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What We (Don’t) Know about the Infectious Disease Burden Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness in the United States and Canada J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-19 Mitra Kashani, Michael Bien, Emily Mosites, Ashley A Meehan
Youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) and sexual and gender minority (SGM) YEH may be at increased risk for infectious diseases due to living arrangements, risk behaviors, and barriers to healthcare access that are dissimilar to those of housed youth and older adults experiencing homelessness. To better understand infectious diseases among YEH populations, we synthesized findings from 12 peer-reviewed
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Plasma Immune Biomarkers Predictive of Progression to Active Tuberculosis in Household Contacts of TB Patients J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-19 Anuradha Rajamanickam, Evangeline Ann Daniel, Bindu Dasan, Kannan Thiruvengadam, Padmapriyadarsini Chandrasekaran, Sanjay Gaikwad, Sathyamurthi Pattabiraman, Brindha Bhanu, Amsaveni Sivaprakasam, Vandana Kulkarni, Rajesh Karyakarte, Mandar Paradkar, Shri Vijay Bala Yogendra Shivakumar, Vidya Mave, Amita Gupta, Luke Elizabeth Hanna, Subash Babu
Background The progression from Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection to active tuberculosis (TB) disease varies among individuals, and identifying biomarkers to predict progression is crucial for guiding interventions. In this study, we aimed to determine plasma immune biomarker profiles in healthy household contacts of index pulmonary TB (PTB) patients who either progressed to TB or remained as non-progressors
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Reduced Likelihood of Hospitalization with the JN.1 or HV.1 SARS-CoV-2 Variants Compared to the EG.5 Variant J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-18 Matthew E Levy, Vanessa Chilunda, Richard E Davis, Phillip R Heaton, Pamala A Pawloski, Jason D Goldman, Cynthia A Schandl, Lisa M McEwen, Elizabeth T Cirulli, Dana Wyman, Andrew Dei Rossi, Hang Dai, Magnus Isaksson, Nicole L Washington, Tracy Basler, Kevin Tsan, Jason Nguyen, Jimmy Ramirez, Efren Sandoval, William Lee, James Lu, Shishi Luo
Within a multi-state viral genomic surveillance program, we evaluated whether proportions of SARS-CoV-2 infections attributed to the JN.1 variant and to XBB-lineage variants (including HV.1 and EG.5) differed between inpatient and outpatient care settings during periods of cocirculation. Both JN.1 and HV.1 were less likely than EG.5 to account for infections among inpatients versus outpatients (aOR=0
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Intranasal M2SR (M2-deficient Single Replication) Influenza Vaccine Induces Broadly Reactive Mucosal Antibody Production in Adults J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-16 Lindsay Hill-Batorski, Joshua A Weiner, Margaret E Ackerman, Yasuko Hatta, Daniel F Hoft, Renee Herber, Michael J Moser, Pamuk Bilsel
Intranasal M2SR (M2-deficient Single Replication influenza virus) vaccine induces robust immune responses in animal models and human subjects. A high-throughput multiplexed platform was used to analyze hemagglutinin-specific mucosal antibody responses in adults after a single dose of H3N2 M2SR. Nasal swab specimens were analyzed for total and hemagglutinin-specific IgA. Significant, dose-dependent
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Pre-pandemic Metabolic Correlates of COVID-19 Severity and Long COVID Incidence in People Living with HIV J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-16 Priyesh Agrawal, Leila B Giron, Shalini Singh, Nel Jason Haw, Aaron R Goldman, Mohammed Elkaeid, Bernard Macatangay, Frank J Palella, Maria L Alcaide, Caitlin A Moran, Seble G Kassaye, Nathan Erdmann, Kara W Chew, Michelle Floris-Moore, Aruna Chandran, Michael H Augenbraun, Anjali Sharma, Clovis Palmer, Alan L Landay, Michael J Peluso, Ali Keshavarzian, Todd T Brown, Phyllis C Tien, Mohamed Abdel-Mohsen
Host metabolic dysregulation, especially in tryptophan metabolism, is intricately linked to COVID-19 severity and its post-acute sequelae (Long COVID). People living with HIV (PLWH) experience similar metabolic dysregulation and face an increased risk of developing Long COVID. However, whether pre-existing HIV-associated metabolic dysregulations contribute in predisposing PLWH to severe COVID-19 outcomes
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Pneumococcal carriage and disease in adults in England 2011-2019: the importance of adults as a reservoir for pneumococcus in communities J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-15 D El Safadi, L Hitchins, A Howard, P Aley, J Bowman, M Bertran, A Collins, R Colin-Jones, F Elterish, N K Fry, S B Gordon, K Gould, J Hinds, E Horn, A Hyder-Wright, R Kandasamy, S Ladhani, D Litt, E Mitsi, A Murphy, A J Pollard, E Plested, S Pojar, H Ratcliffe, M C Robertson, H Robinson, M D Snape, C Solórzano, M Voysey, E Begier, J Catusse, M Lahuerta, C Theilacker, B D Gessner, K S Tiley, D M Ferreira
Background Pneumococcal carriage in children has been extensively studied, but carriage in healthy adults and its relationship to invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is less understood. Methods Nasal wash samples from adults without close contact with young children (Liverpool, UK), 2011-2019, were cultured, and culture-negative samples tested by PCR. Pneumococcal carriage in adults 18-44 years was
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Molecular methods enhance the detection of pyoderma-related Streptococcus pyogenes and emm-type distribution in children J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-15 Jennifer N Hall, Edwin P Armitage, Elina Senghore, Saffiatou Darboe, Momodou Barry, Janko Camara, Sulayman Bah, Alexander J Keeley, James S McCarthy, Pierre Smeesters, Claire E Turner, Thomas C Darton, Michael Marks, Adrienn Angyal, Thushan I de Silva
Background Streptococcus pyogenes-related skin infections are increasingly implicated in the development of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in lower-resourced settings, where they are often associated with scabies. The true prevalence of S. pyogenes-related pyoderma may be underestimated by bacterial culture. Methods A multiplex qPCR for S. pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Sarcoptes scabiei was applied
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Clinical Impact of Plasma Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing on Infection Diagnosis and Antimicrobial Therapy in Immunocompromised Patients J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-15 Guankun Yin, Yuyao Yin, Yifan Guo, Lingxiao Sun, Shuai Ma, Hongbin Chen, Qi Wang, Hui Wang
