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Natural killer (NK) cells are capable of killing various pathogens upon stimulation of activating receptors. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a respiratory virus, which was discovered in 2001 and is responsible for acute respiratory tract infection in infants and children worldwide. HMPV infection is very common, infecting around 70% of all children under the age of five. Under immune suppressive conditions, HMPV infection can be fatal. Not much is known on how NK cells respond to HMPV. In this study, using reporter assays and NK-cell cytotoxicity assays performed with human and mouse NK cells, we demonstrated that the NKp46-activating receptor and its mouse orthologue Ncr1, both members of the natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR) family, recognized an unknown ligand expressed by HMPV-infected human cells. We demonstrated that MHC class I is upregulated and MICA is downregulated upon HMPV infection. We also characterized mouse NK-cell phenotype in the blood and the lungs of HMPV-infected mice and found that lung NK cells are more activated and expressing NKG2D, CD43, CD27, KLRG1, and CD69 compared to blood NK cells regardless of HMPV infection. Finally, we demonstrated, using Ncr1-deficient mice, that NCR1 plays a critical role in controlling HMPV infection.
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Antígenos Ly/metabolismo , Células Asesinas Naturales/inmunología , Pulmón/inmunología , Metapneumovirus/inmunología , Receptor 1 Gatillante de la Citotoxidad Natural/metabolismo , Infecciones por Paramyxoviridae/inmunología , Animales , Antígenos Ly/genética , Niño , Citotoxicidad Inmunológica , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Lactante , Células Asesinas Naturales/virología , Activación de Linfocitos , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Ratones Noqueados , Receptor 1 Gatillante de la Citotoxidad Natural/genética , Carga ViralRESUMEN
Under persistent ER stress, Trypanosoma brucei parasites induce the spliced leader silencing (SLS) pathway. In SLS, transcription of the SL RNA gene, the SL donor to all mRNAs, is extinguished, arresting trans-splicing and leading to programmed cell death (PCD). In this study, we investigated the transcriptome following silencing of SEC63, a factor essential for protein translocation across the ER membrane, and whose silencing induces SLS. The proteome of SEC63-silenced cells was analyzed with an emphasis on SLS-specific alterations in protein expression, and modifications that do not directly result from perturbations in trans-splicing. One such protein identified is an atypical calpain SKCRP7.1/7.2. Co-silencing of SKCRP7.1/7.2 and SEC63 eliminated SLS induction due its role in translocating the PK3 kinase. This kinase initiates SLS by migrating to the nucleus and phosphorylating TRF4 leading to shut-off of SL RNA transcription. Thus, SKCRP7.1 is involved in SLS signaling and the accompanying PCD. The role of autophagy in SLS was also investigated; eliminating autophagy through VPS34 or ATG7 silencing demonstrated that autophagy is not essential for SLS induction, but is associated with PCD. Thus, this study identified factors that are used by the parasite to cope with ER stress and to induce SLS and PCD.
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Calpaína/metabolismo , ARN Lider Empalmado/metabolismo , Trypanosoma brucei brucei/genética , Trypanosoma brucei brucei/metabolismo , Apoptosis/fisiología , Autofagia/fisiología , Retículo Endoplásmico/metabolismo , Silenciador del Gen/fisiología , Proteínas de Transporte de Membrana/genética , Proteínas de Transporte de Membrana/metabolismo , Fosforilación , Transporte de Proteínas , Proteoma , Proteínas Protozoarias/genética , Proteínas Protozoarias/metabolismo , Interferencia de ARN , Empalme del ARN , ARN Mensajero/genética , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , ARN Lider Empalmado/antagonistas & inhibidores , Transcriptoma , Trypanosoma brucei brucei/citología , Respuesta de Proteína DesplegadaRESUMEN
Nonequilibrium sorption plays an active role in the transport of organic contaminants in soil. We applied a two-stage, one-rate model (2S1R) and a new, nonlinear variant (2S1RN) of this model to examine the effects of wastewater irrigation on the sorption kinetics of atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine) in soil. The models were applied to previously published sorption-desorption data sets, which showed pronounced deviations between sorption curves and desorption curves (sorption-desorption hysteresis). Moreover, the slopes of the desorption curves decreased with decreasing concentration. Different treatments had been used, and two experimental time steps (2 and 14 d) were used. Treatments considered were lipid removal, fulvic and humic acid removal, and untreated soil. The 2S1R model was unable to reproduce the observed type of hysteresis, but the 2S1RN model, which assumes that the sorption-desorption process follows a power function relationship, was able to reproduce the observed type of hysteresis. Visually, applying the new model improved the model fits in all test cases. Statistically, as tested by an extra sum of squares analysis, the new model performed significantly better in 50% of all test cases. According to an example simulation, the choice of the sorption model has a considerable impact on the prediction of atrazine transport in soil.
