News highlights on health security threats and countermeasures curated by Global Biodefense
This week’s selections include negotiations over PAHPA reauthorization; developing medical countermeasures for alphaviruses; cyberbiosecurity in high-containment labs; and the completion of chemical weapons disposal at the Blue Grass Army Depot.
POLICY + GOVERNMENT
Countries Set Out Way Forward for Continued Negotiations on Global Agreement on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response
Countries of the WHO have moved forward negotiations on a global accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, with a view to presenting a draft accord to the World Health Assembly in May 2024. Discussions on the draft pandemic accord took place during the five-day resumed session of the fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), which includes WHO’s 194 member countries. World Health Organization
Committee Passes Bipartisan Bill to Counter Attacks From WMD and Improve Health Security at DHS
Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) has cleared the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and advanced to the senate. The bill will reauthorize the DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) office, and also authorize the new Office of Health Security that will enable DHS to better address medical and workforce health related security threats across the Department – including assisting with medical care in the event of potential weapons of mass destruction attacks. Senate.gov
Drug Shortages Become Flashpoint in PAHPA Draft
Expanding FDA authority to deal with drug shortages has emerged as a major dividing point in reauthorization of The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) which expires at the end of the fiscal year. Republicans removing this section from the draft say they’re committed to preventing drug shortages – just not through PAHPA. Rep. Anna Eshoo, House Democrats’ lead on PAHPA, said, “These things have to be taken care of. The one that has kind of sent me over the top is the shortage of pediatric oncology drugs… It’s in the DNA of PAHPA to address gaps in supply. I’m really begging you to find a bipartisan path forward.” RAPS, Axios
Testimony of Dr. Walensky: Oversight of CDC Policies and Decisions During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Transcript of Dr. Walensky’s 13 June testimony to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. CDC
UK Covid Inquiry: What We Learned From the First Week of the Hearings
The Department of Health and Social Care admitted that Covid testing was “a significant weakness” in the early response. The Government Office for Science, which includes the chief scientific adviser, told the inquiry that the absence of a major domestic diagnostic industry and the difficulty of scaling test manufacturing was a “national weakness” that led to vulnerability. Depleted public services widened health inequalities as the UK entered the pandemic. “The impact of the pandemic is very much influenced by pre-existing inequalities in society, including inequalities in health … You’ve got to plan for better health and narrow health inequalities, and that will protect you in the pandemic.” The Guardian
In Pandemic’s Wake, Only 57% of Doctors Would Choose Medicine Again
Early in the pandemic, physician experiences were largely influenced by geography, specialty and personal COVID-19 experiences. But a year into the pandemic, the environment was different because physicians were facing staffing shortages, anti-science aggression, incivility and new dimensions of moral distress contributing to a burnout rate that rose dramatically to 63% in 2021. AMA
Biden Says He Plans to Appoint Mandy Cohen as C.D.C. Director
President Biden on Friday said that he planned to appoint Dr. Mandy Cohen, the former North Carolina health secretary, as the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a widely expected move that marks a major transition at the federal agency tasked with overseeing the nation’s public health infrastructure. The appointment does not require Senate confirmation. Congress recently passed legislation requiring the agency’s director be confirmed, but the provision does not take effect until 2025. Dr. Cohen, an internist and executive at Aledade, a company that supports community health clinics and physicians, served in the Obama administration, including as chief operating officer and chief of staff for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Dr. Cohen also oversaw North Carolina’s Covid-19 response as a political appointee at a time of divided state government. New York Times
UK Biological Security Strategy
This newly issued strategic framework includes commitments to: launch a real-time Biothreats Radar to monitor threats and risks as and when they appear; establish a dedicated minister for the Biological Security Strategy, who will report regularly to Parliament; carry out regular domestic and international exercises; and create a UK Biosecurity Leadership Council, to work with businesses and organizations on the ground. Gov.UK