Background Clinical impact of plasma metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) on infection diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy in immunocompromised patients with suspected infection remains unclear. Methods Between March and December 2022, 424 cases with fever, infection history, mechanical ventilation, or imaging abnormalities underwent plasma mNGS testing at a single center. Eleven patients
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Innate and cellular immune response to the Ebola vaccine Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo: an ancillary study of the EBL2001 phase II trial J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-12 Christine Lacabaratz, Mélany Durand, Aurélie Wiedemann, Emile Foucat, Mathieu Surénaud, Corinne Krief, Lydia Guillaumat, Cynthia Robinson, Kerstin Luhn, Viki Bockstal, Rodolphe Thiébaut, Laura Richert, Yves Lévy
Background The EBL2001 phase 2 trial tested the two-dose Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo Ebola vaccine in Europe. Safety and humoral immunogenicity assessments led to EU market authorization in 2020. Complementary analyses of immune responses are warranted to better characterize vaccine effects. Methods We conducted an ancillary study to analyze changes in the serum and cellular responses. Serum biomarkers
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Thrombocytopenia in SFTS due to platelets with altered function undergoing cell death pathways J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-12 Yaohui Fang, Shu Shen, Jingyuan Zhang, Ling Xu, Tong Wang, Lei Fan, Qiong Zhu, Jian Xiao, Xiaoli Wu, Jiayin Jin, Qiaoli Wu, Yanfang Zhang, Shuang Tang, Xin Zheng, Fei Deng
Background Thrombocytopenia is the major clinical feature associated with the severity of SFTS, but the mechanism by which it occurs remains unclear. Methods RNA transcriptome analyses were performed on platelets purified from SFTS patients and SFTSV-infected mice. The functions of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the platelets were characterized. ELISA, flow cytometry, and qRT-PCR were used
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Applications of machine learning on electronic health record data to combat antibiotic resistance J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-12 Samuel E Blechman, Erik S Wright
There is growing excitement about the clinical use of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. Advancements in computing and the accessibility of machine learning frameworks enable researchers to easily train predictive models using electronic health record data. However, there are several practical factors that must be considered when employing machine learning on electronic health
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Relative Contribution of Diagnostic Testing to the Diagnosis of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Hospitalized Adults in the United States J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-12 Evan J Anderson, Ashley Tippett, Elizabeth Begier, Theda Gibson, Gabby Ess, Vikash Patel, Meg Taylor, Olivia Reese, Luis Salazar, Samadhan Jadhao, He-Ying Sun, Hui-Mien Hsiao, Shadwal Gupta, Wensheng Li, Kathleen Stephens, Amy Keane, Caroline Ciric, Kieffer Hellmeister, Andrew Cheng, Zayna Al-Husein, Laurel Bristow, Robin Hubler, Qing Liu, Bradford D Gessner, Luis Jodar, David Swerdlow, Warren Kalina
Background Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory illness (ARI) in older adults. Optimizing diagnosis could improve understanding of RSV burden. Methods We enrolled adults ≥50 years of age hospitalized with ARI and adults of any age hospitalized with congestive heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations at two hospitals during two respiratory
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Specific depletion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells by the chemotherapeutic agent 5-Fluorouracil enhances protective immune response in Paracoccidioidomycosis J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-11 Nycolas Willian Preite, Valéria de Lima Kaminski, Bruno Montanari Borges, Bianca Vieira dos Santos, Vera Lúcia Garcia Calich, Flávio Vieira Loures
Background Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a systemic mycosis in Latin America, is regulated by suppressive mechanisms mediated by tolerogenic plasmacytoid-dendritic-cells and regulatory T-cells. Our recent studies revealed that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), are important mediators in PCM. Their suppressive activity on Th1/Th17 immunity was shown to be mediated by inhibitory effect of IL-10
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Establishment of a hepatitis B virus reporter system harboring a HiBiT-tag in the PreS2 region J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-11 Yuki Nakaya, Daichi Onomura, Yuji Hoshi, Tomoko Yamagata, Hiromi Morita, Hiroaki Okamoto, Kazumoto Murata
Background Approximately 296 million people suffer from chronic hepatitis B (CHB) caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV). Current standard treatment, nucleos(t)ide analogs, are not efficient enough to eradicate HBV from the hepatocytes. Thus, developing new drugs for CHB is desired to achieve complete cure. Methods Here we established a novel HBV reporter system, HBV-HiBiT-PS2, to screen new drugs for CHB
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Natural carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae is associated with increased experimental pneumococcal carriage but reduced conjugate vaccine efficacy in a human challenge model J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-10 Bridgette Galafa, Tarsizio Chikaonda, Evaristar Kudowa, Simon Sichone, Lusako Sibale, Faith Thole, Christopher Mkandawire, Dingase Dula, Edna Nsomba, Godwin Tembo, Mphatso Chaponda, Anthony E Chirwa, Vitumbiko Nkhoma, Clara Ngoliwa, Raphael Kamng'ona, Neema Toto, Lumbani Makhaza, Alfred Muyaya, Ashleigh Howard, Tinashe K Nyazika, John Ndaferankhande, Lorensio Chimgoneko, Ndaziona P K Banda, Gift Chiwala
Background In Malawi, the national pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) demonstrated less herd immunity than the USA, likely due to higher natural pneumococcal carriage rates. We assessed PCV13 efficacy against experimental pneumococcal carriage in healthy Malawian adults. We explored how natural carriage (pneumococcal carriage of any other serotype apart from 6B) influenced experimental carriage
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Antigen titers in cryptococcal meningitis: what determines how fast they fall? J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-09 John E Bennett, Peter R Williamson
Follow-up of previously healthy patients surviving cryptococcal meningitis found that cryptococcal antigen could be detected for more than one year in serum from 38 of 44 (86%) patients and in CSF from 20 of 31 patients (67%), far beyond the time of culture conversion. The speed of titer decline, measured as the number of days for a two fold drop in titer to occur, was slower in serum than in CSF.