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Atrazina/metabolismo , Herbicidas/metabolismo , Modelos Teóricos , Contaminantes del Suelo/metabolismo , Suelo/química , Adsorción , Agua Dulce , Eliminación de Residuos Líquidos , Movimientos del AguaRESUMEN
Severe acute respiratory disease coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which causes corona virus disease (COVID-19) was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and has since led to a global pandemic. Importations of SARS-CoV-2 to Israel in late February from multiple countries initiated a rapid outbreak across the country. In this study, SARS-CoV-2 whole genomes were sequenced from 59 imported samples with a recorded country of importation and 101 early circulating samples in February to mid-March 2020 and analyzed to infer clades and mutational patterns with additional sequences identified Israel available in public databases. Recorded importations in February to mid-March, mostly from Europe, led to multiple transmissions in all districts in Israel. Although all SARS-CoV-2 defined clades were imported, clade 20C became the dominating clade in the circulating samples. Identification of novel, frequently altered mutated positions correlating with clade-defining positions provide data for surveillance of this evolving pandemic and spread of specific clades of this virus. SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread and mutate in Israel and across the globe. With economy and travel resuming, surveillance of clades and accumulating mutations is crucial for understanding its evolution and spread patterns and may aid in decision making concerning public health issues.
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COVID-19/patología , Variación Genética , Genoma Viral/genética , SARS-CoV-2/genética , COVID-19/epidemiología , COVID-19/virología , Secuenciación de Nucleótidos de Alto Rendimiento , Humanos , Israel/epidemiología , Mutación , SARS-CoV-2/aislamiento & purificaciónRESUMEN
Human coronaviruses (HCoVs) cause mild to severe respiratory infection. Most of the common cold illnesses are caused by one of four HCoVs, namely HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-HKU1 and HCoV-OC43. Several studies have applied global transcriptomic methods to understand host responses to HCoV infection, with most studies focusing on the pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV (MERS-CoV) and the newly emerging SARS-CoV-2. In this study, Next Generation Sequencing was used to gain new insights into cellular transcriptomic changes elicited by alphacoronavirus HCoV-229E. HCoV-229E-infected MRC-5 cells showed marked downregulation of superpathway of cholesterol biosynthesis and eIF2 signaling pathways. Moreover, upregulation of cyclins, cell cycle control of chromosomal replication, and the role of BRCA1 in DNA damage response, alongside downregulation of the cell cycle G1/S checkpoint, suggest that HCoV-229E may favors S phase for viral infection. Intriguingly, a significant portion of key factors of cell innate immunity, interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) and other transcripts of early antiviral response genes were downregulated early in HCoV-229E infection. On the other hand, early upregulation of the antiviral response factor Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic subunit 3B (APOBEC3B) was observed. APOBEC3B cytidine deaminase signature (C-to-T) was previously observed in genomic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 but not HCoV-229E. Higher levels of C-to-T mutations were found in countries with high mortality rates caused by SARS-CoV-2. APOBEC activity could be a marker for new emerging CoVs. This study will enhance our understanding of commonly circulating HCoVs and hopefully provide critical information about still-emerging coronaviruses.
