Laboratory management of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus infections: perspectives from two European networks.

BackgroundCrimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is considered an emerging infectious disease threat in the European Union. Since 2000, the incidence and geographic range of confirmed CCHF cases have markedly increased, following changes in the distribution of its main vector, Hyalomma ticks.AimsTo review scientific literature and collect experts' opinion to analyse relevant aspects of the laboratory management of human CCHF cases and any exposed contacts, as well as identify areas for advancement of international collaborative preparedness and laboratory response plans.MethodsWe conducted a literature review on CCHF molecular diagnostics through an online search. Further, we obtained expert opinions on the key laboratory aspects of CCHF diagnosis. Consulted experts were members of two European projects, EMERGE (Efficient response to highly dangerous and emerging pathogens at EU level) and EVD-LabNet (Emerging Viral Diseases-Expert Laboratory Network).ResultsConsensus was reached on relevant and controversial aspects of CCHF disease with implications for laboratory management of human CCHF cases, including biosafety, diagnostic algorithm and advice to improve lab capabilities. Knowledge on the diffusion of CCHF can be obtained by promoting syndromic approach to infectious diseases diagnosis and by including CCHFV infection in the diagnostic algorithm of severe fevers of unknown origin.ConclusionNo effective vaccine and/or therapeutics are available at present so outbreak response relies on rapid identification and appropriate infection control measures. Frontline hospitals and reference laboratories have a crucial role in the response to a CCHF outbreak, which should integrate laboratory, clinical and public health responses.

Mechanistic investigation into complementary (antisense) peptide mini-receptor inhibitors of cytokine interleukin-1.

Sense peptides are coded for by the nucleotide sequence (read 5'-->3') of the sense (positive) strand of DNA. Conversely, a complementary peptide is coded for by the nucleotide sequence (read 5'-->3') of the complementary or antisense (negative) strand of DNA. In many instances, sense and corresponding complementary peptides have been observed to interact specifically. In order to study this process in more detail, longer, shorter and mutant variants of our original complementary peptide, VITFFSL, were synthesised and analysed for binding to and inhibition of cytokine human interleukin-1beta (IL- 1beta) in vitro. The behaviour of all peptides studied is discussed in terms of the Mekler- dlis (M-1) pair theory, a theory that accounts for specific sense-complementary peptide interactions in terms of through-space interactions between corresponding pairs of amino acid residues (M-1 pairs)] specified by the genetic code and its complement.