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Relation between the Dantu blood group variant and bacteraemia in Kenyan children: a population-based case control study J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-09 Silvia N Kariuki, James J Gilchrist, Sophie Uyoga, Alexander Macharia, Johnstone Makale, Julian C Rayner, Thomas N Williams
Background The Dantu blood group variant protects against P. falciparum infections but its wider consequences have not been previously explored. Here, we investigate the impact of Dantu on susceptibility to bacteraemia. Methods We conducted a case-control study in children presenting with community-acquired bacteraemia to Kilifi County Hospital in Kenya between 1998 and 2010. We used logistic regression
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Sources of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infections Among Men Who Have Sex With Men With a Migration Background: A Viral Phylogenetic Case Study in Amsterdam, The Netherlands J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-08 Alexandra Blenkinsop, Nikos Pantazis, Evangelia Georgia Kostaki, Lysandros Sofocleous, Ard van Sighem, Daniela Bezemer, Thijs van de Laar, Marc van der Valk, Peter Reiss, Godelieve de Bree, Oliver Ratmann
Background Men and women with a migration background comprise an increasing proportion of incident human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases across Western Europe. Methods To characterize sources of transmission in local transmission chains, we used partial HIV consensus sequences with linked demographic and clinical data from the opt-out AIDS Therapy Evaluation in the Netherlands (ATHENA) cohort of
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Severe West Nile Virus and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections in a Patient With Thymoma and Anti–Type I Interferon Antibodies J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-08 Federica Barzaghi, Camilla Visconti, Giovanni Battista Pipitone, Simone Bondesan, Giulia Molli, Stefania Giannelli, Claudia Sartirana, Vito Lampasona, Elena Bazzigaluppi, Cristina Brigatti, Adrian Gervais, Paul Bastard, Chiara Tassan Din, Chiara Molinari, Lorenzo Piemonti, Jean-Laurent Casanova, Paola Carrera, Giorgio Casari, Alessandro Aiuti
Patients with severe West Nile virus and SARS-CoV-2 infections deserve accurate diagnosis of underlying diseases, determining possible anti-interferon autoantibody production, since they must receive antiviral and immunological therapies to enhance antiviral response. The current study aimed to investigate determinants of severity in a previously healthy patient who experienced 2 life-threatening infections
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Phase 3 Study Assessing Lot-to-lot Consistency of RSVPreF3 Vaccine and its Immune Response, Safety, and Reactogenicity When Co-administered with FLU-D-QIV J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-04 Nnenna Chime, Bruno Anspach, Vishal Jain, Outi Laajalahti, Thierry Ollinger, Deborah Yaplee, Joon Hyung Kim
Background A single-dose investigational respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, RSV prefusion protein F3 (RSVPreF3), was co-administered with a single-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine (FLU-D-QIV) in a phase 3, randomized, controlled, multicenter study in healthy, non-pregnant women aged 18–49 years. Methods The study was observer-blind to evaluate the lot-to-lot consistency of RSVPreF3, and
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Trajectories of serum HBsAg during treatment and association with HBsAg loss in children with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B: a latent class trajectory analysis J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-04 Zhenzhen Yao, Yingping Gu, Xin Lai, Meng Yang, Yi Xu, Jiayou Luo, Songxu Peng
Background The change of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) during treatment are associated with HBsAg loss. However, little is known about the trajectory patterns of HBsAg in early treatment and their relationship with subsequent HBsAg loss. This study aimed to identify trajectories of HBsAg in children with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and investigate the association between trajectory
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Genomic epidemiology and evolution of rhinovirus in western Washington State, 2021-22 J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-04 Stephanie Goya, Seffir T Wendm, Hong Xie, Tien V Nguyen, Sarina Barnes, Rohit R Shankar, Jaydee Sereewit, Kurtis Cruz, Ailyn C Pérez-Osorio, Margaret G Mills, Alexander L Greninger
Background Human rhinoviruses (RV) primarily cause the common cold, but infection outcomes vary from subclinical to severe cases, including asthma exacerbations and fatal pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals. To date, therapeutic strategies have been hindered by the high diversity of serotypes. Global surveillance efforts have traditionally focused on sequencing VP1 or VP2/VP4 genetic regions
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A DNA Methylation Signature from Buccal Swabs to Identify Tuberculosis Infection J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-07-03 Lovisa Karlsson, Isabelle Öhrnberg, Shumaila Sayyab, David Martínez-Enguita, Mika Gustafsson, Patricia Espinoza, Melissa Méndez-Aranda, Cesar Ugarte-Gil, Lameck Diero, Ronald Tonui, Jakob Paues, Maria Lerm
Background Tuberculosis (TB) is amongst the largest infectious causes of death worldwide and there is a need for a time- and resource-effective diagnostic method. In this novel and exploratory study, we show the potential of using buccal swabs to collect human DNA and investigate the DNA methylation (DNAm) signatures as a diagnostic tool for TB. Methods Buccal swabs were collected from pulmonary TB
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Do pregnant persons want influenza vaccines? Knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and practices toward influenza vaccines in 8 low- and middle-income countries J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-28 Margaret McCarron, Tat S Yau, Chelsey Griffin, Perrine Marcenac, Malembe S Ebama, Kathryn E Lafond, Ledor S Igboh, Lindsey M Duca, Silvia Bino, Jihene Bettaieb, Sonia Dhaouadi, Gayane Sahakyan, Imad Cherkaoui, Loubna Alj, Daouda Coulibaly, Julius J Lutwama, Alfred Douba, Anderson N’Gattia, Viengphone Khanthamaly, Chankham Tengbriacheu, Chansay Patthammavong, Philipp Lambach, Dinagul Otorbaeva, Eduardo
