Baloxavir improves disease outcomes in mice after intranasal or ocular infection with Influenza A virus H5N1-contaminated cow’s milk

Abstract Testing approved antivirals against A(H5N1) influenza viruses circulating in peridomestic species, including dairy cows, is critical to public health and pre-pandemic planning. It cannot be tested in humans due to A(H5N1) disease severity. Here, in mice, we demonstrate that US FDA-approved baloxavir treatment mediates improved disease outcomes (survival and viral dissemination) over oseltamivir after… Continue reading Baloxavir improves disease outcomes in mice after intranasal or ocular infection with Influenza A virus H5N1-contaminated cow’s milk

Superior replication, pathogenicity, and immune evasion of a Texas dairy cattle H5N1 virus compared to a historical avian isolate

Abstract The current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of the H5N1 subtype clade 2.3.4.4b in dairy cattle in the United States has affected nearly 900 dairy farms and resulted in at least 39 human infections, putting health authorities and the scientific community on high alert. Here we characterize the virus growth properties… Continue reading Superior replication, pathogenicity, and immune evasion of a Texas dairy cattle H5N1 virus compared to a historical avian isolate

Immune history shapes human antibody responses to H5N1 influenza viruses

Abstract Avian H5N1 influenza viruses are circulating widely in cattle and other mammals and pose a risk for a human pandemic. Previous studies suggest that older humans are more resistant to H5N1 infections due to childhood imprinting with other group 1 viruses (H1N1 and H2N2); however, the immunological basis for this is incompletely understood. Here… Continue reading Immune history shapes human antibody responses to H5N1 influenza viruses

Structural basis for Ebola virus nucleocapsid assembly and function regulated by VP24

Abstract The Ebola virus, a member of the Filoviridae family, causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. Filamentous virions contain a helical nucleocapsid responsible for genome transcription, replication, and packaging into progeny virions. The nucleocapsid consists of a helical nucleoprotein (NP)–viral genomic RNA complex forming the core structure, to which VP24 and VP35 bind externally. Two… Continue reading Structural basis for Ebola virus nucleocapsid assembly and function regulated by VP24

TWiV 1199: Loosely contained

TWiV covers a second death over 150 cases of measles in Texas, utter failure of removal of type 2 poliovirus from OPV, more OPV doses administered in Gaza, second Ebola outbreak in Sudan, vaccine being tested, Trump administration cancels $400 million in grants to Columbia University, bat-infecting merbecovirus that binds human ACE2 and infects human… Continue reading TWiV 1199: Loosely contained

TWiV 1198: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello deliberate the effect of the absence of US foreign aid on the Ebola outbreak in Uganda and death of two children, continued use of nOPV2 in Gaza and the utter failure of type 2 poliovirus removal from the oral poliovirus vaccine, growing measles outbreak in… Continue reading TWiV 1198: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin