4′-Fluorouridine is an oral antiviral that blocks respiratory syncytial virus and SARS-CoV-2 replication

Preparing antiviral defenses Antiviral drugs are an important tool in the battle against COVID-19. Both remdesivir and molnupiravir, which target the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase, were first developed against other RNA viruses. This highlights the importance of broad-spectrum antivirals that can be rapidly deployed against related emerging pathogens. Sourimant et al . used respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as a primary indication in identifying further drugs that target the polymerase enzyme of RNA viruses. The authors explored derivatives of molnupiravir and identified 4′ fluorouridine (EIDD-2749) as an inhibitor of the polymerase of RSV and SARS-CoV-2. This drug can be delivered orally and was effective against RSV in mice and SARS-CoV-2 in ferrets. —VV

Emerging Diseases and Epizootics in Crabs Under Cultivation

While most crab production for human consumption worldwide comes from capture fisheries, there is increasing production of selected species using aquaculture-based methods. This is both for the purpose of stock replacement and direct yield for human consumption. Disease has limited the ability to produce larval crabs in commercial hatcheries and this together with suitable feeds, are major hurdles in the sustainable development of cultivation methods. Juvenile and adult crabs are also subject to a range of diseases that can cause severe economic loss. Emerging pathogens/parasites are of major importance to crab aquaculture as they can cause high levels of mortality and are difficult to control. Diseases caused by viruses and bacteria receive considerable attention but the dinoflagellate parasites, Hematodinium spp., also warrant concern because of their wide host range and lack of control methods to limit their spread. This concise review examines the emerging diseases in several crabs that have been selected as candidates for aquaculture efforts including Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis), mud crabs (Scylla spp.), swimming crabs (Portunus spp.), blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) and shore crabs (Carcinus maenas). The latter is also a prolific invasive species known to harbour diverse macro- and micro-parasites that can affect commercially important bivalves and crustaceans.

Genomic Analysis and Antimicrobial Resistance of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in Peru

Campylobacter is the leading cause of human bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide and has a major impact on global public health. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) is a powerful tool applied in the study of foodborne pathogens. The objective of the present study was to apply WGS to determine the genetic diversity, virulence factors and determinants of antimicrobial resistance of the populations of C. jejuni and C. coli in Peru. A total of 129 Campylobacter strains (108 C. jejuni and 21 C. coli) were sequenced using Illumina Miseq platform. In silico MLST analysis identified a high genetic diversity among those strains with 30 sequence types (STs), several of them within 11 clonal complexes (CC) for C. jejuni, while the strains of C. coli belonged to a single CC with 8 different STs. Phylogeny analysis showed that Peruvian C. jejuni strains were divided into 2 clades with 5 populations, while C. coli formed a single clade with 4 populations. Furthermore, in silico analyses showed the presence of several genes associated with adherence, colonization and invasion among both species: cadF (83.7%), jlpA (81.4%), racR (100%), dnaJ (83.7%), pebA (83.7%), pldA (82.1%), porA (84.5%), ceuE (82.9%), ciaB (78.3%), iamB (86.8%), and flaC (100%). The majority (82.9%) of the Campylobacter strains carried the cdtABC operon which code for cytolethal distending toxin (CDT). Half of them (50.4%) carried genes associated with the presence of T6SS, while the frequency of genes associated with T4SS were relatively low (11.6%). Genetic markers associated with resistance to quinolones, tetracycline (tetO, tetW/N/W), beta-lactamases (blaoxa–61), macrolides (A2075G in 23S rRNA) were found in 94.5, 21.7, 66.7, 6.2, 69.8, and 18.6% of strains, respectively. The cmeABC multidrug efflux operon was present in 78.3% of strains. This study highlights the importance of using WGS in the surveillance of emerging pathogens associated with foodborne diseases, providing genomic information on genetic diversity, virulence mechanisms and determinants of antimicrobial resistance. The description of several Campylobacter genotypes having many virulence factors and resistance to quinolones and tetracyclines circulating in Peru provides important information which helps in the monitoring, control and prevention strategies of this emerging pathogen in our country.