Background While vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza infection and adverse outcomes, and despite WHO recommendations to vaccinate pregnant persons, access to seasonal influenza vaccines remains low. We explored knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pregnant persons about seasonal influenza vaccines to inform actions to improve vaccine uptake among this priority population. Methods
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Results of a nationally representative seroprevalence survey of chikungunya virus in Bangladesh J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-28 Sam W Allen, Gabriel Ribeiro Dos Santos, Kishor K Paul, Repon Paul, Mohammad Ziaur Rahman, Mohammad Shafiul Alam, Mahmudur Rahman, Hasan Mohammad Al-Amin, Jessica Vanhomwegen, Scott C Weaver, Taylor Smull, Kyu Han Lee, Emily S Gurley, Henrik Salje
There is an increasing global burden from chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Bangladesh reported a major epidemic in 2017, however, it was unclear if there had been prior widespread transmission. We conducted a nationally representative seroprevalence survey in 70 randomly selected communities immediately prior to the epidemic. We found 69/2,938 (2.4%) of sampled individuals were seropositive to CHIKV. Being
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Risk factors for recurrent urinary tract infections among women in a large integrated health care organization in the United States J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-28 Bradley K Ackerson, Sara Y Tartof, Lie H Chen, Richard Contreras, Iris Anne C Reyes, Jennifer H Ku, Michele Pellegrini, Johannes E Schmidt, Katia J Bruxvoort
Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur commonly and often recur. However, recent data on the epidemiology of recurrent UTI (rUTI) are scarce. Methods Between 01/01/2016-31/12/2020, index uncomplicated UTIs (uUTI) from office, emergency department (ED), hospital, and virtual care settings were identified from electronic health records of women at Kaiser Permanente Southern California. We defined
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Relative contributions of the novel diarylquinoline TBAJ-876 and its active metabolite to the bactericidal activity in a murine model of tuberculosis J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-28 Saskia E Mudde, Nicole C Ammerman, Marian T ten Kate, Nader Fotouhi, Manisha U Lotlikar, Hannelore I Bax, Jurriaan E M de Steenwinkel
Background TBAJ-876 is a next-generation diarylquinoline. In vivo, diarylquinoline metabolites are formed with activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Species-specific differences in parent drug-to-metabolite ratios might impact the translational value of animal model-based predictions. This study investigates the contribution of TBAJ-876 and its major active metabolite, TBAJ-876-M3 (M3), to the
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Antibodies to Helminth Defense Molecule-1 are associated with inflammation, organomegaly, and decreased nutritional status in schistosomiasis japonica J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-27 Amanda E Ruiz, Sunthorn Pond-Tor, Ronald Stuart, Luz P Acosta, Hannah M Coutinho, Tjalling Leenstra, Sydney Fisher, Owen Fahey, Emily A McDonald, Mario A Jiz, Remigio M Olveda, Stephen T McGarvey, Jennifer F Friedman, Hannah Wei Wu, Jonathan D Kurtis
Immunomodulation enhances parasite fitness by reducing inflammation-induced morbidity in the mammalian host, as well as by attenuating parasite-targeting immune responses. Using a whole proteome differential screening method, we identified Schistosoma japonicum Helminth Defense Molecule (SjHDM-1) as a target of antibodies expressed by S. japonicum resistant, but not susceptible, individuals. In a longitudinal
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Safety and Immunogenicity of mRNA-1010, an Investigational Seasonal Influenza Vaccine, in Healthy Adults: Final Results From a Phase 1/2 Randomized Trial J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-27 Jintanat Ananworanich, Ivan T Lee, David Ensz, Lizbeth Carmona, Kristi Schaefers, Andrei Avanesov, Daniel Stadlbauer, Angela Choi, Alicia Pucci, Shannon McGrath, Hsiao-Hsuan Kuo, Carole Henry, Ren Chen, Wenmei Huang, Raffael Nachbagauer, Robert Paris
Background Seasonal influenza remains a global public health concern. A messenger RNA (mRNA)-based quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine, mRNA-1010, was investigated in a 3-part, first-in-human, phase 1/2 clinical trial. Methods In Parts 1-3 of this stratified, observer-blind study, adults aged ≥18 years old were randomly assigned to receive a single dose (6.25 µg to 200 µg) of mRNA-1010 or placebo
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Treponema pallidum Periplasmic and Membrane Proteins Are Recognized by Circulating and Skin CD4+ T Cells J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-27 Tara B Reid, Charmie Godornes, Victoria L Campbell, Kerry J Laing, Lauren C Tantalo, Alloysius Gomez, Thepthara N Pholsena, Nicole A P Lieberman, Taylor M Krause, Victoria I Cegielski, Lauren A Culver, Nhi Nguyen, Denise Q Tong, Kelly L Hawley, Alexander L Greninger, Lorenzo Giacani, Caroline E Cameron, Julia C Dombrowski, Anna Wald, David M Koelle
Background Histologic and serologic studies suggest the induction of local and systemic Treponema pallidum-specific CD4+ T-cell responses to T. pallidum infection. We hypothesized that T. pallidum-specific CD4+ T cells are detectable in blood and in the skin rash of secondary syphilis and persist in both compartments after treatment. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from 67 participants