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Coronavirus Humano 229E/fisiología , Infecciones por Coronavirus/genética , Transcriptoma , Línea Celular , Secuenciación de Nucleótidos de Alto Rendimiento , Interacciones Huésped-Patógeno , HumanosRESUMEN
While vaccination is considered the most effective means to prevent influenza infection, its seasonal effectiveness varies, depending on the circulating influenza strains. Here, we characterized the circulation of influenza strains in October-2018 and March-2019 around the world. For this, we used nasopharyngeal samples collected from outpatient and hospitalized patients in Israel and data reported in ECDC, CDC, and WHO databases. Influenza A(H3N2) was dominant in Israel, while in Europe, Asia, and USA, A(H1N1)pdm09 virus circulated first, and then the A(H3N2) virus also appeared. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that A(H3N2) viruses circulating in Israel belonged to clade-3C.3a, while in Europe, Asia, and USA, A(H3N2) viruses belonged to subclade-3C.2a1, but were later replaced by clade-3C.3a viruses in USA. The vaccine A(H3N2) components of that year, A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016-(H3N2)-like-viruses, belonged to clade-3C.2a1. The circulation of different influenza subtypes and clades of A(H3N2) viruses in a single season highlights the need for universal influenza vaccines.
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Blood cell counts often fail to report on immune processes occurring in remote tissues. Here, we use immune cell type-specific methylation patterns in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) for studying human immune cell dynamics. We characterized cfDNA released from specific immune cell types in healthy individuals (N = 242), cross sectionally and longitudinally. Immune cfDNA levels had no individual steady state as opposed to blood cell counts, suggesting that cfDNA concentration reflects adjustment of cell survival to maintain homeostatic cell numbers. We also observed selective elevation of immune-derived cfDNA upon perturbations of immune homeostasis. Following influenza vaccination (N = 92), B-cell-derived cfDNA levels increased prior to elevated B-cell counts and predicted efficacy of antibody production. Patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (N = 21) and B-cell lymphoma (N = 27) showed selective elevation of eosinophil and B-cell cfDNA, respectively, which were undetectable by cell counts in blood. Immune-derived cfDNA provides a novel biomarker for monitoring immune responses to physiological and pathological processes that are not accessible using conventional methods.
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Biomarcadores de Tumor/metabolismo , Ácidos Nucleicos Libres de Células/metabolismo , Metilación de ADN , Inmunidad , Adulto , Anciano , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Influenza viruses and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are respiratory viruses that primarily circulate worldwide during the autumn and winter seasons. Seasonal surveillance has shown that RSV infection generally precedes influenza. However, in the last four winter seasons (2016-2020) an overlap of the morbidity peaks of both viruses was observed in Israel, and was paralleled by significantly lower RSV infection rates. To investigate whether the influenza A virus inhibits RSV, human cervical carcinoma (HEp2) cells or mice were co-infected with influenza A and RSV. Influenza A inhibited RSV growth, both in vitro and in vivo. Mass spectrometry analysis of mouse lungs infected with influenza A identified a two-wave pattern of protein expression upregulation, which included members of the interferon-induced protein with the tetratricopeptide (IFITs) family. Interestingly, in the second wave, influenza A viruses were no longer detectable in mouse lungs. In addition, knockdown and overexpression of IFITs in HEp2 cells affected RSV multiplicity. In conclusion, influenza A infection inhibits RSV infectivity via upregulation of IFIT proteins in a two-wave modality. Understanding the immune system involvement in the interaction between influenza A and RSV viruses will contribute to the development of future treatment strategies against these viruses.
