Adenovirus Infection Research Articles

Collateral Impact of Public Health and Social Measures on Respiratory Virus Activity during the COVID-19 Pandemic 2020-2021.

Many countries have implemented public health and social measures (PHSMs) to control the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although the PHSMs are targeted at SARS-CoV-2 transmission control, they directly or indirectly impact the epidemiology of different respiratory viral diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the collateral impact of PHSMs used during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the epidemiology of other respiratory viruses, including influenza, parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, and adenovirus infections. We conducted a systematic review of the published literature on changes in the incidence of respiratory viral diseases and detection rates of the respiratory viruses during COVID-19 pandemic, lasting from 2020–2021, published between December 2019 and March 2022 in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. We identified an overall decrease of 23–94% in the incidence of respiratory viral diseases and a decrease of 0–98% in the detection of the viruses. Our study suggests that the PHSMs implemented during COVID-19 pandemic reduced the incidence of respiratory viral diseases and transmission of respiratory viruses. At the time of this study, and as governments relax PHSMs, public health authorities should prepare for a probable increase in the burden of respiratory viral diseases.

Development of a perfusion process for serum-free adenovirus vector herpes zoster vaccine production

Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV). Researching and developing a herpes zoster vaccine will help to decrease the incidence of herpes zoster. To increase the bioreactor productivity, a serum-free HEK293 cell perfusion process with adenovirus vector herpes zoster (rAd-HZ) vaccine production was developed efficiently using the design of experiment (DoE) method. First, serum-free media for HEK293 cells were screened in both batch and semi-perfusion culture modes. Then, three optimal media were employed in a medium mixture design to improve cell culture performance, and the 1:1 mixture of HEK293 medium and MCD293 medium (named HM293 medium) was identified as the optimal formulation. On the basis of the HM293 medium, the relationship of critical process parameters (CPPs), including the time of infection (TOI), multiplicity of infection (MOI), pH, and critical quality attributes (CQAs) (adenovirus titer (Titer), cell-specific virus yield (CSVY), adenovirus fold expansion (Fold)) of rAd-HZ production was investigated using the DoE approach. Furthermore, the robust setpoint and design space of these CPPs were explored. Finally, the rAd-HZ production process with parameters at a robust setpoint (TOI = 7.2 × 106 cells/mL, MOI = 3.7, and pH = 7.17) was successfully scaled-up to a 3-L bioreactor with an alternating tangential flow system, yielding an adenovirus titer of 3.0 × 1010 IFU/mL, a CSVY of 4167 IFU/cells, a Fold of 1117 at 2 days post infection (dpi). The DoE approach accelerated the development of a HEK293 serum-free medium and of a robust adenovirus production process.

Evaluation of knowledge, attitude, and behaviour of ophthalmologists about adenoviral conjunctivitis transmission and treatment : An online survey for Turkish ophthalmologists.

To determine the prevalence of adenoviral conjunctivitis in Turkish ophthalmologists, to provide an overview of the treatment and prophylaxis of adenoviral conjunctivitis, and to analyze the data in the context of evidence-based treatment recommendations. An online questionnaire consisting of 20 multiple-choice questions about the characteristics of the respondents, the individual adenoviral conjunctivitis history of the ophthalmologists, their practice's approaches, and prescription preferences were emailed to Turkish ophthalmologists. The survey was emailed to 500 ophthalmologists; 45% of them returned the questionnaire. According to the responses, the history of adenoviral conjunctivitis infections was positive in 46.7% (n: 120), recurrent attack prevalence was 16.2% in ophthalmologists. Lubricants (67.6%) are the most preferred first-line treatment options for adenoviral conjunctivitis, followed by povidone-iodine (59.6%), topical antibiotics (51.1%), topical antivirals (29.3%), topical corticosteroids (26.7%), and topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (19.6%). A total of 98.2% preferred to dismiss infected patients. The preferred prophylaxis options were frequent hand washing/use of gloves (97.8%), disinfection of medical devices (95.1%), isolation of infected patients (79.1%), hand hygiene with gemicides (58.7%). The percentage of single-dose eye drop selection was 46.2. The findings of this survey showed that most Turkish ophthalmologists generally follow international guidelines for the treatment of adenoviral conjunctivitis. The treatment algorithm is still controversial, so ophthalmologists should be aware of treatment guideline updates in line with evidence-based recommendations. Having sufficient knowledge of the basic characteristics of viruses is important to control the spread of the disease.