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Precision symptom phenotyping identifies early clinical and proteomic predictors of distinct COVID-19 sequelae J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-25 Nusrat J Epsi, Josh G Chenoweth, Paul W Blair, David A Lindholm, Anuradha Ganesan, Tahaniyat Lalani, Alfred Smith, Rupal M Mody, Milissa U Jones, Rhonda E Colombo, Christopher J Colombo, Christina Schofield, Evan C Ewers, Derek T Larson, Catherine M Berjohn, Ryan C Maves, Anthony C Fries, David Chang, Andrew Wyatt, Ann I Scher, Celia Byrne, Jennifer Rusiecki, David L Saunders, Jeffrey Livezey, Allison
Background Post-COVID conditions (PCC) are difficult to characterize, diagnose, predict, and treat due to overlapping symptoms and poorly understood pathology. Identifying inflammatory profiles may improve clinical prognostication and trial endpoints. Methods 1,988 SARS-CoV-2 positive U.S. Military Health System beneficiaries with quantitative post-COVID symptom scores were included in this analysis
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Incidence of RSV in Adults: A Comprehensive Review of Observational Studies and Critical Gaps in Information J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-24 Benjamin Doty, Parinaz Ghaswalla, Rhonda L Bohn, Sonia K Stoszek, Catherine A Panozzo
Background We conducted a global comprehensive literature review of observational studies reporting RSV incidence in adults and determined current evidence gaps. Methods PubMed and Embase were searched for English-language publications (2000-2022) and congress abstracts (2019-2021) reporting RSV incidence rates/cumulative incidence. Cross-sectional studies, case series, and other designs estimating
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Osteopontin Depletion in Non-haematopoietic Cells Improves Outcomes in Septic Mice by Enhancing Antimicrobial Peptide Production J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-24 Chang Yu, Dongwei Xu, Yichun Luo, Junzhe Jiao, Guanjie Liu, Fang Wang, Yueqiu Gao, Xuehua Sun, Xin Lv, Hailong Wu, Xiaoni Kong
Osteopontin (Opn) depletion can improve septic outcomes, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that non-haematopoietic but not haematopoietic Opn depletion improved septic outcomes. Compared to wild-type (WT) mice, co-housed Opn-/- mice displayed enhanced production of antibacterial peptides (AMPs), decreased bacterial loads, and a distinct bacterial composition
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The contrasting phenotypes of neutrophils during asymptomatic versus symptomatic Leishmania braziliensis infection J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-24 Jacilara A Conceiҫão, Pedro P Carneiro, Andreza S Dórea, Walker N Oliveira, Aline C Muniz, Edgar M Carvalho, Mary E Wilson, Olívia Bacellar
Background The mechanisms that mediate immune protection in individuals with subclinical (SC) or asymptomatic infection with L. braziliensis are largely unknown. Neutrophils (PMNs) have been implicated in progressive symptomatic cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), but their potential participation in maintenance of subclinical infection is unexplored. The aim of this study was to compare the phenotypic and
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Post-mortem analysis of dolutegravir, tenofovir, lamivudine and efavirenz penetration in multiple CNS compartments J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-20 Fan Wang, Kara Rademeyer, Olivie C Namuju, Kizito Abdusalaamu, James Fisher, David B Meya, MaryPeace McRae, David R Boulware, Robert Lukande, Melanie R Nicol
Background Central nervous system (CNS) compartmentalization provides opportunity for HIV persistence and resistance development. Differences between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and cerebral matter regarding HIV persistence are well described. However, CSF is often used as surrogate for CNS drug exposure, and knowledge from solid brain tissue is rare. Methods Dolutegravir, tenofovir, lamivudine and efavirenz
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Dolutegravir- Versus Efavirenz-Based Treatment in Pregnancy: Impact on Red Blood Cell Folate Concentrations in Pregnant Women and Their Infants J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-15 Denise L Jacobson, Krista S Crider, Patricia DeMarrais, Sean Brummel, Mindy Zhang, Christine M Pfeiffer, Cynthia A Moore, Katie McCarthy, Benjamin Johnston, Terence Mohammed, Tichaona Vhembo, Enid Kabugho, Gerald Agaba Muzorah, Haseena Cassim, Lee Fairlie, Elizabeth S Machado, James S Ngocho, Roger L Shapiro, Lena Serghides, Nahida Chakhtoura, Lameck Chinula, Shahin Lockman
In IMPAACT 2010/VESTED, pregnant women were randomized to initiate dolutegravir (DTG)+emtricitabine (FTC)/tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), DTG+FTC/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), or efavirenz (EFV)/FTC/TDF. We assessed red blood cell folate concentrations (RBC-folate) at maternal study entry and delivery, and infant birth. RBC-folate outcomes were: 1) maternal change entry to delivery (trajectory)
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Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Gene (IL1RN) Variants Modulate the Cytokine Release Syndrome and Mortality of COVID-19 J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-14 Mukundan Attur, Christopher Petrilli, Samrachana Adhikari, Eduardo Iturrate, Xiyue Li, Stephanie Tuminello, Nan Hu, Aravinda Chakravarti, David Beck, Steven B Abramson
Background We examined effects of single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) of IL1RN, the gene encoding the anti-inflammatory interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), on the cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and mortality in patients with acute severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Methods IL1RN CTA haplotypes formed from 3 SNVs (rs419598, rs315952, rs9005) and the individual SNVs
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Plasma from older children in Malawi inhibits Plasmodium falciparum binding in 3D brain microvessels J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-14 Fatou Joof, Ruoqian Hu, Alex Saidi, Karl B Seydel, Lauren M Cohee, Ying Zheng, Joseph D Smith
A hallmark of cerebral malaria is sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IEs) in the brain microcirculation. Antibodies contribute to malaria immunity, but it remains unclear whether functional antibodies targeting parasite-expressed ligand can block cytoadhesion in the brain. Here, we screened the plasma of older children and young adults in Malawi to characterize the antibody