NABR Files Petition Challenging the Listing of Long-Tailed Macaque by the IUCN
The National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR) filed a petition today with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) challenging the recent designation of the long-tailed macaque (Cynomolgus macaque) as endangered under IUCN listing criteria. “This designation is a result of improperly used data that do not support species listing as endangered. NABR calls for an immediate review.” Nonhuman primates make up less than 0.5% of all animals in research, yet they play a critical role in developing new drugs, devices and vaccines. Bloomberg
Peru’s Health Minister Steps Down as Dengue Death Toll Jumps
Peru’s embattled health minister announced her resignation late on Thursday during a speech in Congress, in the midst of a dengue outbreak already responsible for record-breaking deaths and infections. The death toll from the viral outbreak has risen to 248, while reported cases have surpassed 146,000, according to official data. The outbreak is likely to worsen as torrential rains lead to surging populations of mosquitoes, which transmit dengue. Reuters
MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES
Vaccine Elicitation and Structural Basis for Antibody Protection Against Alphaviruses
Alphaviruses are RNA viruses that represent emerging public health threats. To identify protective antibodies, researchers immunized macaques with a mixture of western, eastern, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis VLPs, a regimen that protects against aerosol challenge with all three viruses. Single- and triple-virus-specific antibodies were isolated, and 21 unique binding groups were identified. One triple-specific antibody, SKT05, bound proximal to the fusion peptide and neutralized all three Env-pseudotyped encephalitic alphaviruses by using different symmetry elements for recognition across VLPs. SKT05 bound backbone atoms of sequence-diverse residues, enabling broad recognition despite sequence variability. Cell
Clinically Evaluated COVID-19 Drugs with Therapeutic Potential for Biological Warfare Agents
Until the approval of Paxlovid, an efficient and highly selective anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug, and the broad-spectrum antiviral agent Lagevrio, many pharmacological-based countermeasures were, and still are, being evaluated in clinical trials. Some of these are host-directed therapies (HDTs), which modulate the endogenic response against the virus, and therefore may confer efficient protection against a wide array of pathogens. These could potentially include Biological Warfare Agents (BWAs). This review assessed the recent literature on drugs under advanced clinical evaluation for COVID-19 with broad spectrum activity, including antiviral agents and HDTs, which may be relevant for future coping with BWAs, as well as with other agents, in particular respiratory infections. Microorganisms
Multivalent Vaccines Demonstrate Immunogenicity and Protects Against Coxiella burnetii Aerosol Challenge
The formalin-inactivated whole cell vaccine Q-VAX® contains hundreds of antigens from the organisms and confers lifelong protection in humans, but prior sensitization from infection or vaccination can result in deleterious reactogenic responses to vaccination. Consequently, there is great interest in developing non-reactogenic alternatives based on adjuvanted recombinant proteins. In this study, researchers aimed to develop a multivalent vaccine that conferred protection with reduced reactogenicity. The data here showed that multivalent vaccines are more immunogenic than monovalent vaccines, and more closely emulate the protection achieved by Q-VAX. Although 6 antigens were the most immunogenic, they also discovered that multiplexing beyond 4 antigens introduces detectable reactogenicity, indicating there is an upper limit to the number of antigens that can be safely included in a multivalent Q-fever vaccine. Frontiers in Immunology
In Vitro Activity of Novel Topoisomerase Inhibitors against Francisella tularensis and Burkholderia pseudomallei
Novel bacterial type II topoisomerase inhibitors (NBTIs) have recently emerged as a novel class of antibiotics with reduced potential for cross-resistance to fluoroquinolones due to their novel mechanism of action. This study investigated the in vitro activity of a series of cyclohexyl–oxazolidinone bacterial topoisomerase inhibitors against type strains of Francisella tularensis and Burkholderia pseudomallei. Antibiotics
Functional Assays to Screen and Select Monoclonal Antibodies That Target Yersinia pestis