Acute Hepatitis and Adenovirus Infection Among Children - Alabama, October 2021-February 2022.

During October-November 2021, clinicians at a children's hospital in Alabama identified five pediatric patients with severe hepatitis and adenovirus viremia upon admission. In November 2021, hospital clinicians, the Alabama Department of Public Health, the Jefferson County Department of Health, and CDC began an investigation. This activity was reviewed by CDC and conducted consistent with applicable federal law and CDC policy.

Identification of Inhibitors and Drug Targets for Human Adenovirus Infections.

Adenoviruses can cause infections in people of all ages at all seasons of the year. Adenovirus infections cause mild to severe illnesses. Children, immunocompromised patients, or those with existing respiratory or cardiac disease are at higher risk. Unfortunately, there are no commercial drugs or vaccines available on the market for adenovirus infections. Therefore, there is an urgent need to discover new antiviral drugs or drug targets for adenovirus infections. To identify potential antiviral agents for adenovirus infections, we screened a drug library containing 2138 compounds, most of which are drugs with known targets and past phase I clinical trials. On a cell-based assay, we identified 131 hits that inhibit adenoviruses type 3 and 5. A secondary screen confirmed the antiviral effects of 59 inhibitors that inhibit the replication of adenoviruses type 3 or 5. Most of the inhibitors target heat shock protein, protein tyrosine kinase, the mTOR signaling pathway, and other host factors, suggesting that these host factors may be essential for replicating adenoviruses. Through this study, the newly identified adenovirus inhibitors may provide a start point for developing new antiviral drugs to treat adenovirus infections. Further validation of the identified drug targets can help the development of new therapeutics against adenovirus infections.

Nonpharmaceutical interventions against the COVID-19 pandemic significantly decreased the spread of enterovirus in children.

Precise prevention and control measures have been adopted to impede the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in China. This study was performed to investigate the effect of protective measures on gastrointestinal infection in children during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The data on the rotavirus and adenovirus antigen tests were collected in outpatient children due to gastroenteritis from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020, at the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. According to age and month distribution, the positive number and rate of rotavirus and adenovirus in 2020 were compared with 2019. A 3.8‐fold and 4‐fold reduction in the number of rotavirus‐ and adenovirus‐positive patients in 2020 were found, respectively. The overall positive rate of rotavirus and adenovirus infection was drastically decreased in 2020 (rotavirus 2020: 18.18% vs. 2019: 9.75%, p < 0.001; adenovirus 2020: 3.13% vs. 2019: 1.58%, p < 0.001). The proportions of rotavirus and adenovirus in all age groups in 2020 decreased compared with those in 2019. The highest frequency of rotavirus infection occurred among children aged 1–3 years both in 2019 and 2020 (2019: 27.95% vs. 2020: 17.19%, p < 0.001), while adenovirus infection was detected in children aged 3–5 years, which had the highest percent positivity (2019: 8.19% vs. 2020: 4.46%; p < 0.001). An obvious peak prevalence of rotavirus incidence was found during December–April, and the percent positivity of rotavirus significantly decreased in 2020 (December 2019: 24.26% vs. 2020: 8.44%, p < 0.001; January 2019: 40.67% vs. 2020: 38.18%, p < 0.05; February 2019: 40.73% vs. 2020: 15.04%, p < 0.001; March 2019: 31.47% vs. 2020: 7.88%, p < 0.001; April 2019: 15.52% vs. 2020: 4.78%, p < 0.001). The positive rate of adenovirus distributed throughout 2019 was 1.91%–4.86%, while the percent positivity during 2020 in the same period was much lower (0.00%–3.58%). Our results confirmed that the preventive and control measures adopted during the COVID‐19 pandemic and the collateral benefit of these interventions have significantly decreased the transmission of rotavirus or adenovirus.