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Prevalence of cefixime-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Melbourne, Australia, 2021-2022 J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-13 Eric P F Chow, Kerrie Stevens, Vesna De Petra, Marcus Y Chen, Catriona S Bradshaw, Norelle L Sherry, Lindley A Barbee, Lenka A Vodstrcil, Ivette Aguirre, Kate L Seib, Kate Maddaford, Deborah A Williamson, Benjamin P Howden, Christopher K Fairley
While ceftriaxone remains the first-line treatment for gonorrhoea, the US CDC recommended cefixime as a second-line treatment in 2021. We tested 1176 Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates among clients attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre in 2021-2022. The prevalence of cefixime resistance was 6.3% (74/1176), azithromycin resistance was 4.9% (58/1176) and ceftriaxone resistance was 0% (0/1176). Cefixime
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Whole Genome Sequencing of Invasive Neonatal Escherichia coli from Uppsala County, Sweden J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-13 Anna Heydecke, Åsa Myrelid, Erik Normann, Karolina Gullsby, Eva Tano, Susanne Sütterlin
Background This study sought to investigate associations between a virulence factors and phylogeny in all neonatal E. coli bloodstream infections from patients admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Uppsala University Hospital between 2005 to 2020. Methods A total of 37 E. coli isolates from 32 neonates were whole genome sequenced and analysed for virulence factors related to extraintestinal
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Varied prevalence of antimalarial drug resistance markers in different populations of newly arrived refugees in Uganda J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-12 Stephen Tukwasibwe, Shreeya Garg, Thomas Katairo, Victor Asua, Brian A Kagurusi, Gerald Mboowa, Rebecca Crudale, Gerald Tumusiime, Julius Businge, David Alula, Julius Kasozi, Ibrahim Wadembere, Isaac Ssewanyana, Emmanuel Arinaitwe, Joaniter I Nankabirwa, Samuel L Nsobya, Moses R Kamya, Bryan Greenhouse, Grant Dorsey, Jeffrey A Bailey, Jessica Briggs, Melissa D Conrad, Philip J Rosenthal
Newly arrived refugees offer insights into malaria epidemiology in their countries of origin. We evaluated asymptomatic refugee children within 7 days of arrival in Uganda from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2022 for parasitemia, parasite species, and Plasmodium falciparum drug resistance markers. Asymptomatic P. falciparum infections were common in both populations. Co-infection
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miRNome profiling of extracellular vesicles in severe COVID-19 patients and identification of predictors of mortality J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-12 Laura Sánchez-De Prada, Adrián García-Concejo, Álvaro Tamayo-Velasco, Marta Martín-Fernández, Hugo Gonzalo-Benito, Óscar Gorgojo-Galindo, A Montero-Jodra, María Teresa Peláez, Iciar Martínez Almeida, Miguel Bardají-Carrillo, Rocío López-Herrero, Patricia Román-García, José María Eiros, Iván Sanz-Muñoz, Teresa Aydillo, María Ángeles Jiménez-Sousa, Amanda Fernández-Rodríguez, Salvador Resino, María Heredia-Rodríguez
Background Extracellular vesicles (EVs), containing microRNAs (miRNAs) and other molecules, play a central role in intercellular communication, especially in viral infections caused by SARS-CoV-2. This study explores the miRNA profiles in plasma-derived EVs from severe COVID-19 patients referred to controls, identifying potential mortality miRNA predictors. Methods A prospective study was carried out
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GI.1 Norovirus Neutralizing Antibody Levels Are Correlated with GI.1 Histo-blood Group Antigen-Blocking Antibody Levels J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-12 Robert L Atmar, Khalil Ettayebi, Frederick H Neill, Ralph P Braun, James Sherwood, Sasirekha Ramani, Mary K Estes
Background The in vitro cultivation of human noroviruses allows a comparison of antibody levels measured in neutralization and histoblood group antigen (HBGA)-blocking assays. Methods Serum samples collected during the evaluation of an investigational norovirus vaccine (HIL-214 [formerly TAK-214]) were assayed for neutralizing antibody levels against the vaccine’s prototype Norwalk virus/GI.1 (P1)
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Establishing correlates of maternal-fetal cytomegalovirus transmission–one step closer through predictive modeling J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-11 Arnaud Marchant, Sancar Adali, Hannah Alsdurf, Vanesa Bol, Xavier Capelle, Nathalie De Schrevel, Jean-Marc Delroisse, Roland Devlieger, Ilse Dieussaert, Catherine Donner, Michel Janssens, Philip Loquet, Anil A Panackal, Claudia Seidl, Robert A van den Berg, Robert Paris
Background Determinants of maternal-fetal cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission and factors influencing the severity of congenital CMV (cCMV) infection are not well understood. Methods We conducted a descriptive, multi-center study in pregnant women ≥18 years old with primary CMV infection and their newborns (NCT01251744) to explore maternal immune responses to CMV and determine potential immunologic/virologic
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Cytomegalovirus antiviral resistance among participants in the phase 3 trial of letermovir vs valganciclovir prophylaxis in kidney transplant recipients J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-06-10 Julie M Strizki, Tracy L Diamond, Valerie L Teal, Christopher L Gilbert, Weiwen Wang, Nicole Stauffer, Barbara Haber
Background In a phase 3 trial, letermovir was non-inferior to valganciclovir for CMV disease prophylaxis in CMV-seronegative (R-) kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) who received a kidney from a CMV-seropositive donor (D+). Genotypic antiviral resistance and CMV glycoprotein B (gB) genotype are reported. Methods Plasma samples with detectable CMV DNA were sequenced for presence of known letermovir
