV) in dead Malayan pangolins. Pangolin-CoV is 91.02% and 90.55% identical to SARS-CoV-2 and BatCoV RaTG13, respectively, at the whole-genome level. Aside from RaTG13, Pangolin-CoV is the most closely related CoV to SARS-CoV-2. The S1 protein of Pangolin-CoV is much more closely related to SARS-CoV-2 than to RaTG13. Five key amino acid residues involved in the interaction with human ACE2 are completely consistent between Pangolin-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, but four amino acid mutations are present in RaTG13. Both Pangolin-CoV and RaTG13 lost the putative furin recognition sequence motif at S1/S2 cleavage site that can be observed in the SARS-CoV-2. Conclusively, this study suggests that pangolin species are a natural reservoir of SARS-CoV-2-like CoVs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Reservoirs/virology*; Pneumonia, Viral/virology*; Coronavirus Infections/virology*
  15. Fulltext Wide area spray of bacterial larvicide, Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis strain AM65-52, integrated in the national vector control program impacts dengue transmission in an urban township in Sibu district, Sarawak, Malaysia
    Bohari R, Jin Hin C, Matusop A, Abdullah MR, Ney TG, Benjamin S, et al.
    PLoS One, 2020;15(4):e0230910.
    PMID: 32236146 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230910
    Several sites, Z-7L, Z-5 and Z-14, in Sibu district, Sarawak, Malaysia, experienced intense dengue transmission in 2014 that continued into 2015. A pilot study with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) to control Aedes aegypti (L.) and Ae. albopictus (Skuse) was evaluated in Z-7L, a densely populated site of 12 ha. Bti treatments were conducted weekly from epidemiology week (EW) 24/2015 for 4 weeks, followed by fortnight treatments for 2 months, in addition to the routine control activities. Bti was directly introduced into potable containers and the outdoor artificial and natural containers were treated via a wide area spray application method using a backpack mister. Aedes indices significantly reduced during the treatment and post treatment phases, compared to the control site, Z-5 (p<0.05). A 51 fold reduction in the incidence rate per 100,000 population (IR) was observed, with one case in 25 weeks (EW 29-52). In Z-5 and Z-14, control sites, a 6 fold reduction in the IR was observed from EW 29-52. However, almost every week there were dengue cases in Z-14 and until EW 44 in Z-5. In 2016, dengue cases resurfaced in Z-7L from EW 4. Intensive routine control activities were conducted, but the IR continued to escalate. The wide area Bti spray misting of the outdoor containers was then included from EW 27 on fortnight intervals. A 6 fold reduction in IR was observed in the Bti treatment phase (EW 32-52) with no successive weekly cases after EW 37. However, in the control sites, there were dengue cases throughout the year from EW 1-52, particularly in Z-14. We feel that the wide area Bti spray application method is an integral component in the control program, in conjunction with other control measures carried out, to suppress the vector population in outdoor cryptic containers and to interrupt the disease transmission.
    Matched MeSH terms: Aedes/virology; Disease Reservoirs/virology; Larva/virology
  16. Fulltext TREM-1 activation is a potential key regulator in driving severe pathogenesis of enterovirus A71 infection
    Amrun SN, Tan JJL, Rickett NY, Cox JA, Lee B, Griffiths MJ, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2020 03 02;10(1):3810.
    PMID: 32123257 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60761-5
    Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), caused by enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), presents mild to severe disease, and sometimes fatal neurological and respiratory manifestations. However, reasons for the severe pathogenesis remain undefined. To investigate this, infection and viral kinetics of EV-A71 isolates from clinical disease (mild, moderate and severe) from Sarawak, Malaysia, were characterised in human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD), neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). High resolution transcriptomics was used to decipher EV-A71-host interactions in PBMCs. Ingenuity analyses revealed similar pathways triggered by all EV-A71 isolates, although the extent of activation varied. Importantly, several pathways were found to be specific to the severe isolate, including triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM-1) signalling. Depletion of TREM-1 in EV-A71-infected PBMCs with peptide LP17 resulted in decreased levels of pro-inflammatory genes for the moderate and severe isolates. Mechanistically, this is the first report describing the transcriptome profiles during EV-A71 infections in primary human cells, and the potential involvement of TREM-1 in the severe disease pathogenesis, thus providing new insights for future treatment targets.
    Matched MeSH terms: B-Lymphocytes/virology; Monocytes/virology; T-Lymphocytes/virology
  17. Fulltext Hayes Yard virus: a novel ephemerovirus isolated from a bull with severe clinical signs of bovine ephemeral fever is most closely related to Puchong virus
    Blasdell KR, Davis SS, Voysey R, Bulach DM, Middleton D, Williams S, et al.
    Vet Res, 2020 Apr 29;51(1):58.