In this study, two screening assays were optimized to evaluate the ability of antibodies to promote phagocytosis of Y. pestis by macrophages and to induce a cytokine signature in vitro that may be predictive of protection in vivo. Researchers evaluated a panel of 21 mouse monoclonal antibodies targeting either the anti-phagocytic capsule F1 protein or the LcrV antigen, which is part of the type 3 secretion system that facilitates translocation of virulence factors into the host cell. Anti-F1 and anti-LcrV monoclonal antibodies both increased bacterial uptake by macrophages, with greater uptake observed in the presence of antibodies that were protective in the mouse pneumonic plague model. Study results will be useful in down-selecting efficacious novel antibodies that can be used for treatment of plague. Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics
Rapid Biosynthesis of Glycoprotein Therapeutics and Vaccines from Freeze-Dried Bacterial Cell Lysates
The advent of distributed biomanufacturing platforms promises to increase agility in biologic production and expand access by reducing reliance on refrigerated supply chains. However, such platforms are not capable of robustly producing glycoproteins, which represent the majority of biologics approved or in development. To address this limitation, researchers here developed cell-free technologies that enable rapid, modular production of glycoprotein therapeutics and vaccines from freeze-dried Escherichia coli cell lysates. Nature Protocols
HPAI Vaccines: Challenges for Innovation, Technological Development and Pandemic Preparedness
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) pandemic potential is a critical issue. Outbreaks of H5N1 Avian Flu, causing mass die-offs in poultry and other birds, are now affecting mammals from otters to dolphins worldwide. H5N1 and other HPAI viruses have so far caused rare human infections. However, if they evolve to spread between people, they could trigger major outbreaks. The main question is: how to overcome bottlenecks in HPAI vaccine development to accelerate scale-up and implement an effective global Vaccine Preparedness System? MedRxiv (pre-print)
Highly Attenuated Poxvirus-Based Vaccines Against Emerging Viral Diseases
This review covers different aspects of the history and biology of poxviruses with emphasis on their application as vaccines, from first- to fourth-generation, against smallpox, monkeypox, emerging viral diseases highlighted by the World Health Organization (COVID-19, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Ebola and Marburg virus diseases, Lassa fever, Middle East respiratory syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome, Nipah and other henipaviral diseases, Rift Valley fever and Zika), as well as against one of the most concerning prevalent virus, HIV. It also reports different approaches to improve the immunogenicity and efficacy of poxvirus-based vaccine candidates, such as deletion of immunomodulatory genes, insertion of host-range genes and enhanced transcription of foreign genes through modified viral promoters. Some future prospects are also highlighted. Journal of Molecular Biology
Mpox Vaccine in Children: Safety, Reactogenicity, and Immune Response After a Single Dose
In response to a national mpox outbreak in England, children exposed to a confirmed mpox case were offered modified vaccinia Ankara–Bavaria Nordic (MVA-BN), for post-exposure prophylaxis. This study aimed to assess the safety and reactogenicity and humoral and cellular immune response, following the first reported use of MVA–BN in children. The Lancet Infectious Diseases
BIOSECURITY + BIOPREPAREDNESS
The Search for Evidence to Support Practices in the Laboratory—Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus and Lassa Virus
There is a lack of data on the safe collection and handling procedures for tick specimens and the infectious dose from an infective tick bite for CCHF investigations. In addition, there are gaps in knowledge about gastrointestinal and contact infectious doses for Lassa virus, sample handling and transport procedures outside of infectious disease areas, and the contribution of asymptomatic carriers in viral circulation. Applied Biosafety
Could Chatbots Help Devise the Next Pandemic Virus?
A biosecurity expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, recently asked students to create a dangerous virus with the help of ChatGPT or other so-called large language models, systems that can generate humanlike responses to broad questions based on vast training sets of internet data. After only an hour, the class came up with lists of candidate viruses, companies that could help synthesize the pathogens’ genetic code, and contract research companies that might put the pieces together. “The introduction of rapidly advancing AI tools is lowering the barrier to access to engineering living systems.” Science
The End of the Cornerstone of Biosecurity Preparedness
With the end of the official Public Health Emergency on 11 May, the U.S. government no longer requires laboratories to report testing and immunization results to the CDC, meaning national, county-level test positivity data from COVID-19 Electronic Reporting (CELR) will no longer be available. The Department of Health and Human Services described CDC COVID-19 data surveillance as “a cornerstone” of their response. This speaks to the larger issue — a fragmented healthcare system that is almost certain to respond inadequately to the intentional or unintentional spread of biological threats and weapons. Rather than requiring more robust data infrastructure as a bandage on an outbreak of a biological threat, more adequate data infrastructure should become standard in non-emergency times to be preventative rather than reactive. Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