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Coinfección/inmunología , Virus de la Influenza A/fisiología , Gripe Humana/inmunología , Proteínas de Unión al ARN/genética , Infecciones por Virus Sincitial Respiratorio/inmunología , Proteínas Adaptadoras Transductoras de Señales/genética , Proteínas Adaptadoras Transductoras de Señales/inmunología , Animales , Proteínas Reguladoras de la Apoptosis/genética , Proteínas Reguladoras de la Apoptosis/inmunología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Coinfección/virología , Interacciones Microbiota-Huesped , Humanos , Gripe Humana/virología , Péptidos y Proteínas de Señalización Intracelular/genética , Péptidos y Proteínas de Señalización Intracelular/inmunología , Israel , Pulmón/virología , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Interacciones Microbianas , Morbilidad , Proteínas de Unión al ARN/inmunología , Infecciones por Virus Sincitial Respiratorio/virología , Virus Sincitial Respiratorio Humano , Estudios Retrospectivos , Estaciones del Año , Regulación hacia ArribaRESUMEN
Every year, millions of people worldwide are infected with influenza, causing enormous health and economic problems. The most common type of influenza is influenza A. It is known that Natural Killer (NK) cells play an important role in controlling influenza A infection, mostly through the recognition of the viral protein hemagglutinin (HA) by the activating receptor, NKp46. In contrast, little is known regarding NK cell recognition of influenza B viruses, even though they are responsible for a third of all pediatric influenza deaths and are therefore included in the seasonal vaccine each year. Here we show that NKp46 also recognizes influenza B viruses. We show that NKp46 binds the HA protein of influenza B in a sialic acid-dependent manner, and identified the glycosylated residue in NKp46, which is critical for this interaction. We discovered that this interaction has a binding affinity approximately seven times lower than NKp46 binding of influenza A's HA. Finally, we demonstrated, using mice deficient for the mouse orthologue of NKp46, named NCR1, that NKp46 is not important for influenza B elimination. These findings enable us to better understand the interactions between the different influenza viruses and NK cells that are known to be crucial for viral elimination.
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Interacciones Huésped-Patógeno , Virus de la Influenza B/fisiología , Gripe Humana/metabolismo , Gripe Humana/virología , Receptor 1 Gatillante de la Citotoxidad Natural/metabolismo , Animales , Citotoxicidad Inmunológica , Glicoproteínas Hemaglutininas del Virus de la Influenza/metabolismo , Interacciones Huésped-Patógeno/inmunología , Humanos , Gripe Humana/inmunología , Células Asesinas Naturales/inmunología , Células Asesinas Naturales/metabolismo , Ratones , Infecciones por Orthomyxoviridae/metabolismo , Infecciones por Orthomyxoviridae/virología , Unión Proteica , Treonina/metabolismoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are common pathogens that can cause respiratory, gastrointestinal and other infections. We investigated the correlation between adenovirus viral load in clinical respiratory samples and the respiratory disease severity in pediatric patients. METHODS: Medical records of patients hospitalized in the Sheba Medical Center (SMC) with confirmed adenovirus infection were retrospectively analyzed. The possible correlation between disease severity score and Real time PCR 'cycle threshold' (Ct), a proxy of viral load, was assessed in patients aged 9 years and under. In addition, Ct values of hospitalized versus community-care patient samples, positive for various respiratory viruses including adenovirus, were compared. RESULTS: Adenovirus load in respiratory samples, as measured by Ct values, was found to be negatively correlated with respiratory disease severity in hospitalized pediatric patients aged under 9 years. Moreover, hospitalized patients presented with significantly higher Ct levels for various respiratory viruses as compared to community-care patients. CONCLUSION: In this study we found a correlation between Ct values obtained from adenovirus q-PCR analysis of respiratory clinical samples and disease severity in patients aged 9 years and under. Such finding may serve as a predictor of respiratory disease course in pediatric patients and will be beneficial for the differential diagnosis and treatment of pediatric patients.
