Araçatuba virus: a vaccinialike virus associated with infection in humans and cattle

We describe a vaccinialike virus, Araçatuba virus, associated with a cowpoxlike outbreak in a dairy herd and a related case of human infection. Diagnosis was based on virus growth characteristics, electron microscopy, and molecular biology techniques. Molecular characterization of the virus was done by using polymerase chain reaction amplification, cloning, and DNA sequencing of conserved orthopoxvirus genes such as the vaccinia growth factor (VGF), thymidine kinase (TK), and hemagglutinin. We used VGF-homologous and TK gene nucleotide sequences to construct a phylogenetic tree for comparison with other poxviruses. Gene sequences showed 99% homology with vaccinia virus genes and were clustered together with the isolated virus in the phylogenetic tree. Araçatuba virus is very similar to Cantagalo virus, showing the same signature deletion in the gene. Araçatuba virus could be a novel vaccinialike virus or could represent the spread of Cantagalo virus.     

Integrated prevention of mother-to-child transmission for human immunodeficiency virus,syphilis and hepatitis?B virus in China

ProblemChina continues to face challenges in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis and hepatitis B virus (HBV).ApproachIn 2010, a programme that integrated and standardized prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) efforts for HIV, syphilis and HBV was implemented in 1156 counties. At participating antenatal care clinics, pregnant women were offered all three tests concurrently and free of charge. Further interventions such as free treatment, prophylaxis and testing for mothers and their children were provided for HIV and syphilis.

Local setting

China’s national PMTCT HIV programme started in 2003, at which time there were no national programmes for perinatal syphilis and HBV. In 2009, the rate of maternal-to-child transmission of HIV was 8.1% (57/702). Reported congenital syphilis was 60.8 per 100 000 live births. HBV infection was 7.2% of the overall population infected.

Relevant changes

Between 2010 and 2013 the number of pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics with integrated PMTCT services increased from 5.5 million to 13.1 million. In 2013, 12.7 million pregnant women were tested for HIV, 12.6 million for syphilis and 12.7 million for HBV. Mother-to-child transmission of HIV fell to 6.7% in 2013. Data on syphilis transmission are not yet available.

Lessons learnt

Integrated PMTCT services proved to be feasible and effective, and they are now part of the routine maternal and child health services provided to infected women. The services are provided through a collaboration between maternal and child health clinics, the national and local Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and general hospitals.     

The assodation between HLA-Ⅱ and chrome hepatitis B virus infection

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is the most complex and polymorphism genetic system, whose function involves all aspects of the immunity in human. Many researches have shown that HLA gene polymorphism are associated with HBV clearance, HBV persistent infection, the progress of the disease prognosis, HBsAg response after the vaccine and interferon. In this article, the study on the relevance of chronic HBV infection and HLA- Ⅱ is focused on.     

The assodation between HLA-Ⅱ and chrome hepatitis B virus infection

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is the most complex and polymorphism genetic system, whose function involves all aspects of the immunity in human. Many researches have shown that HLA gene polymorphism are associated with HBV clearance, HBV persistent infection, the progress of the disease prognosis, HBsAg response after the vaccine and interferon. In this article, the study on the relevance of chronic HBV infection and HLA- Ⅱ is focused on.     

The assodation between HLA-Ⅱ and chrome hepatitis B virus infection

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is the most complex and polymorphism genetic system, whose function involves all aspects of the immunity in human. Many researches have shown that HLA gene polymorphism are associated with HBV clearance, HBV persistent infection, the progress of the disease prognosis, HBsAg response after the vaccine and interferon. In this article, the study on the relevance of chronic HBV infection and HLA- Ⅱ is focused on.     

The assodation between HLA-Ⅱ and chrome hepatitis B virus infection

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is the most complex and polymorphism genetic system, whose function involves all aspects of the immunity in human. Many researches have shown that HLA gene polymorphism are associated with HBV clearance, HBV persistent infection, the progress of the disease prognosis, HBsAg response after the vaccine and interferon. In this article, the study on the relevance of chronic HBV infection and HLA- Ⅱ is focused on.     

The assodation between HLA-Ⅱ and chrome hepatitis B virus infection

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is the most complex and polymorphism genetic system, whose function involves all aspects of the immunity in human. Many researches have shown that HLA gene polymorphism are associated with HBV clearance, HBV persistent infection, the progress of the disease prognosis, HBsAg response after the vaccine and interferon. In this article, the study on the relevance of chronic HBV infection and HLA- Ⅱ is focused on.     

The assodation between HLA-Ⅱ and chrome hepatitis B virus infection

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is the most complex and polymorphism genetic system, whose function involves all aspects of the immunity in human. Many researches have shown that HLA gene polymorphism are associated with HBV clearance, HBV persistent infection, the progress of the disease prognosis, HBsAg response after the vaccine and interferon. In this article, the study on the relevance of chronic HBV infection and HLA- Ⅱ is focused on.     