Adenovirus increases arrhythmia susceptibility during acute cardiac infection

Myocarditis is responsible for 42% of sudden cardiac death in young adults, yet mechanisms underlying virally induced arrhythmia remain elusive. Adenovirus is a leading etiological agent of myocarditis but species‐specificity has limited development of animal disease models. Normal electrical impulse propagation in the heart is achieved through intercellular coupling via gap junctions, composed primarily of connexin43 (Cx43). Changes in Cx43 expression, localization, and/or function underlie the arrhythmias of sudden cardiac death. Given that gap junctions also propagate innate and adaptive antiviral immune responses, we hypothesized that adenovirus would target Cx43 to facilitate replication. Our prior work has demonstrated that Cx43 expression and function are indeed reduced rapidly during adenoviral infection limiting gap junction communication in human epithelial and cardiac cells. We are now employing a recently described cardiotropic strain of mouse adenovirus, MAdV‐3, to develop our work into whole animal studies and investigate virally‐induced alterations in cardiac electrophysiology and the molecular mechanisms of the resulting arrhythmogenic substrate. Adult mice were inoculated with MAdV‐3 and sampled after 7 days to model acute cardiac infection. We find MAdV‐3 viral genomes are specifically enriched in heart tissue, confirming cardiotropism. No cardiomyopathy was apparent by echocardiography or histopathology, consistent with human acute myocarditis patients. We find reductions in cardiac ion channel and connexin mRNA transcript levels after infection, and at the protein level, Cx43 is phosphorylated at residues known to reduce function. Ex vivo optical mapping experiments illustrate decreased conduction velocity in infected hearts. Turning to primary adult mouse cardiomyocytes, we detect prolonged action potential duration and impaired K+ current in infected cells by patch clamping. Confocal and super‐resolution localization microscopy of infected cardiac tissue and isolated cardiomyocytes reveals remodeling of gap junctions with alterations in complexing with scaffolding proteins and other ion channels at the cell‐cell junction. Finally, employing human iPSC‐derived cardiomyocytes and human adenovirus type‐5, we find increased Cx43 phosphorylation and, using optical mapping, perturbation of intercellular coupling during infection, just as we see with MAdV‐3. Our data demonstrate that reduced cellular coupling and ion channel function during adenoviral infection generates an arrhythmogenic substrate prior to an appreciable immune response or cardiomyopathy development. MAdV‐3 infection therefore provides a novel model of cardiac infection and myocarditis and provides physiologically relevant insight into mechanisms of virally‐induced arrhythmias.

NT‐proBNP as a diagnostic marker of dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs

In dogs of service breeds, cardiopathology is one of the most common diseases of non‐infectious etiology. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is frequently reported among other heart conditions in large and giant breed dogs. As a result of our previous work, it has been established that DCM of varying severity is recorded in no less than 25% of service dogs. The diagnosis at the later stages of development is not difficult ‐ an enlarged cardiac silhouette on the roentgenogram, enlarged cavities of the heart chambers with echocardiography, ventricular extrasystoles on the electrocardiogram, and a drop in blood pressure during tonometry. Treatment at the late stages of DCM is ineffective and prolongs the dog's lifespan by an average of 3 months. It is advisable to start treatment when the dog is in the early stages of DCM development. However, it is not so easy to identify the disease at the initial stage using visual diagnostics. Therefore, additional methods for diagnosing heart function are required, among which serological analysis for brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) can be distinguished. The study aimed to determine the sensitivity of NT‐proBNP in large and giant breed dogs suspected of having DCM disease. Study inclusion criterion: dogs used in security and search work; large or giant breeds; age 2‐8 years; vaccination against rabies, leptospirosis, plague of carnivores, adenovirus infection, parvovirus enteritis, viral hepatitis; absence of diseases of infectious, invasive, and non‐infectious etiology for the last 3 months. In the experiment, 24 dogs were used, which were divided into three groups: group 1 ‐ dogs with significant dilatation of the heart cavities, rhythm disturbances, and a drop in blood pressure (n = 8); Group 2 ‐ dogs with moderate dilatation of the heart cavities, ECG changes, a moderate decrease in blood pressure (n = 8); Group 3 ‐ animals that had no abnormalities during ultrasound diagnostics in the state of the heart (n = 8). An enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay determined the NT‐proBNP activity. Thus, in dogs of group 1, the NT‐proBNP activity was increased to 4381.7 ± 281.1 pmol / l, which is 20.5 times higher (p &lt;0.05) than in healthy dogs. Severe DCM was confirmed in these dogs. In group 2 animals, the NT‐proBNP level exceeded the values of healthy animals and amounted to 831.7 ± 94.5 pmol / l, which is 3.9 times higher than the normal values. Despite the absence of changes detected during visual diagnostics of the heart, in 2 of 8 dogs of group 3, NT‐proBNP increased to 467.8 ± 15.4 pmol / L. It was increased 2.1 times, which suggested a violation of cardiac activity in these animals. Repeated diagnostics of these 2 dogs 9‐15 months after the start of the study revealed changes characteristic of DCM ‐ changes in the electrical activity of the heart, dilatation of the heart chambers, changes in blood pressure. Based on the experiment results, it was concluded that serological analysis for NT‐proBNP level is a sensitive test that can be included in the list of DCM differential diagnoses.