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Infecciones por Adenovirus Humanos/virología , Adenovirus Humanos , Infecciones del Sistema Respiratorio/virología , Carga Viral , Infecciones por Adenovirus Humanos/fisiopatología , Adenovirus Humanos/genética , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Masculino , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la Polimerasa , Infecciones del Sistema Respiratorio/fisiopatología , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
SARS-CoV-2 has become a major global concern as of December 2019, particularly affecting healthcare workers. As person-to-person transmission is airborne, crowded closed spaces have high potential for rapid virus spread, especially early in the pandemic when social distancing and mask wearing were not mandatory. This retrospective study thoroughly investigates a small-scale SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Israel's central virology laboratory (ICVL) in mid-March 2020, in which six staff members and two related family members were infected. Suspicions regarding infection by contaminated surfaces in ICVL facilities were nullified by SARS-CoV-2 negative real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of work surfaces swipe tests. Complete SARS-CoV-2 genomes were sequenced and mutation analyses showed inclusion of all samples to clades 20B and 20C, possessing the spike mutation D614G. Phylogenetic analysis clarified transmission events, confirming S1 as having infected at least three other staff members and refuting the association of a staff member's infected spouse with the ICVL transmission cluster. Finally, serology tests exhibited IgG and IgA antibodies in all infected individuals and revealed the occurrence of asymptomatic infections in additional staff members. This study demonstrates the advantages of molecular epidemiology in elucidating transmission events and exemplifies the importance of good laboratory practice, distancing and mask wearing in preventing SARS-CoV-2 spread, specifically in healthcare facilities.
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Betacoronavirus/aislamiento & purificación , Infecciones por Coronavirus/transmisión , Neumonía Viral/transmisión , Anticuerpos Antivirales/sangre , Infecciones Asintomáticas/epidemiología , Betacoronavirus/genética , COVID-19 , Prueba de COVID-19 , Técnicas de Laboratorio Clínico/métodos , Infecciones por Coronavirus/diagnóstico , Infecciones por Coronavirus/epidemiología , Personal de Salud , Secuenciación de Nucleótidos de Alto Rendimiento/métodos , Humanos , Israel/epidemiología , Mutación , Pandemias , Filogenia , Neumonía Viral/diagnóstico , Neumonía Viral/epidemiología , Salud Pública , Estudios Retrospectivos , SARS-CoV-2 , Pruebas SerológicasRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To assess the immunogenicity and safety of vaccination against seasonal influenza in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients treated with secukinumab versus healthy controls (HC). METHODS: PsA patients administered secukinumab for ≥3â¯months and HC received the Sanofi Pasteur vaccine composed of 3 antigens (H3N3, H1N1, and B) and underwent clinical and laboratory assessments on the day of vaccination and 4-6â¯weeks later. Immunogenicity of the vaccine was evaluated by hemagglutination inhibition assay against those 3 antigens. Responders to each antigen were defined by a 4-fold increase in the antigen titer or by seroconversion in patients whose baseline level was <1/40. RESULTS: Thirty-two consecutive PsA patients treated with secukinumab for ≥3â¯months comprised the study group, 10 of whom received concomitant conventional synthetic disease-modifying drugs, mostly methotrexate. There were 17 age- and gender-matched HC (median age 48.5â¯years, 6 females). The geometric mean titers of each antigen increased significantly in both groups. The number of responders in each group was similar for H3N2 and H1N1, and significantly higher for B/Brisbane in the PsA group. The proportion of patients with a seroprotective level (a titer >1/40) was high and similar in both groups. There was no correlation between the response rate and age, gender, or selected parameters of disease activity (tender/swollen joint counts, Leeds enthesitis index, physician and patient global assessment, psoriasis area severity index, and C-reactive protein). No disease exacerbation was observed following the vaccination. No serious adverse effects were observed in both groups during the study period. CONCLUSION: Secukinumab treatment does not affect the humoral response to influenza vaccine of patients with PsA.
