Emerging New Phylogenetic Groups of Rabies Virus in Chinese Ferret Badgers

Chinese ferret badger（FB）-transmitted rabies is a serious threat to public health in southeast China. Although mostly associated with dogs, the rabies virus（RABV） presents genetic diversity and has a significantly wide host range in China. Instead of the dog-and wildlife-associated China ⅠI lineage in the past decades, the China Ⅰ lineage has become the main epidemic group hosted and transmitted by dogs. In this study, four new lineages, including 43 RABVs from FBs, have been classified within the dog-dominated China Ⅰ lineage since 2014. FBRABVs have been previously categorized in the China Ⅱ lineage. Moreover, FB-hosted viruses seem to have become the main independent FB-associated clade in the phylogenetic tree. This claim suggests that the increasing genetic diversity of RABVs in FBs is a result of the selective pressure from coexisting dog rabies. FB transmission has become complicated and serious with the coexistence of dog rabies. Therefore, apart from targeting FB rabies, priority should be provided by the appropriate state agencies to perform mass immunization of dog against rabies.

An Age of Emerging and Reemerging Pandemic Threats

Today, we are confronted with an unprecedented crisis this world has never experienced before. Infectious diseases remain among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Epidemics of new and old infectious diseases periodically emerge, greatly magnifying the global burden of infections. Humans are constantly exposed to a huge diversity of viruses, though those of others mammals are of greatest importance. Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 as an endemic virus may be fueled by pockets of susceptible individuals and waning immunity after infection or vaccination, changes in the virus through antigenic drift that diminish protection and re-entries from zoonotic reservoirs. Moreover, these viruses are very genetically diverse and new genotypes, strains and species evolve rapidly. The emergence of new human viruses is a long-standing and ongoing biological process. We must anticipate the emergence and/or discovery of more new human viruses in the coming years and decades. The spillover of viruses from animals to humans is the major source of pandemic risk. Life threatening situations demand extraordinary response and more stringent measures to contain the pandemic. The first line of defence against emerging viruses is effective surveillance. Rapid detection and identification of emerging pathogen leading to the rapid introduction of preventive measures can prove highly effective in combating outbreaks of novel diseases. A coordinated, global surveillance network is essential if we are to ensure rapid detection of novel viruses. Improving the situation will require both political will and considerable investment in infrastructure, human capacity and new tools. To ensure global preparedness, newer vaccines, diagnostics and antiviral agents are being developed. Infectious diseases can be prevented at a variety of points, depending on the infectious cycle for the particular disease. Disease prevention, health promotion, strengthening public health systems, translational research, focus on drug discovery, tailored therapies by personalized precision medicine, developing newer effective and affordable vaccines are crucial to prevent and control emerging pandemics. The need of the day is to prioritize diagnostic tests and strengthen laboratory response network. Effective communication is an indispensable tool. In a world of 7.8 billion people, countries have to be in a state of emergency preparedness to tackle emerging infectious diseases. There is a need to stop pandemics before they start.

Neutralization activity of influenza A virus humanized antibodies against new subtypes of influenza viruses

Antibodies are ideal for controlling the influenza A virus,but their effect on newly emerging strains is unclear.Here,we assessed the neutralization activity of the humanized monoclonal antibodies(mAbs)F10,H98 and H40 against circulating influenza viruses(H5N1,H1N1,H3N2 and H7N7 and new subtypes viruses H5N6 and H7N9).The results showed that all the three humanized mAbs(F10,H98 and H40)displayed different degrees of virus neutralization activities when encountered with different subtypes of influenza viruses.Remarkably,the humanized monoclonal antibody F10 produced higher and broader neutralization titers(range 25–1.56μg/ml)than those of the other two humanized mAbs(H98(range 50–3.12μg/ml),H40(range 50–5.56μg/ml))to against the viruses H5N1,H1N1,H3N2,H7N7,H5N6 and H7N9.This mAb may represent a new class of heterosubtypic neutralizing humanized mAb that could replace vaccines and chemical drugs.

View Point on Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a new disease of zoonotic natural foci has been increasing in recent years. In this review, the disease of human granulocytic anaplasmosis infection due to tick-borne and new Bunia virus infection, have similar clinical symptoms. Total of 11 articles were retrieved. The emergence, etiology, nomenclature and pathogenic mechanisms, clinical diagnosis and genotyping of SFTS were summarized, and the current situation of treatment was also evaluated. In conclusion, early detection, identiifcation and treatment are the key points to SFTS, but how to reduce the mortality of critically ill patients is still the focus in the future.

Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus:an emerging plant begomovirus threatening cucurbit production

Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus(ToLCNDV),a bipartite begomovirus,was first reported to infect tomato and has recently spread rapidly as an emerging disease to Cucurbitaceae crops.To date,the virus has been reported to infect more than 11 cucurbit crops,in 16 countries and regions,causing severe yield losses.In autumn 2022,ToLCNDV was first isolated from cucurbit plants in Southeastern coastal areas of China.Phylogenetic analysis established that these isolates belong to the Asian ToLCNDV clade,and shared high nucleotide identity and closest genetic relationship with the DNA-A sequence from the Chinese tomato-infecting ToLCNDV isolate(Accession no.OP356207)and the tomato New Delhi ToLCNDV-Severe isolate(Accession no.HM159454).In this review,we summarize the occurrence and distribution,host range,detection and diagnosis,control strategies,and genetic resistance of ToLCNDV in the Cucurbitaceae.We then summarize pathways that could be undertaken to improve our understanding of this emerging disease,with the objective to develop ToLCNDV-resistant cucurbit cultivars.

Molecular characterization and pathogenicity of an infectious clone of tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus isolate infecting Cucumis melo

Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus(ToLCNDV)is a member of the genus Begomovirus,and causes devastating disease in the world.In recent years,ToLCNDV was rapidly spreading in China and induces severe economic losses in agriculture.In this study,we sequenced and characterized the complete genome of ToLCNDV isolates from melon plants showing leaf curling and stunting symptoms in Jiangsu Province of China.We constructed a full-length infectious cDNA clone of ToLCNDV,which could induce systemic infection with typical symptoms in Nicotiana benthamiana,Cit-rullus melo,and Citrullus lanatus plants through agrobacterium-mediated inoculation.Further experimental evidence demonstrated that the virions produced in plants infected with the infectious clone of ToLCNDV are biologically active and sap-transmissible.We also evaluated the resistance of commercial melon cultivars to ToLCNDV and found all testing melon cultivars were susceptible to ToLCNDV.Collectively,the reverse genetic system developed herein will facilitate further research on biological functions of proteins encoded by ToLCNDV and plant-ToLCNDV interactions,which might provide new insights into breeding resistance germplasm in crops.

Cat Virus Tied to SARS from New York Times

选注者言:5月24日世界卫生组织解除了香港和广州的旅游警告,同一天,香港和深圳的科学家联合声明在野生动物masked palm civets(果子狸)身上发现了与人类SARS病毒一致的病原体,人类对SARS的战斗胜利越来越近!想起5月的《科技英语学习》上第一篇文章中的一句话…the Canadian are telling them(Chinese in China Town),you dirty Chinese,you eat everything,that’S why