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Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal viruses among 2 million adults hospitalized for severe acute respiratory infection during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-31 Lilian M Diniz, Cristiane S Dias, Maria Christina L Oliveira, Ana Cristina Simões e Silva, Enrico A Colosimo, Robert H Mak, Clara C Pinhati, Stella C Galante, Isadora O Yan, Hercílio Martelli-Júnior, Eduardo A Oliveira
Background The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the circulation of seasonal respiratory viruses. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal viruses in adults hospitalized with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This population-based cohort study included patients aged > 18 years hospitalized for SARI
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Household Transmission and Clinical Features of SARS-CoV-2–Positive and –Negative Respiratory Tract Infections J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-31 Jaakko Ahti, Laura Toivonen, Helena Ollila, Lauri Ivaska, Krista Salo-Tuominen, Tytti Vuorinen, Johanna Lempainen, Ville Peltola
Background Comparative data on the transmission of respiratory infections positive and negative for SARS-CoV-2 in households with children are limited. Methods In June–August 2020, we recruited 700 participants (175 households, 376 children, 324 adults) to be prospectively followed for all respiratory tract infections. Follow-up lasted from recruitment till April 2022. Daily symptoms were monitored
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Impact of variable sampling on estimates of HIV-1 reservoir formation dates J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-31 Edward N Kankaka, Art F Y Poon, Thomas C Quinn, Larry W Chang, Jessica L Prodger, Andrew D Redd
Timing of HIV-1 reservoir formation is important for informing HIV cure efforts. It is unclear how much of the variability seen in dating reservoir formation is due to sampling and gene-specific differences. We used a Bayesian extension of root to tip regression (bayroot) to re-estimate formation date distributions in participants from Swedish and South African cohorts, and assessed the impact of variable
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Serum IgG antibodies to HPV6 L1, E2, E4, E6, and E7 proteins among children prospectively followed-up for three years J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-31 Helmi Suominen, Kari Syrjänen, Tim Waterboer, Seija Grénman, Stina Syrjänen, Karolina Louvanto
Background Current knowledge implicates that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection can be acquired at early age. However, the role of HPV-specific passive immunization from mother to neonate is nearly unexplored, especially against the HPV early proteins. We analyzed IgG antibodies against HPV6 early (E2, E4, E6, E7) and late (L1) proteins in children prospectively followed-up for three years. Methods
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Urgent Need to Understand and Prevent Gonococcal Infection: From the Laboratory to Real-World Context J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-31 Yara Ruiz García, Jeanne Marrazzo, Federico Martinón-Torres, Kimberly Workowski, Giulia Giordano, Mariagrazia Pizza, Woo-Yun Sohn
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is widespread globally. Primary prevention is unsuccessful and antimicrobial resistance threatens optimal management. There is no specific vaccine and natural infection studies show that N. gonorrhoeae can avoid and suppress immune responses. In addition to extensive variation in expression and specificity of many gonococcal surface antigens, it induces a robust inflammatory response
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Drug resistance and epidemiological success of modern Mycobacterium tuberculosis lineages in western India J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-31 Avika Dixit, Yasha Ektefaie, Anju Kagal, Luca Freschi, Rajesh Karyakarte, Rahul Lokhande, Matthias Groschel, Jeffrey A Tornheim, Nikhil Gupte, Neeta N Pradhan, Mandar S Paradkar, Sona Deshmukh, Dileep Kadam, Marco Schito, David M Engelthaler, Amita Gupta, Jonathan Golub, Vidya Mave, Maha Farhat
Background Transmission is contributing to the slow decline of tuberculosis (TB) incidence globally. Drivers of TB transmission in India, the country estimated to carry a quarter of the World’s burden, are not well studied. We conducted a genomic epidemiology study to compare epidemiological success, host factors and drug resistance (DR) among the four major Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) lineages
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Nasal and pharyngeal mucosal immunity to poliovirus in children following routine immunization with inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in the United States of America J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-29 Audrey Godin, Ruth I Connor, Hanna N Degefu, Pamela C Rosato, Wendy F Wieland-Alter, Katherine S Axelrod, Gabriela Kovacikova, Joshua A Weiner, Margaret E Ackerman, Eunice Y Chen, Minetaro Arita, Ananda S Bandyopadhyay, Amber I Raja, John F Modlin, Elizabeth B Brickley, Peter F Wright
Background Although polioviruses (PVs) replicate in lymphoid tissue of both the pharynx and ileum, research on polio vaccine-induced mucosal immunity has predominantly focused on intestinal neutralizing and binding antibody levels measured in stool. Methods To investigate the extent to which routine immunization with intramuscularly injected inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) may induce nasal and pharyngeal
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Chronotropic Incompetence among People with HIV Improves with Exercise Training in the Exercise for Healthy Aging Study J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-28 Matthew S Durstenfeld, Melissa P Wilson, Catherine M Jankowski, Grace L Ditzenberger, Chris T Longenecker, Kristine M Erlandson
Background People with HIV (PWH) have lower exercise capacity compared to peers without HIV, which may be explained by chronotropic incompetence (CI), the inability to increase heart rate during exercise. Methods The Exercise for Healthy Aging Study included adults ages 50-75 with and without HIV. Participants completed 12 weeks of moderate intensity exercise, before randomization to moderate or high
