Journal of Infectious Diseases

BACKGROUND: Data are limited on the role of preinfection humoral immunity protection against Omicron BA.5 infection and long coronavirus disease (COVID) development. METHODS: We conducted nested case-control analysis among tertiary hospital staff in Tokyo who donated blood samples in June 2022 (1 month before Omicron BA.5 wave), approximately 6 months after receiving a third dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. We measured live virus-neutralizing antibody titers against wild type and Omicron BA...

BACKGROUND: Low awareness and lack of routine testing for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections among adults has led to underreporting and misclassification in hospital records. The Danish National Patient Registry (DNPR) provide an opportunity to identify all patients hospitalized with a respiratory tract infection (RTI) diagnosis. This study aimed to assess the underreporting and misclassification of RSV infections among adults hospitalized with an RTI-coded hospitalization. METHODS: This study is an observational cohort study of RSV-associated hospitalizations among Danish adults (≥18 years old) based on national healthcare registries conducted in the period of week 40, 2015 to week 40, 2018...

BACKGROUND: In the Netherlands, the number of mpox cases started declining before mpox vaccination was initiated. Most cases were men who have sex with men (MSM). We investigated whether the decline in mpox could be attributed to infection-induced immunity or behavioural adaptations. METHODS: We developed a transmission model and accounted for possible behavioural adaptations: less casual partners and shorter time until MSM with mpox refrain from sexual contacts...

BACKGROUND: Linezolid is evaluated in novel treatment regimens for tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Linezolid pharmacokinetics have not been characterized in this population, particularly in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) where exposures may be affected by changes in protein concentration. Linezolid co-administration with high-dose rifampicin, has also not been studied. We aimed to characterize linezolid plasma and CSF pharmacokinetics in adults with TBM. METHODS: In LASER-TBM pharmacokinetic-substudy, the intervention groups received high-dose rifampicin (35mg/kg) plus linezolid 1200mg/day for 28days, then reduced to 600mg/day...

BACKGROUND: High resolution metabolomics (HRM) is an innovative tool to study challenging infectious diseases like leprosy, where the pathogen cannot be grown with standard methods. Here, we use HRM to better understand associations between disease manifestations, nutrition, and host metabolism. METHODS: From 2018-2019, adults with leprosy and controls were recruited in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Plasma metabolites were detected using an established HRM workflow and characterized by accurate mass m/z and retention time...

We measured cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific antibodies that neutralize epithelial cell infection (CMV-AbNEIs) in 101 CMV-seropositive kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) at baseline and post-transplant months 3 and 6. All the patients received antithymocyte globulin and 3-month valganciclovir prophylaxis. There were no significant differences in pre-transplant AbNEIs titers between KTRs that developed or did not develop any-level CMV infection or the composite of high-level infection and/or disease. One-year CMV infection-free survival was comparable between KTRs with or without pre-transplant CMV-AbNEIs...

Current HCV prevention efforts and treatment rates must improve for the United States (U.S.) to achieve WHO global elimination targets by 2030[1]. The current multi-day diagnosis and treatment paradigm for hepatitis C (HCV) infection leads to significant loss in the cascade of care, resulting in far fewer patients receiving treatment with direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) than those diagnosed with HCV infection [2,3]. To achieve HCV elimination, a paradigm shift in access to HCV treatment is needed from current multi-day testing and treatment algorithms to same day diagnosis and treatment...

BACKGROUND: The pharmacokinetics of oral favipiravir and the relationships of plasma concentrations to antiviral effects are incompletely studied in influenza. METHODS: Serial plasma samples were collected from adults with uncomplicated influenza who were randomized to favipiravir (1800 mg BID on day 1, 800 mg BID on days 2 to 5)(N = 827) or placebo (N = 419) in two phase 3 trials. Post hoc analyses assessed the frequency of reaching an average Cmin ≥20ug/ml, its association with antiviral efficacy, and factors associated with reduced favipiravir exposure...

An estimated 2.4 million people in the United States are living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated hepatitis C screening recommendations to test adults aged ≥ 18 years at least once in a lifetime and pregnant persons during each pregnancy. For those with ongoing exposure to HCV, periodic testing is recommended. The recommended testing sequence is to obtain an HCV antibody test and, when positive, perform an HCV RNA test. Examination of HCV care cascades has found incomplete HCV testing occurs when a separate visit is required to obtain the HCV RNA test...

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can cause significant morbidity and mortality if left untreated and diagnosis is the first step in any treatment regimen. In the United States, a two-step algorithm is recommended for detection of current HCV infection. The algorithm consists of an HCV antibody screening test followed by a supplemental test for HCV RNA if the HCV antibody test is reactive. To assess HCV testing practices and identify associated challenges, the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) conducted a survey on HCV diagnostics practices of US public health laboratories...