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Anticuerpos Monoclonales Humanizados/administración & dosificación , Artritis Psoriásica/tratamiento farmacológico , Vacunas contra la Influenza/administración & dosificación , Gripe Humana/prevención & control , Adulto , Anciano , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Femenino , Pruebas de Inhibición de Hemaglutinación , Humanos , Inmunogenicidad Vacunal , Subtipo H1N1 del Virus de la Influenza A/inmunología , Subtipo H3N2 del Virus de la Influenza A/inmunología , Vacunas contra la Influenza/inmunología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estaciones del Año , VacunaciónRESUMEN
Background: Influenza A (H3N2) clade 3C.3a was the predominant influenza virus in Israel throughout the 2018-2019 season, constituting a drift from the influenza A (H3N2) vaccine. We estimated the end-of season vaccine effectiveness (VE) by age, among community patients with influenza-like illness (ILI), considering the hemagglutinin (HA) gene mutations and amino acid substitutions of influenza A (H3N2) viruses detected. Methods: Nose-throat samples were analyzed for the presence of influenza virus, type/subtype, and HA gene sequence. HA gene sequences and amino acid substitutions were compared to the influenza A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 (H3N2)-like 2018-2019 vaccine virus, and a phylogenetic tree was generated. Influenza VE against influenza A (H3N2) was estimated using the test-negative design. VE was estimated by age group and by 15 year moving age intervals. Results: In total, 90% of the influenza A (H3N2) viruses belonged to the 3C.3a clade, constituting a unique situation in the northern hemisphere. Adjusted all-age influenza A (H3N2) VE was -3.5% (95% CI: -51.2 to 29.1). Although adjusted VEs were very low among infants, children, and young adults, a VE of 45% (95% CI: -19.2 to 74.6) was estimated among adults aged ≥45 years old. Conclusions: The higher VE point estimates among older adults may be related to previous exposure to similar influenza viruses.
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While infection with influenza A viruses has been extensively investigated, infections with influenza B viruses which are commonly categorized into the highly homologous Victoria and Yamagata lineages, are less studied, despite their considerable virulence. Here we used RT-PCR assays, hemagglutination inhibition assays and antibody titers to determine the levels of influenza B infection. We report of high influenza B Victoria virus prevalence in the 2015-16 winter season in Israel, affecting approximately half of the Israeli population. We further show that the Victoria B virus infected individuals of all ages and that it was present in the country throughout the entire winter season. The vaccine however included the inappropriate Yamagata virus. We propose that a quadrivalent vaccine, that includes both Yamagata and Victoria lineages, should be considered for future influenza vaccination.
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The last influenza pandemic, caused by the swine A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza virus, began in North America at 2009. Since then, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended integration of the swine-based virus A/California/07/2009 strain in yearly vaccinations. Yet, infections with A(H1N1)pdm09 have continued in subsequent years. The reasons for this are currently unknown. During the 2015-2016 influenza season, we noted an increased prevalence of A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza virus infection in Israel. Our phylogenetic analysis indicated that the circulating A(H1N1)pdm09 strains belonged to 6B.1 and 6B.2 clades and differed from the vaccinating strain, with approximately 18 amino acid differences found between the circulating strains and the immunizing A/California/07/2009 strain. Hemmaglutination inhibition (HI) assays demonstrated higher antibodies titer against the A/California/07/2009 vaccinating strain as compared to the circulating Israeli strains. We thus suggest that the current vaccination was not sufficiently effective and propose inclusion of the current circulating A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza viruses in the annual vaccine composition.