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Whispers in the wind: Face mask sampling for Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection in children with pulmonary tuberculosis J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-27 Lennard Meiwes, Irina Kontsevaya, Dumitru Chesov, Stela Kulciţkaia, Viola Dreyer, Doris Hillemann, Qiniso Dlamini, Caroline Williams, Michael Barer, Folke Brinkmann, Renate Krüger, Stephanie Thee, Alexander Kay, Anna Maria Mandalakas, Christoph Lange
Background Recently, face mask sampling (FMS) confirmed detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA from exhaled breath in adults with TB. To date, no study has evaluated the use of FMS to detect pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB) in children. We developed a method for FMS of M. tuberculosis-specific DNA in children and performed a clinical exploration to assess feasibility in children. Methods Face masks
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Ebola Virus–Specific Neutralizing Antibody Persists at High Levels in Survivors 2 Years After Resolution of Disease in a Sierra Leonean Cohort J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-27 Nell G Bond, Kayla R Shore, Emily J Engel, Erin E Coonan, Foday Al-Hasan, Michael A Gbakie, Fatima K Kamara, Lansana Kanneh, Mambu Momoh, Ibrahim M Kanneh, John D Sandi, Debra Elliott, Samuel C Ficenec, Ashley R Smira, William A Fischer, David A Wohl, James E Robinson, Jeffrey G Shaffer, Robert F Garry, Robert J Samuels, Donald S Grant, John S Schieffelin
Ebola virus (EBOV) infection results in Ebola virus disease (EVD), an often severe disease with a nonspecific presentation. Since its recognition, periodic outbreaks of EVD continue to occur in sub-Saharan Africa. The 2013–2016 West African EVD outbreak was the largest recorded, resulting in a substantial cohort of EVD survivors with persistent health complaints and variable immune responses. In this
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Staphylococcus aureus Conquers Host by Hijacking Mitochondria via PFKFB3 in Epithelial Cells J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-25 Xing Gao, Shiyuan Feng, Binfeng Wu, Laizhen Liu, Yuanyuan Xu, Jinqiu Zhang, Jinfeng Miao
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) persists within mammary epithelial cells for an extended duration, exploiting the host metabolic resources to facilitate replication. This study revealed a mechanism by which intracellular S. aureus reprograms host metabolism, with PFKFB3 playing a crucial role in this process. Mechanistically, S. aureus induced mitochondrial damage, leading to increased levels of
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Characterizing the etiology of recurrent tuberculosis using whole genome sequencing—Alaska, USA, 2008–2020 J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-25 Yuri P Springer, Megan L Tompkins, Katherine Newell, Martin Jones, Scott Burns, Bruce Chandler, Lauren S Cowan, J Steve Kammerer, James E Posey, Kala M Raz, Michelle Rothoff, Benjamin J Silk, Yvette L Vergnetti, Joseph B McLaughlin, Sarah Talarico
Background Understanding the etiology of recurrent tuberculosis (rTB) is important for effective TB control. Prior to the advent of whole genome sequencing (WGS), attributing rTB to relapse or reinfection using genetic information was complicated by the limited resolution of conventional genotyping methods. Methods We applied a systematic method of evaluating whole genome single nucleotide polymorphism
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Respiratory viral coinfections in pediatric patients in the primary care setting: a multicenter prospective study within the COPEDICAT network J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-24 Cristina Andrés, Aida Perramon-Malavez, Anna Creus-Costa, Anna Gatell, Ramona Martín-Martín, Elisabet Solà-Segura, Maria Teresa Riera-Bosch, Mireia Biosca, Isabel Soler, Maria Chiné, Lidia Sanz, Gabriela Quezada, Sandra Pérez, Olga Salvadó, Imma Sau, Clara Prats, Andrés Antón, Antoni Soriano-Arandes
Acute respiratory viral infections pose a significant healthcare burden on the pediatric population globally, but data on the dissemination pattern in the community due to the COVID-19 pandemic are scarce. We conducted a two-year prospective multicenter study in Catalonia (Spain) that examined the prevalence and coinfection dynamics of respiratory viruses among 1276 pediatric patients from different
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Viral genomic variation and the severity of genital HSV-2 infection as quantified by shedding rate: a viral genome-wide association study J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-24 Amanda M Casto, Hoseung Song, Hong Xie, Stacy Selke, Pavitra Roychoudhury, Michael C Wu, Anna Wald, Alexander L Greninger, Christine Johnston
Background The clinical severity of genital HSV-2 infection varies widely among infected persons with some experiencing frequent genital lesions while others are asymptomatic. The viral genital shedding rate is closely associated with and has been established as a surrogate marker of clinical severity. Methods To assess the relationship between viral genetics and shedding, we assembled a set of 145
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Micro-heterogeneity of transmission shapes submicroscopic malaria carriage in coastal Tanzania J. Infect. Dis. (IF 5.0) Pub Date : 2024-05-23 Tyler Rapp, Kano Amagai, Cyrus Sinai, Christopher Basham, Mwajabu Loya, Sifa Ngasala, Hamza Said, Meredith S Muller, Srijana B Chhetri, Guozheng Yang, Ruthly François, Melic Odas, Derrick Mathias, Jonathan J Juliano, Feng-Chang Lin, Billy Ngasala, Jessica T Lin
Background Asymptomatic carriage of malaria parasites persists even as malaria transmission declines. Low density infections are often submicroscopic, not detected by rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) or microscopy, but detectable by PCR. Methods To characterize submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum carriage in an area of declining malaria transmission, asymptomatic persons >5 years of age in rural Bagamoyo