Cyberbiosecurity in High-Containment Laboratories
High-containment laboratories (HCLs) conduct critical research on infectious diseases, provide diagnostic services, and produce vaccines for the world’s most dangerous pathogens. The modernization of HCLs has led to an increasingly cyber-connected laboratory infrastructure. This study provides a novel approach for cybersecurity risk assessment and identification of risk mitigation measures by applying an asset-impact analysis to the unique environment of HCLs. TechRxiv (pre-print)
Lessons Learned For Pandemic Preparedness: A Collaborative Network is Imperative
Early in the pandemic, the Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) established the QBI Coronavirus Research Group (QCRG), a collaborative entity focused on studying and understanding the recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 virus. QCRG started in the San Francisco area and eventually included intuitions and research groups across the globe. This piece describes these efforts, emphasizing what was learned and how these lessons can be applied to future pandemics as well as the study of disease in general. Cell Host & Microbe
Psychological First Aid in Infectious Disease Pandemics
Infectious diseases outbreaks can significantly impact the mental health of individuals who are infected. Psychological distress due to exposure to infectious diseases can cause various mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, in both the general population and healthcare workers. Additionally, the tension, fear, and anxiety caused by an outbreak can disrupt civil society. Given the potentially serious effects of psychological distress during an infectious disease outbreak, interventions that alleviate psychological discomfort and encourage adaptive coping mechanisms are necessary. PCN Reports
SELECT AGENTS + PRIORITY PATHOGENS
Tanzania’s Victory Over Marburg Virus: A Breath of Relief and a Path of Hope
As a country that is bordered by neighboring countries frequently fighting outbreaks like Ebola and Marburg and well known for the influx of tourists, the government with support from WHO had undertaken several trainings to strengthen capacity for crisis preparedness and response. Before the outbreak, a total of 135 African Health Volunteers Corps (AVOHC) SURGE members in Tanzania mainland had received intensive drills and simulations on how to detect, manage and monitor health emergencies. Twenty-nine (29) trained SURGE team members were deployed to Kagera and supported the response to the outbreak. To ensure health systems fully recovers from the effect of the outbreak and stay alert against future outbreaks, WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health on implementation of a 90-day Post MVD Recovery Plan. WHO
Epidemiology of Pathogens Listed as Potential Bioterrorism Agents, the Netherlands, 2009‒2019
Coxiella burnetii had the highest incidence because of a Q fever epidemic during 2007–2010. C. burnetii is a zoonotic, gram-negative bacterium whose reservoirs are mainly goats, sheep, and other herbivores. Q fever is associated with intensive goat farming and is endemic to the Netherlands. Pathogens with an incidence >1 were Brucella spp. (2.5 cases), Francisella tularensis (1.3 cases), and Burkholderia pseudomallei (1.1 cases). Pathogens with an incidence <1 were hemorrhagic fever viruses (0.3 cases), Clostridium botulinum (0.2 cases), and Bacillus anthracis (0.1 cases). Variola major and Yersinia pestis were absent. The generally low incidences make it unlikely that ill-meaning persons can isolate these pathogens from natural sources in the Netherlands. However, the pathogens are stored in laboratories, underscoring the need for biosecurity measures. Emerging Infectious Diseases
Low Susceptibility of Pigs Against Experimental Infection with HPAI Virus H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b
Possible adaption of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus to mammalian livestock hosts and subsequent human exposure is of particular concern, with the role of pigs as a “mixing vessel” for HPAI viruses largely unresolved. Avian influenzas can potentially be transmitted to pigs, and further reassortment with swine influenza A viruses (swIAVs) may contribute to the emergence of pandemic strains. Rare and subclinical infections of pigs with gs/GD HPAI virus have been confirmed serologically in Vietnam, Thailand, and France and virologically in Indonesia, Nigeria, China, and Italy. This study found that nasal and alimentary experimental exposure of pigs to HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b was associated with marginal viral replication. Emerging Infectious Diseases
Mpox Vaccinations Extended in London After Spike in Cases
Health officials are extending vaccinations for mpox in London after recording a fresh spike in cases in the capital in recent weeks, mostly among unvaccinated people. Most of the recent cases of the viral disease, formerly known as monkeypox, were in unvaccinated people, while three infections were found in individuals who had received only one dose of the vaccine that requires two shots to achieve maximum protection. The Guardian
Genomic Characterization, Transcriptome Analysis, and Pathogenicity of the Nipah Virus (Indian Isolate)
Nipah Virus (NiV) is a high-risk pathogen which can cause fatal infections in humans. The Indian isolate from the 2018 outbreak in the Kerala state of India showed ~ 4% nucleotide and amino acid difference in comparison to the Bangladesh strains of NiV and the substitutions observed were mostly not present in the region of any functional significance except for the phosphoprotein gene. The virus replication in different organs and characteristic pathological changes in brain, lungs and kidney could be demonstrated in the hamster model. A dose and route dependant pathogenicity and organ involvement were observed in the hamster model. Virulence
Retrospective Analysis of Official Data on Anthrax in Europe with a Special Reference to Ukraine
The distribution of anthrax in domestic animals and wildlife in Europe with a particular focus on Ukraine as a country of war was analyzed. Between 2005 and 2022, 267 anthrax cases were registered at the World Organization of Animal Health (WOAH) in animals in Europe, including 251 cases in domestic animals and 16 in wildlife. The highest numbers of cases were recorded in 2005 and 2016 followed by 2008, and the highest numbers of registered cases were reported from Albania, Russia, and Italy. Microorganisms
Langya Virus Outbreak: Current Challenges and Lesson Learned from Previous Henipavirus Outbreaks
A new novel virus, Langya virus (LayV), was detected in China in August 2022, 3 years after the COVID-19 pandemic. LayV is similar to the previously discovered Mojiang henipavirus. Other zoonotic henipaviruses include the Hendra and Nipah viruses. The emergence of the zoonotic Langya virus is attributed to climate change and wildlife encroachment, as LayV is detected in shrews. Those who are infected in China showed various symptoms, but no deaths have been recorded yet. Bulletin of the National Research Centre
Mpox Neglect and the Smallpox Niche: A Problem for Africa, a Problem for the World
Although there has been much attention on the global outbreak, most of the focus has been on high-income countries outside of Africa, despite the fact that monkeypox virus has been causing disease in parts of Africa for at least 50 years. The long-term consequences of this event, especially the risk that mpox fills the niche vacated through smallpox eradication, have not been sufficiently considered. The heart of the problem is the historical neglect of mpox in Africa where the disease is endemic, and the actual and potential consequences if this neglect is left uncorrected. The Lancet
Characterization of Three Francisella tularensis Genomes from Oklahoma, USA
Francisella tularensis, the causative agent for tularaemia, is a Tier 1 select agent, and a pan-species pathogen of global significance due to its zoonotic potential. Consistent genome characterization of the pathogen is essential to identify novel genes, virulence factors, antimicrobial resistance genes, for studying phylogenetics and other features of interest. This study was conducted to understand the genetic variations among genomes of F. tularensis isolated from two felines and one human source. Access Microbiology
Complete Genome Sequence of the Emerging Pathogen Cysteiniphilum spp.
Cysteiniphilum is a newly discovered genus in 2017 and is phylogenetically closely related to highly pathogenic Francisella tularensis. Recently, it has become an emerging pathogen in humans. However, the complete genome sequence of genus Cysteiniphilum is lacking, and the genomic characteristics of genetic diversity, evolutionary dynamics, and pathogenicity have not been characterized. Virulence
A Deep Understanding of Ebola Virus VLP Assembly: An Ode-Based Modeling Approach
While more simple and safer systems have been developed to understand different stages of EBOV infection, such as the matrix protein (VP40) virus-like particle (VLP) and minigenome systems, we still lack a systematical view of EBOV infection. The aim of this study was to build a primary ordinary differential equation-based (ODE-based) model of EBOV at subcellular level step by step. Purdue University
The Inability of Marburg Virus to Cause Disease in Ferrets is Not Solely Linked to the Virus Glycoprotein
Ebola virus (EBOV) causes lethal disease in ferrets, whereas Marburg virus (MARV) does not cause disease or result in detectable viremia. To investigate the mechanistic reasons for this difference, researchers first evaluated glycoprotein (GP)-mediated viral entry by infecting ferret spleen cells with recombinant vesicular stomatitis viruses pseudotyped with either MARV or EBOV GP. The data suggest that the inability of MARV to cause lethal infection in ferrets may be related to a block in multiple aspects of the replication cycle. The Journal of Infectious Diseases
CHEMICAL + RADIOLOGICAL THREATS
Kentucky Chemical Weapons Disposal Program Nearly Done as US Eliminates Final Stockpiles
A Kentucky facility built to dispose of deadly Cold War-era chemical weapons is nearing the end of its mission to destroy its 520-ton stockpile, a milestone that will likely mark the end of chemical weapons destruction projects in the U.S., officials said Wednesday. The facility at the Blue Grass Army Depot is weeks away from eliminating the last of a stockpile of 51,000 M55 rockets with GB nerve agent that have been stored at the depot since the 1940s. Another stockpile is being eliminated at an Army facility in Colorado, but that effort is expected to conclude before the Kentucky one. AP News
Smart Tool For Novichok: A Concise Review on Real-Time Detection Techniques
Novichok agents have a very high fatal effect due to its ability to bind with acetylcholinesterase, resulting in crippling of central nervous system. So, rapid and precise detection of novichok agents have become one of the promising aspects with utility for forensic applications. Monatshefte für Chemie – Chemical Monthly
Rapid Detection of a Chemical Warfare Agent
Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of inorganic-organic hybrid porous material that could be potential next-generation toxic gas sensors. However, the growth of a MOF thin film for efficiently utilizing the material properties for fabricating electronic devices has been challenging. Herein, we report a new approach to efficiently integrate MOF as a receptor through diffusion-induced ingress into the grain boundaries of the pentacene semiconducting film in the place of the most adaptive chemical functionalization method for sensor fabrication. These sensors can be a potential candidate for trace amounts of sulfur mustard detection below 10 ppm in real time as wearable devices for onsite uses. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
SURVEILLANCE + DETECTION
Asymptomatic But Infectious – The Silent Driver of Pathogen Transmission
The oversight of asymptomatic individuals in control programs leads to wasted resources or opportunity to interrupt ongoing transmission, especially in the context of outbreaks or a pandemic. Key evolutionary changes have previously led to the extinction of pathogen lineages, allowing for proliferation of lineages evolved to transmit through alternative routes of transmission. There is value in understanding the pathways for the mechanism of non-symptomatic infections by species of microbe, or mode of transmission. Epidemics
Cloning of the Caf1 Gene from Yersinia pestis
Most of the tests developed for plague are based on the detection of anti-F1 antibodies or F1 antigen, which is a specific capsule component for Yersinia pestis and is present in large amounts in blood samples and in buboes of infected people. Peru’s National Diagnostics Reagent Laboratory, part of its National Center for Biological Products (El Centro Nacional de Productos Biológicos) uses the F1 antigenic fraction of Y. pestis to produce plague diagnostic kits. This fraction is purified from massive biomass cultures of Y. pestis, using salt precipitation and dialysis methods. The low yield of obtaining the antigen and the risk for the personnel when handling the massive cultures of the pathogenic agent are the main drawbacks of this technology. Therefore, the present project was carried out to amplify the coding sequence of the F1 antigen by PCR and clone the caf1 gene of Y. pestis. Boletín del Instituto Nacional de Salud
Cutaneous Anthrax Diagnosed by Using a Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS)
Case report of the first instance of cutaneous anthrax diagnosed by mNGS. Ultimately, the man received prompt antibiotic therapy and had a good prognosis. Infection and Drug Resistance
Integrated Microfluidic Chip for Nucleic Acid Extraction and Continued cdPCR Detection of Pathogens
This paper introduces an enclosed microfluidic chip that integrates sample preparation and the chamber-based digital polymerase chain reaction (cdPCR). The sample preparation of the chip includes nucleic acid extraction and purification based on magnetic beads, which adsorb nucleic acids by moving around the reaction chambers to complete the reactions including lysis, washing, and elution. Analyst
Detection of Environmental Toxins in Mixed Matrices of Tap Water, Soil, Food Waste, Serum and Milk using Hememics Biosensor
Toxins can come from various sources, such as industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and household chemicals. Therefore, detecting and monitoring toxins in the environment is crucial for protecting human health and the environment. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of Hememics biosensor system in detecting environmental toxins such as Ricin and Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in mixed matrixes. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (pre-print)