Household Transmission Investigation: Design, Reporting and Critical Appraisal.

Household transmission investigations (HHTI) contribute timely epidemiologic knowledge in response to emerging pathogens. HHTIs conducted in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21 reported variable methodological approaches, producing epidemiological estimates that vary in meaning, precision, and accuracy. Since specific tools to assist with the optimal design and critical appraisal of HHTIs are not available, the aggregation and pooling of HHTI to inform policy and interventions may be challenging. In this manuscript, we discuss key aspects of the HHTI design, we provide recommendations for the reporting of these studies, and propose an appraisal tool that contributes to the optimal design and critical appraisal of HHTI studies. The appraisal tool consists of 12 questions that explore 10 aspects of HHTIs and can be answered ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘unclear’. The manuscript seeks to fill a gap in the epidemiologic literature and contribute to standardise HHTI approaches across settings, to achieve richer and more informative datasets. The manuscript also calls for a periodic revision of HHTI protocols and critical appraisal tools

Social Response to the Vaccine against COVID-19: The Underrated Power of Influence

Background: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the need for preventive medicine and vaccinology to be paralleled to eliminate COVID-19 cases. Methods: A web-based questionnaire was disseminated through social media in the late November assessing the factors that may have influenced the final response to vaccination against COVID-19 in vaccinated and non-vaccinated Greek people. Results: Women, the younger generations, and university graduates were more likely to accept vaccination, whereas men, those with a basic education level, and the older generation showed a hesitance to the vaccine against COVID-19. About half of the vaccinated participants were influenced in their final decision mainly by being informed from the internet (50.4%), their work (51.7%), and social life (53,1%) while half of the non-vaccinated individuals were mostly influenced by keeping updated from the internet (55.5%) and by government policies (51.3%). COVID-19 risk (OR 2.511; CI 2.149–2.934; p = 0.000), frequent vaccinations for emerging pathogens (OR 14.022; CI 11.998-16.389), and social life (OR 2.828; CI 2.417–3.309; p = 0.000) had a significant impact on people’s positive response to vaccination against COVID-19. Conclusions: Monitoring and assessing the influence factors for the response to vaccination can be favourable strategies to further manage societal vaccination rates.

Associations of Pantoea with Rice Plants: As Friends or Foes?

Pantoea species are gram-negative bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family, generally associated with plants, either as epiphytes or as pathogens. In the last decade, Pantoea species are being regarded as re-emerging pathogens that are the causal agents of various diseases in rice plants. Inherently, they are also known to be opportunistic plant symbionts having the capacity to enhance systemic resistance and increase the yield of rice plants. It is unclear how they can express both beneficial and pathogenic traits, and what factors influence and determine the outcome of a particular Pantoea–rice plant interaction. This review aims to compare the characteristics of rice plant-beneficial and pathogenic strains belonging to the Pantoea species and gain new insights, enabling distinction among the two types of plant–microbe interactions.

Diseases as Impediments to Livestock Production and Wildlife Conservation Goals

Disease outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics have been of importance for human and animal health worldwide and sparked enormous public interest. These outbreaks might be caused by known endemic pathogens or by emerging or re-emerging pathogens. Wildlife are the major reservoirs and responsible for most of these outbreaks. They play significant role in the transmission of several livestock diseases and pathogen spill-over may occur in complex socio-ecological systems at the wildlife-domestic animal interface which have been seldom studied. Interspecific pathogen spill-over at the wildlife-livestock interface have been of growing concern in the scientific community over the past years due to their impact on wildlife, livestock and human health. In this section the epidemiology of some viral infections (Foot and Mouth Disease and rabies), bacterial infections (Tuberculosis and brucellosis) and parasites (haemo and endo-parasites) at the wildlife-livestock interface and potential impacts to livestock production and conservation goal is described.