    PMID: 32349781 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-020-00781-1
    Bovine ephemeral fever is a vector-borne disease of ruminants that occurs in tropical and sub-tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australia. The disease is caused by a rhabdovirus, bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV), which occurs as a single serotype globally. Although several other closely related ephemeroviruses have been isolated from cattle and/or arthropods, only kotonkan virus from Nigeria and (tentatively) Mavingoni virus from Mayotte Island in the Indian Ocean have been previously associated with febrile disease. Here, we report the isolation of a novel virus (Hayes Yard virus; HYV) from blood collected in February 2000 from a bull (Bos indicus) in the Northern Territory of Australia. The animal was suffering from a severe ephemeral fever-like illness with neurological involvement, including recumbency and paralysis, and was euthanised. Histological examination of spinal cord and lung tissue identified extensive haemorrhage in the dura mata with moderate perineuronal oedema and extensive emphysema. HYV displayed cone-shaped morphology, typical of rhabdoviruses, and was found to be most closely related antigenically to Puchong virus (PUCV), isolated in 1965 from mosquitoes in Malaysia. Analysis of complete genome sequences of HYV (15 025 nt) and PUCV (14 932 nt) indicated that each has a complex organisation (3' N-P-M-G-GNS-α1-α2-β-γ-L 5') and expression strategy, similar to that of BEFV. Based on an alignment of complete L protein sequences, HYV and PUCV cluster with other rhabdoviruses in the genus Ephemerovirus and appear to represent two new species. Neutralising antibody to HYV was also detected in a retrospective survey of cattle sera collected in the Northern Territory.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cattle Diseases/virology*; Ephemeral Fever/virology; Rhabdoviridae Infections/virology
  18. Fulltext Blueberry red ringspot virus genomes from Florida inferred through analysis of blueberry root transcriptomes
    Saad N, Alcalá-Briseño RI, Polston JE, Olmstead JW, Varsani A, Harmon PF
    Sci Rep, 2020 Jul 21;10(1):12043.
    PMID: 32694553 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68654-3
    A growing number of metagenomics-based approaches have been used for the discovery of viruses in insects, cultivated plants, and water in agricultural production systems. In this study, sixteen blueberry root transcriptomes from eight clonally propagated blueberry plants of cultivar 'Emerald' (interspecific hybrid of Vaccinium corymbosum and V. darrowi) generated as part of a separate study on varietal tolerance to soil salinity were analyzed for plant viral sequences. The objective was to determine if the asymptomatic plants harbored the latent blueberry red ringspot virus (BRRV) in their roots. The only currently known mechanism of transmission of BRRV is through vegetative propagation; however, the virus can remain latent for years with some plants of 'Emerald' never developing red ringspot symptoms. Bioinformatic analyses of 'Emerald' transcriptomes using de novo assembly and reference-based mapping approaches yielded eight complete viral genomes of BRRV (genus Soymovirus, family Caulimoviridae). Validation in vitro by PCR confirmed the presence of BRRV in 100% of the 'Emerald' root samples. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses showed 94% to 97% nucleotide identity between BRRV genomes from Florida and sequences from Czech Republic, Japan, Poland, Slovenia, and the United States. Taken together, this study documented the first detection of a complete BRRV genome from roots of asymptomatic blueberry plants and in Florida through in silico analysis of plant transcriptomes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plant Diseases/virology*; Plant Roots/virology; Blueberry Plant/virology*
  19. Fulltext Detection of Japanese Encephalitis Virus in Culex Mosquitoes in Singapore
    Yap G, Mailepessov D, Lim XF, Chan S, How CB, Humaidi M, et al.
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2020 09;103(3):1234-1240.
    PMID: 32700679 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0377
    Mosquito-borne flaviviruses are emerging pathogens of an increasing global public health concern because of their rapid increase in geographical range and the impact of climate change. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and West Nile virus (WNV) are of concern because of the risk of reemergence and introduction by migratory birds. In Singapore, human WNV infection has never been reported and human JEV infection is rare. Four sentinel vector surveillance sites were established in Singapore to understand the potential risk posed by these viruses. Surveillance was carried out from August 2011 to December 2012 at Pulau Ubin, from March 2011 to March 2013 at an Avian Sanctuary (AS), from December 2010 from October 2012 at Murai Farmway, and from December 2010 to December 2013 at a nature reserve. The present study revealed active JEV transmission in Singapore through the detection of JEV genotype II in Culex tritaeniorhynchus collected from an Avian Sanctuary. Culex flavivirus (CxFV), similar to the Quang Binh virus isolated from Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in Vietnam and CxFV-LSFlaviV-A20-09 virus isolated in China, was also detected in Culex spp. (vishnui subgroup). No WNV was detected. This study demonstrates the important role that surveillance plays in public health and strongly suggests the circulation of JEV among wildlife in Singapore, despite the absence of reported human cases. A One Health approach involving surveillance, the collaboration between public health and wildlife managers, and control of mosquito populations remains the key measures in risk mitigation of JEV transmission in the enzootic cycle between birds and mosquitoes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Culex/virology*; Encephalitis, Japanese/virology; Mosquito Vectors/virology*
  20. Fulltext COVID-19 screening test by using random oropharyngeal saliva
    Rao M, Rashid FA, Sabri FSAH, Jamil NN, Seradja V, Abdullah NA, et al.
    J Med Virol, 2021 Apr;93(4):2461-2466.
    PMID: 33393672 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26773
    An optimal clinical specimen for accurate detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by minimizing the usage of consumables and reduce hazard exposure to healthcare workers is an urgent priority. The diagnostic performance of SARS-CoV-2 detection between healthcare worker-collected nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal (NP + OP) swabs and patient performed self-collected random saliva was assessed. Paired NP + OP swabs and random saliva were collected and processed within 48 h of specimen collection from two cohort studies which recruited 562 asymptomatic adult candidates. Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction targeting Open reading frame 1a (ORF1a) and nucleocapsid (N) genes was performed and the results were compared. Overall, 65 of 562 (28.1%) candidates tested positive for COVID-19 based on random saliva, NP + OP swabs, or both testing techniques. The detection rate of SARS-CoV-2 was higher in random saliva compared to NP + OP testing (92.3%; 60/65 vs. 73.8%; 48/65; p 
    Matched MeSH terms: Nasopharynx/virology; Oropharynx/virology*; Saliva/virology*
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