Systemic IL-1β production as a consequence of corneal HSV-1 infection-contribution to the development of herpes simplex keratitis

This study sought to identify potential therapeutic targets in herpes simplex keratitis(HSK) patients with active and inactive infection by investigating peripheral cytokine production. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) and serum were prepared from healthy controls and HSK patients during active infection or following treatment(inactive infection). Serum antibody titres were determined by ELISA. Protein expression levels were analysed by Western blot. Cytokine levels were determined by multiplex ELISA. Active corneal herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1) infection resulted in significantly elevated peripheral levels of IL-1β in HSK patients compared to healthy controls, and remained significantly increased following treatment. Elevated production of IL-1β in inactive patients was associated with significantly increased levels of IRF3 and STAT1, key proteins involved in promoting anti-viral immune responses. Our data suggest that inflammation persists beyond the period that it is clinically evident and that enhanced peripheral production of IL-1β may have implications for HSV-1 viral clearance in active and inactive HSK patients.

The Asian Lineage of Zika Virus: Transmission and Evolution in Asia and the Americas

Since first isolation in 1947 from the Zika forest in Uganda, Zika virus(ZIKV) has been principally known as a benign agent associated with sporadic human infections in a restricted number of African countries. However, during 2015–2016,an Asian lineage of ZIKV caused an unprecedentedly large outbreak in the Americas and sizeable numbers of exported cases across the globe. In this review, we critically appraise the recent advances in molecular epidemiological studies of ZIKV performed to date, and we highlight the pivotal role played by genomic surveillance in elucidating the origins,dissemination and evolution of the Asian lineage of ZIKV in Asia and in the Americas.

Non-coding regions of the Ebola virus genome contain indispensable phylogenetic and evolutionary information

We compared the numbers of nucleotide substitutions occurring in the non-coding regions and coding regions of Ebola virus genomes and found that non-coding regions contain indispensable phylogenetic and evolutionary information. The omission of genetic data from non-coding regions can lead to unreliable phylogenies and inaccurate estimates of evolutionary parameters.

Seroprevalence of influenza viruses in Shandong,Northern China during the COVID-19 pandemic

Nonpharmaceutical interventions(NPIs)have been commonly deployed to prevent and control the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),resulting in a worldwide decline in influenza prevalence.However,the influenza risk in China warrants cautious assessment.We conducted a cross-sectional,seroepidemiological study in Shandong Province,Northern China in mid-2021.Hemagglutination inhibition was performed to test antibodies against four influenza vaccine strains.A combination of descriptive and meta-analyses was adopted to compare the seroprevalence of influenza antibodies before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.The overall seroprevalence values against A/H1N1pdm09,A/H3N2,B/Victoria,and B/Yamagata were 17.8%(95%CI 16.2%–19.5%),23.5%(95%CI 21.7%–25.4%),7.6%(95%CI 6.6%–8.7%),and 15.0(95%CI 13.5%–16.5%),respectively,in the study period.The overall vaccination rate was extremely low(2.6%).Our results revealed that antibody titers in vaccinated participants were significantly higher than those in unvaccinated individuals(P<0.001).Notably,the meta-analysis showed that antibodies against A/H1N1pdm09 and A/H3N2 were significantly low in adults after the COVID-19 pandemic(P<0.01).Increasing vaccination rates and maintaining NPIs are recommended to prevent an elevated influenza risk in China.