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Subtipo H1N1 del Virus de la Influenza A/clasificación , Vacunas contra la Influenza/clasificación , Gripe Humana/epidemiología , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Humanos , Subtipo H1N1 del Virus de la Influenza A/genética , Subtipo H1N1 del Virus de la Influenza A/aislamiento & purificación , Vacunas contra la Influenza/genética , Vacunas contra la Influenza/inmunología , Gripe Humana/inmunología , Gripe Humana/virología , Israel/epidemiología , Filogenia , Prevalencia , ARN Viral/genética , Análisis de Secuencia de ARNRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Influenza A and B viruses co-infections are rare events and mainly occurred in immunocompromised patients. OBJECTIVES: In this study we report an unusually high occurrence of influenza A (H1N1)pdm 2009 and influenza B virus co-infections during the epidemic year 2015-2016. STUDY DESIGN: Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 1919 patients visiting 26 outpatient clinics distributed throughout Israel and presenting with influenza-like illness. In addition, hospitalized patient tested for influenza viruses were also included in the study. Patients samples collected between October 2015 and April 2016 were tested for the presence of influenza viruses by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Of the 1919 patient samples tested, 11 (0.6%) were co-infected with both influenza A(H1N1)pdm 2009 and influenza B/Victoria viruses. Similar observation was noted in four hospitalized patients during the same period. Patients at ages 1-72 years, and their clinical symptoms were similar to that of patients infected with either influenza A or B viruses. Of all patients, only one hospitalized patient was immunocompromised. IN CONCLUSION: Co-infection of influenza A(H1N1)pdm 2009 and influenza B viruses is an increasingly recognized phenomenon. This co-infection can occur not only in immunocompromised individuals, but also in immunocompetent patients. Although co-infection appears to be a rare event, it may still play a role in the epidemiology, pathogenicity and evolution of influenza viruses.
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Coinfección/epidemiología , Coinfección/virología , Hospitalización , Subtipo H1N1 del Virus de la Influenza A/aislamiento & purificación , Virus de la Influenza B/aislamiento & purificación , Gripe Humana/epidemiología , Gripe Humana/virología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Niño , Preescolar , Coinfección/patología , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Gripe Humana/patología , Israel/epidemiología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Nasofaringe/virología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Influenza vaccine composition is reevaluated each year due to the frequency and accumulation of genetic changes that influenza viruses undergo. The beginning of the 2016-2017 influenza surveillance period in Israel has been marked by the dominance of influenza A(H3N2). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the type, subtype, genetic evolution and amino acid substitutions of influenza A(H3N2) viruses detected among community patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) and hospitalized patients with respiratory illness in the first weeks of the 2016-2017 influenza season. STUDY DESIGN: Respiratory samples from community patients with influenza-like illness and from hospitalized patients underwent identification, subtyping and molecular characterization. Hemagglutinin sequences were compared to the vaccine strain, phylogenetic tree was created, and amino acid substitutions were determined. RESULTS: Influenza A(H3N2) predominated during the early stages of the 2016-2017 influenza season. Noticeably, approximately 20% of community patients and 36% of hospitalized patients, positive for influenza3), received the 2016-2017 influenza vaccine. The influenza A(H3N2) viruses demonstrated genetic divergence from the vaccine strain into three separate subgroups within the 3C.2a clade. One resembled the new 3C.2a1 subclade, one resembled the recently proposed 3C.2a2 subclade and the other was not previously described. Diversity was observed within each subgroup, in terms of additional amino acid substitutions. CONCLUSIONS: Characterization of the 2016-2017 A(H3N2) influenza viruses is imperative for determining the future influenza vaccine composition.