Accurate Quantification of Active Ricin in Decreased Oligo Substrates
Researchers applied a liquid chromatography-tunable ultraviolet spectroscopic-quadrupole mass spectrometric detection (LC-TUV-QDa) method, which may provide a new and powerful way to detect active ricin when tackling relevant problems in public safety and security. Analyst
Novel Triplex RT-PCR Assay for Differentiation of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus, Goatpox Virus, and Sheeppox Virus
Both homologous and heterologous immunization strategies are used to protect animals against Capripoxviruses (CaPV). However, development of accurate and rapid methods to distinguish these three viruses is helpful for the early detection, disease surveillance, and control of CaPV infection. The triplex qPCR described here is a robust, rapid, and simple tool for identifying various types of CaPV. Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Benchmarking CRISPR-BP34 for Point-of-Care Melioidosis Detection in LMIC
Melioidosis is a grossly neglected but often-fatal tropical disease. The disease is named “a great mimicker” after its broad clinical manifestations, which makes disease diagnosis challenging and time-consuming. To improve diagnosis, here researchers developed and evaluated the performance of the CRISPR-Cas12a system called “CRISPR-BP34” to detect Burkholderia pseudomallei DNA across clinical specimens from patients suspected to have melioidosis. MedRxiv (pre-print)
Francisella Tularensis Detection with Electrochemical Sensor Using Graphene Quantum Dots as Nanozymes
Francisella tularensis is a potential bioterrorism agent that is highly infectious at very low doses. The aim of the study is to fabricate a novel highly sensitive non-enzymatic DNA-based electrochemical biosensor for the detection of F. tularensis using Grafen Quantum dots (GQDs) with a cost-effective screen-printed gold electrode. SSRN
Serological Evidence of High Pathogenicity Virus Infection in Fruit Bats In Nigeria
To assess the risk of zoonotic spillover, researchers conducted a survey of 304 serum samples from E. helvum bats that were captured for human consumption in Makurdi, Nigeria. Using pseudotyped viruses, they screened the samples for neutralising antibodies against viruses from the Coronaviridae, Filoviridae, Orthomyxoviridae and Paramyxoviridae families. The data suggest a potential risk of zoonotic spillover including the possible circulation of highly pathogenic viruses in E. helvum populations. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining sero-surveillance to monitor changes in virus prevalence and distribution over time and across different geographic locations. BioRxiv (pre-print)
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
What Makes a COVID Superspreader? Scientists Learn More After Deliberately Infecting Volunteers
A rigorous study identifies ‘supershedders’ who spew huge amounts of virus into the air — despite having only mild symptoms. The publication describes data from a controversial ‘challenge study’, in which scientists deliberately infected volunteers with the virus that causes COVID-19. Although the approach drew opposition, the work has now yielded data on questions central to public health, such as whether the severity of symptoms correlates with how contagious people are and whether home COVID-19 tests can play a part in reducing viral spread. Nature
Increased Red Blood Cell Deformation in Children and Adolescents After SARS-Cov-2 Infection
This study aimed to investigate morphological and mechanical characteristics of RBCs after SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents by real-time deformability-cytometry (RT-DC), to investigate the relationship between alterations of RBCs and clinical course of COVID-19. Median RBC deformation was significantly increased in SARS-CoV-2-seropositive compared to seronegative children and adolescents, but no difference could be detected when the infection dated back more than 6 months. Scientific Reports
FDA Panel Backs Monovalent XBB Switch for Fall COVID Vaccines
The FDA vaccine advisory group this week recommended in a 21-0 vote switching to a monovalent (one-strain) vaccine containing the Omicron XBB subvariant for immunization in the fall. Overall, data suggest waning immunity of the current bivalent (two-strain) vaccine to circulating XBB lineage strains. Also, data suggest that including the original Wuhan strain is unlikely to enhance response to the current variants. Though the vote on the switch to a monovalent vaccine was unanimous, the group grappled with several uncertainties, such as whether a focus on a fall vaccine sends unclear messages about SARS-CoV-2 seasonality and similarities to flu. FDA officials noted practical considerations for vaccine production as one of the reasons for a seasonal vaccine update. Paul Offit, MD, professor of pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said federal officials need to clarify who would truly benefit from booster dosing. He noted that though some protection from COVID vaccination wanes, unlike flu, some protection remains against severe disease. “We need to explain that to the public.” CIDRAP