Ferrets represent an invaluable model for the study of influenza virus pathogenicity and transmissibility due to the ability of this species to recapitulate clinical symptoms of influenza infection present in humans. Ferrets are also employed for the study of bacterial pathogens that naturally infect humans at different anatomical sites, including the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. While viral and bacterial infection studies in isolation using animal models are important for furthering our understanding of pathogen biology and for the development of improved therapeutics, it is also critical to extend our knowledge to pathogen coinfections in vivo, to more closely examine interkingdom dynamics that may contribute to overall disease outcomes...

BACKGROUND: The 2022 outbreak of the Clade IIb MPX virus and subsequent global spread lead to an urgent need for the development of high throughput, sensitive, and reproducible diagnostic tests. METHODS: We developed 3 assays to detect MPX virus, two (MPXV + and MPXV) for m2000 RealTime and one (MPXV) for Alinity m platforms. Dual-targets in E9L and B6R (MPXV+) and J2L and B7R (MPXV) genes were selected to increase detection of emerging mutations. In silico prediction of MPXV + and MPXV target sequences suggest broad detection of Orthopox viruses with MPXV + and more specific MPX virus detection with MPXV assays, respectively...

In November 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reclassified two types of hepatitis C diagnostic tests (HCV antibody and HCV nucleic acid) from Class III to Class II, providing a less burdensome pathway to market for diagnostic companies. This down-classification is anticipated to facilitate innovation in HCV diagnostics, particularly for new point-of-care viral detection assays, and ultimately support HCV elimination efforts by increasing the ease of screening as well as test-and-treat models of HCV care...

Given the growing HCV epidemic in the U.S., it is imperative to implement a coordinated, equitable public health approach to HCV testing that will facilitate immediate access to treatment, especially for individuals with limited healthcare access and those who inject drugs. Point-of-care (POC) RNA diagnostic tests have the greatest potential to address this need. Future regulatory approval has been facilitated by a recent change in the FDA's approach to evaluating POC diagnostic tests that have been developed and validated...

In 2016, World Health Organization (WHO) introduced global targets for the care and management of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030. Despite significant improvements in testing and treatment, in 2020 only 23% of all persons infected with HCV globally were diagnosed. We explore examples from global hepatitis C programs in Georgia, Rwanda, and Nigeria that have used decentralized and integrated models to increase access to HCV testing. Georgia established the world's first national hepatitis C elimination program in 2015...

BACKGROUND: The value of the widely applied maternal cytomegalovirus (CMV) serological testing approach in predicting intrauterine transmission in highly seroprevalent regions remains unknown. METHODS: A nested case‒control study was conducted based on a maternal-child cohort study. Newborns with congenital CMV (cCMV) infection were included, and each of them was matched to 3 newborns without cCMV infection. Retrospective samples were tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) avidity and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies in maternal serum and CMV DNA in maternal blood and urine to analyse their associations with cCMV infection...

Coxsackievirus (CV) A6 is currently considered as a predominant pathogen of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), and is occasionally linked to myocardial injury. We first established a mouse model of CVA6-induced myocardial injury. Next, we analyzed the immune cell phenotypes CVA6-infected mice hearts by FACS, and found that CVA6 led to massive neutrophils infiltration, suggesting their potential link with the occurrence of myocardial injury. We further used either αGr-1 or αLy6G antibody to deplete neutrophils, and found that neutrophil-depleted animals showed decreased cardiac enzymes, lower degree pathology in hearts, and reduced inflammatory cytokine production compared to isotype controls...

BACKGROUND: Even moderate differences in rotavirus vaccine effectiveness against non-vaccine genotypes may exert selective pressures on circulating rotaviruses. Whether this vaccine effect or natural temporal fluctuations underlie observed changes in genotype distributions is unclear. METHODS: We systematically reviewed studies reporting rotavirus genotypes from children <5 years of age globally between 2005 and 2023. We compared rotavirus genotypes between vaccine-introducing and non-introducing settings globally and by World Health Organization (WHO) region, calendar time, and time since vaccine introduction...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Ebola virus disease is marked by the rapid virus replication and spread. Ebola virus (EBOV) enters the cell by macropinocytosis, replicates in the cytoplasm, and nascent virions egress from the cell surface to infect neighboring cells. Here, we show that EBOV uses an alternate route to disseminate: tunneling nanotubes (TNTs). TNTs, an actin-based long-range intercellular communication system, allows for direct exchange of cytosolic constituents between cells. Using live, scanning electron and high-resolution quantitative 3D-microscopy, we show that EBOV infection of primary human cells results in the enhanced formation of TNTs, containing viral nucleocapsids...