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Subtipo H3N2 del Virus de la Influenza A/genética , Gripe Humana/virología , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Sustitución de Aminoácidos , Animales , Perros , Flujo Genético , Glicoproteínas Hemaglutininas del Virus de la Influenza/química , Glicoproteínas Hemaglutininas del Virus de la Influenza/genética , Humanos , Gripe Humana/epidemiología , Israel/epidemiología , Células de Riñón Canino Madin Darby , Modelos Moleculares , Técnicas de Diagnóstico Molecular , Epidemiología Molecular , Filogenia , Estaciones del AñoRESUMEN
Sodium azide (NaN(3)) is one of the biocides commonly used to inhibit microbial growth during sorption experiments. However, a few reports have suggested that NaN(3) can react with the analyte of interest. In this study, the interactions of NaN(3) with triazine herbicides were investigated and the effect of atrazine transformation on its sorption to soil was evaluated. The concentration of atrazine in the presence of NaN(3) decreased significantly over period of time. After 14 days, only 38% of the initial atrazine concentration (10 mg l(-1)) was detected in a solution containing 1,000 mg l(-1) NaN(3) at pH 5.5. The magnitude and the rate of atrazine transformation increased with increase in NaN(3) load and with decrease in pH. In contrast to atrazine behavior, the concentrations of prometon and ametryn did not change during the experiment. GC/MS analysis indicated that the chlorine atom of atrazine is replaced by the azide group yielding 2-azido-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine. Atrazine transformation by NaN(3) significantly affected sorption of herbicide to soil. The presence of NaN(3) affects indirectly the sorption of atrazine due to competitive effect of its derivative. Our results demonstrated that the application of NaN(3) as a biocide in sorption-desorption experiments must be carefully evaluated. This issue is vital for sorption experiments conducted over long periods of time or/and with concentration of NaN(3) higher than 100 mg l(-1).
Asunto(s)
Atrazina/química , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Herbicidas/química , Azida Sódica/química , Suelo , Adsorción , Atrazina/análisis , Herbicidas/análisis , Cinética , Azida Sódica/análisis , Triazinas/análisis , Triazinas/químicaRESUMEN
The soil lipid fraction can play an important role in the sorption of organic compounds. In this study, the impact of the lipid fraction of freshwater- and wastewater-irrigated soils on the sorption of non- and relatively polar compounds was assessed. Lipid analyses revealed a clear difference between the two lipid fractions. The lipid extract from the wastewater-irrigated soil was consistent with mainly straight paraffinic chain materials; the lipid extract from freshwater-irrigated soil, on the other hand, exhibited stronger signals of aromatics, double bonds, ester, ether, and methyl, in addition to a smaller contribution from methylene protons. Our data suggest that lipid removal induced a stronger increase in the soil's sorption affinity for solutes capable of polar interactions such as atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine) and chlorotoluron (N'-(3-chloro-4-methylphenyl)-N,N-dimethylurea) as compared to phenanthrene. Moreover, the level of increase in sorption affinities due to lipid removal was much higher for the freshwater-irrigated soil than for its wastewater-irrigated counterpart, even though the level of lipids in the freshwater-irrigated soil was half that in the wastewater-irrigated one (6 vs. 11% of the total organic C). The higher level of polar functionalities, such as ether and ester moieties, in the lipid fraction from the freshwater-irrigated soil suggests that these extractable compounds compete successfully with the polar solutes (atrazine and chlorotoluron) for specific binding sites in the soil organic matter (SOM). It appears that the composition of the lipid fraction may be a key consideration in unraveling the sorption of organic molecules in soils.
Asunto(s)
Agua Dulce , Lípidos/farmacología , Suelo/análisis , Eliminación de Residuos Líquidos , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , Adsorción/efectos de los fármacos , Atrazina/química , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Cromatografía de Gases y Espectrometría de Masas , Hidrocarburos Aromáticos/química , Interacciones Hidrofóbicas e Hidrofílicas , Espectroscopía de Resonancia Magnética , Fenantrenos/química , Compuestos de Fenilurea/química , Solubilidad , Irrigación Terapéutica , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/químicaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Different types of adenoviruses are associated with diverse diseases and with varied disease severity. Adenovirus 55 could be associated with severe respiratory infections. OBJECTIVES: Here, we report on an adenovirus 55 outbreak in two psychiatric institutions in Israel. The objective of this study was to investigate the adenovirus 55 outbreak. STUDY DESIGN: We studied the clinical parameters of the patients and sequencing analysis of certain parts of the virus gene was performed. RESULTS: We identified the first patient who developed symptoms (the index case) and we showed that while both patients and staff members of the institutions were infected, the disease in the psychiatric patients was more severe. We attributed these differences to their mental and underlying health conditions. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to monitor for adenovirus infection in the community, especially in mental health institutions to allow appropriate medical care.