China Withholds Key Indicator of Covid Death Toll as It Fails to Release Cremation Data
China has dropped the number of cremations held last winter from a quarterly report, withholding a key indicator of the pandemic death toll during the country’s largest Covid wave. The country of 1.4 billion people recorded over 4 million cremations during the third quarter of 2022. A quarterly or year-on-year comparison could be used to gauge the number of deaths associated with Covid as China abruptly ended its zero-Covid policy last winter. The Guardian
HISTORICAL REFLECTIONS
The White Lie at the Heart of Vaccine History
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Dr. Edward Jenner invented vaccines around 1800 because of an observation he made, that milkmaids tended to escape the dermatological blight of pox outbreaks? He intuited that their exposure to cowpox when milking cattle had given them protection from smallpox. It’s a nice tale. In reality, multiple people on the planet independently came up with the idea of variolation, also known as inoculation. It was used in parts of Africa. Bostonians in the early 1700s heard about it from an enslaved man, Onesimus, who was from what is now called Libya. In China, inoculation was mentioned in writing as early as 1549, although it might have been a few hundred years older. And there are apocryphal claims that the method was also used in India for thousands of years. The true history behind inoculation’s multiple origin stories may forever be lost to the tides of time. McGill University
The Smallpox Vaccine in Latin America: A New Approach (1801–1804)
In Spain, vaccination against smallpox was quickly accepted and promulgated to the Spanish overseas provinces. This research work offers an overview of the different anti-variolic vaccination initiatives prior to the campaign financed by the Spanish crown. Before the arrival of the Francisco Xavier de Balmis (the Balmis Expedition), chamber surgeon to Carlos IV and leader of the vaccination campaign in Spain, the vaccine substance was introduced across Latin America thanks to the initiative of various surgeons, trained, for the most part, at the Medical–Surgical School of Cadiz. Medicina
SPECIAL INTEREST
This Week in Virology: From Nature, Not a Lab
Virologists discuss the origin of SARS-CoV-2, how the FBI might have reached its conclusion on the matter, and public and political perception of scientific risk. TWiV
Calling All Scientists to Fight the Next Pandemic
Nevan Krogan, PhD, is not one to think small. No, Krogan thinks big – such as when he gathered forces from around the globe in early 2020 to battle a fatal virus. Two years later, his team at UCSF’s Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) netted a $67.5 million grant, the biggest ever awarded to UCSF by the NIH, to unite scientists and the biomedical industry to speed treatments aimed at the world’s deadliest diseases. It seems a job he was born to do. UCSF Magazine
ALSO READING
Pfizer warns of a looming penicillin supply shortage. NPR
What Remains Now That The Fear Has Passed? Developmental Trajectory Analysis of COVID-19 Pandemic for Co-occurrences of Twitter, Google Trends, and Public Health Data. Disaster and Public Health Medicine
Discovery and characterization of potent pan-variant SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies from individuals with Omicron breakthrough infection. Nature Communications
Evaluating Effects of AIV Infection Status on Ducks Using a Flow Cytometry-Based Differential Blood Count. Immunology
Crystal structure of ricin toxin A chain complexed with a highly potent pterin-based small-molecular inhibitor. Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry
Aetiology of Acute Undifferentiated Fever Among Children Under the Age of Five in Vietnam: A Prospective Study. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
Overcoming Disaster Federalism Issues Through Effective Utilization of the Strategic National Stockpile. Public Administration Review
Viral Replicon Systems and Their Biosafety Aspects. Applied Biosafety
Chemical stability of active ingredients in diluted veterinary disinfectant solutions under simulated storage conditions. Frontiers in Chemistry
Virulence-associated type III secretion systems in Gram-negative bacteria. Microbiology
Ebola virus inclusion bodies are liquid organelles whose formation is facilitated by nucleoprotein oligomerization. Emerging Microbes & Infections
Rift Valley fever in West Africa: A zoonotic disease with multiple socio-economic consequences. One Health
A mathematical study unfolding the transmission and control of deadly Nipah virus infection under optimized preventive measures: New insights using fractional calculus. Results in Physics