The assodation between HLA-Ⅱ and chrome hepatitis B virus infection

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is the most complex and polymorphism genetic system, whose function involves all aspects of the immunity in human. Many researches have shown that HLA gene polymorphism are associated with HBV clearance, HBV persistent infection, the progress of the disease prognosis, HBsAg response after the vaccine and interferon. In this article, the study on the relevance of chronic HBV infection and HLA- Ⅱ is focused on.     

The assodation between HLA-Ⅱ and chrome hepatitis B virus infection

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is the most complex and polymorphism genetic system, whose function involves all aspects of the immunity in human. Many researches have shown that HLA gene polymorphism are associated with HBV clearance, HBV persistent infection, the progress of the disease prognosis, HBsAg response after the vaccine and interferon. In this article, the study on the relevance of chronic HBV infection and HLA- Ⅱ is focused on.     

The assodation between HLA-Ⅱ and chrome hepatitis B virus infection

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is the most complex and polymorphism genetic system, whose function involves all aspects of the immunity in human. Many researches have shown that HLA gene polymorphism are associated with HBV clearance, HBV persistent infection, the progress of the disease prognosis, HBsAg response after the vaccine and interferon. In this article, the study on the relevance of chronic HBV infection and HLA- Ⅱ is focused on.     

Seroepidemiology of Epstein−Barr virus and cytomegalovirus among Israeli male young adults

PurposeTo assess the seroprevalence and seroconversion of Epstein?Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and identify associated socioeconomic and smoking variables among male young adults in Israel, to explore health disparities and aid prevention efforts.MethodsA population-based seroprevalence study of EBV and CMV IgG antibodies in a systematic sample of Israeli males upon recruitment to mandatory military service during 1994–2004. Associations between socioeconomic and smoking variables and the seroprevalence of EBV/CMV were evaluated, controlling for possible confounders. A subset of seronegative subjects was assessed for seroconversion upon discharge from military service.ResultsOverall seroprevalence rates were 87% for EBV and 59% for CMV. An association between the seroprevalence of EBV and CMV was observed. Seroconversion was 56% for EBV as compared with 31% for CMV. Lower paternal education was found to be associated with both EBV and CMV seroprevalence. Lower socioeconomic status, North African origin, and urban residence were found to be associated with CMV seropositivity, as was smoking for EBV seropositivity.ConclusionsSocioeconomic disparities exist in the seroprevalence rates of CMV and EBV among Israeli male young adults. The results of the study could aid public health efforts and determine target populations when a vaccine becomes available.     

Evaluation of recombinant fowlpox virus expressing infectious bronchitis virus S1 gene and chicken interferon-γ gene for immune protection against heterologous strains

A recombinant fowlpox virus (rFPV-IFNγS1) that co-expressed the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) S1 gene and the chicken interferon-γ gene has been constructed. To evaluate the efficacy of the recombinant fowlpox virus vaccine against heterotypic IBV strains, 60 4-week-old Specific-Pathogen-Free (SPF) chickens were inoculated with this vaccine and 3 weeks post inoculation challenged with the homotypic IBV strain LX4 and the heterotypic IBV strains LHB, LHLJ04XI, LTJ95I and LSC99I. Antibodies against IBV were detected in vaccinated chickens 1-week post inoculation. The number of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood increased rapidly in the vaccinated groups challenged with strains LX4, LHB and LHLJ04XI. There were significant differences in the number of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes between the vaccinated groups challenged with strains LTJ95I and LSC99I and all the control groups. The morbidity was below 30% in vaccinated groups challenge with strains LX4, LHB and LHLJ04XI, but was 40% greater than that in the other groups. In addition, the lesions and the amount of virus shedding were less severe in the vaccinated groups challenged by strains LX4, LHB and LHLJ04XI when compared with the other groups, but there was no significant difference in the average body weight of the chickens in all groups (all p > 0.05). These results indicate that the rFPV-IFNγS1 protected chickens against challenge with homotypic IBV strain LX4 and heterotypic strains LHLJ04XI and LHB.     

Maternal Zika virus infection and newborn microcephaly—an analysis of the epidemiological evidence

Purpose

To evaluate whether existing data and evidence support a causal link between maternal Zika virus (ZIKV) infection and newborn microcephaly.

Vaccination of sheep with Maedi-visna virus gag gene and protein, beneficial or harmful?

In spite of intense efforts no vaccine is yet available that protects against lentiviral infections. Sheep were immunised eight times over a period of 2.5 years with the maedi-visna (MVV) gag gene on two different vectors, 2 sheep with VR1012-gag-CTE and 2 sheep with pcDNA3.1-gag-CTE. All sheep responded to some of the mature MVV Gag proteins in Western blot (WB). Three of them responded to the virus in lymphocyte proliferation test. The sheep received a boost with recombinant Gag protein resulting in elevated antibody response. However, when they were challenged intratracheally with MVV they all became immediately infected as judged by a strong rise in antibody titer and virus isolation from blood. It is therefore clear that the vaccination gave no protection. It is even possible that it facilitated infectivity since virus was isolated earlier from all the vaccinated sheep than from any of the unvaccinated sheep infected in the same way with the same dose.