INCIDENCE OF ADENOVIRUS AND ROTAVIRUS AMONG INTERNALLY DISPLACED CHILDREN IN IBAKA, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA.

Acute diarrhoea in children under 5 years is a major cause of morbidity worldwide and mortality in developing countries. Recent estimates shows that 516,000 deaths in children less than ve years of age is attributed to adenovirus and rotaviruses caused diarrhoea annually, with 138,000 occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. Rotaviruses have been identied as one of the most frequent causes of infantile diarrhoea second only to adenovirus. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence rate of adenovirus and rotavirus and to establish the sex-specic relatedness of the viruses causing diarrhoea in Akwa Ibom State community in Nigeria. A total of 200 stool samples (182 diarrheic and 18 non- diarrheic) were collected from young children under 5 years from January to June 2017. Samples were obtained from general hospitals visit in randomly selected three senatorial districts in Akwa Ibom State. The samples were screened using commercially available Adenovirus/Rotavirus Antigen Rapid test using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay methods (ELISA). A total of 200 subjects were screened for adenovirus and rotavirus antibodies, 83 (41.5%) were signicant to the antibodies of the two viruses, 49 (24.5%) and 34 (17%) were positive to Rotavirus and adenovirus respectively. Female subjects were 113 (56.5%) with positive results of 42 (37.2%) and Male 87 (43.5%) with a positive results of 41 (47.1%). Children are constantly exposed to pets both at home and in school which carries these viruses. Among the 83 positive cases 49 (59.0%) and 34 (40.9%) were positive to rotavirus and adenovirus antibodies respectively. Children under 36 to 48 months shows high prevalence of 23 (11.5%) and 24 (12.0%) rate followed by 60 and 24months with 18 (9.00%) and 13 (6.5%) positive and low occurrence among 0-12 months subjects with 5 (2.5%) cases, this is due to the current practice of exclusive breast feeding by nursing mothers, the high percentage of infection is as a results of environmental climate, mother immune system mix feeding and inadequate balanced diet taken in by the nursing mothers. In this study, Akwa Ibom State three senatorial districts were signicantly associated with adenovirus and rotavirus diarrheic infection. These include identifying the target population for adenovirus and rotavirus vaccination, educating parents on how to identify and recognize the signs of dehydration and other symptoms of viral gastroenteritis.

BS-514-04 ADENOVIRUS INCREASES ARRHYTHMIA SUSCEPTIBILITY DURING ACUTE CARDIAC INFECTION

Myocarditis underlies 42% of sudden cardiac death in young adults, yet viral arrhythmogenic mechanisms remain elusive. Adenovirus is a leading cause but species-specificity has limited disease modeling in mice. Gap junctions, composed primarily of connexin43 (Cx43), enable electrical impulse propagation in the heart. Changes in Cx43 expression, localization, and/or function cause arrhythmias. Gap junctions propagate innate and adaptive antiviral responses, and our prior work has demonstrated that Cx43 expression and function are reduced during human adenoviral infection.

Cytokine Responses to Adenovirus and Adenovirus Vectors

The expression of cytokines and chemokines in response to adenovirus infection is tightly regulated by the innate immune system. Cytokine-mediated toxicity and cytokine storm are known clinical phenomena observed following naturally disseminated adenovirus infection in immunocompromised hosts as well as when extremely high doses of adenovirus vectors are injected intravenously. This dose-dependent, cytokine-mediated toxicity compromises the safety of adenovirus-based vectors and represents a critical problem, limiting their utility for gene therapy applications and the therapy of disseminated cancer, where intravenous injection of adenovirus vectors may provide therapeutic benefits. The mechanisms triggering severe cytokine response are not sufficiently understood, prompting efforts to further investigate this phenomenon, especially in clinically relevant settings. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on cytokine and chemokine activation in response to adenovirus- and adenovirus-based vectors and discuss the underlying mechanisms that may trigger acute cytokine storm syndrome. First, we review profiles of cytokines and chemokines that are activated in response to adenovirus infection initiated via different routes. Second, we discuss the molecular mechanisms that lead to cytokine and chemokine transcriptional activation. We further highlight how immune cell types in different organs contribute to synthesis and systemic release of cytokines and chemokines in response to adenovirus sensing. Finally, we review host factors that can limit cytokine and chemokine expression and discuss currently available and potential future interventional approaches that allow for the mitigation of the severity of the cytokine storm syndrome. Effective cytokine-targeted interventional approaches may improve the safety of systemic adenovirus delivery and thus broaden the potential clinical utility of adenovirus-based therapeutic vectors.

Linking digital surveillance and in-depth virology to study clinical patterns of viral respiratory infections in vulnerable patient populations

SummaryTo improve the identification and management of viral respiratory infections, we established a clinical and virologic surveillance program for pediatric patients fulfilling pre-defined case criteria of influenza-like illness and viral respiratory infections. The program resulted in a cohort comprising 6,073 patients (56% male, median age 1.6 years, range 0–18.8 years), where every patient was assessed with a validated disease severity score at the point-of-care using the ViVI ScoreApp. We used machine learning and agnostic feature selection to identify characteristic clinical patterns. We tested all patients for human adenoviruses, 571 (9%) were positive. Adenovirus infections were particularly common and mild in children ≥1 month of age but rare and potentially severe in neonates: with lower airway involvement, disseminated disease, and a 50% mortality rate (n = 2/4). In one fatal case, we discovered a novel virus: HAdV-80. Standardized surveillance leveraging digital technology helps to identify characteristic clinical patterns, risk factors, and emerging pathogens.

Comprehensive Surveillance of Virus Infection among Captive African Pygmy Hedgehogs in Japan.

African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) are popular exotic pets in Japan, and their breeding numbers have recently increased. Although various diseases have been reported in hedgehogs, including skin, respiratory, neurological, and neoplastic diseases, most of the causes remain unidentified. In this study, we investigated herpesvirus, adenovirus, and coronavirus infections among 150 African pygmy hedgehogs in Japan and evaluated the correlations between virus infection and diseases. A novel herpesvirus named Atelerix albiventris herpesvirus 1 (AAHeV), and African pygmy hedgehog adenovirus 1 (AhAdV-1) were detected in 14 and 3 oral swab samples, respectively. AAHeV infection may be related to neurological clinical signs. Interestingly, no hedgehog with a neoplastic disorder tested positive for AAHeV. Further research is required to determine the pathogenicity and prevalence of the detected viruses.

Molecular typing and epidemiology profiles of human adenovirus infection among hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory infection in Huzhou, China.

Severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) threaten human health and cause a large number of hospitalizations every year. However, as one of the most common pathogen that cause acute respiratory tract infection, the molecular epidemiological information relating to human adenoviruses (HAdVs) among patients with SARI is limited. Here, we evaluate the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of HAdV infections among hospitalized patients with SARI from January 2017 to December 2019 in Huzhou, China. From January 2017 to December 2019, a total of 657 nasopharyngeal swabs collected from inpatients with SARI were screened for HAdV and other common respiratory viruses by multiplex real-time PCR. All samples that tested positive for HAdV were further typed by sequencing partial sequences of hexon gene. Genotypes of HAdV were confirmed by phylogenetic analysis. Epidemiological data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2010 and service solutions (SPSS) 21.0 software. 251 (38.20%) samples were positive for at least one respiratory virus. HAdV was the second common viral pathogen detected, with a detection rate of 7.08%. Infection with HAdV was found in all age groups tested (0<2, 2<5, 5<15, 15<50, 50<65, ≥65). Children under 15 years old accounted for 84.62% (44/52) of the infections. Higher activity of HAdV infection could be seen in spring-early autumn season. Seven different types of HAdV belonging to 4 species (HAdV-A, B, C, E) were identified in hospitalized SARI cases, with HAdV-B3 as the most prevalent HAdV types, followed by HAdV-B7 and HAdV-E4. HAdV-B3 was the most frequently detected genotype in 2017 and 2019, accounting for 75.00% (9/12) and 63.64% (7/11) of typed HAdV infections in 2017 and 2019, respectively. No predominant strain was responsible for HAdV infections in 2018, although HAdV-B7 (28.57%, 2/7) and HAdV-C1 (28.57%, 2/7) were the major causative genotypes. This study revealed the prevalence and the molecular epidemiological characteristics of HAdV infections among hospitalized patients with SARI in Huzhou from January 2017 to December 2019. The HAdV prevalence is related to age and season. As the most prevalent HAdV types, HAdV-B3 was co-circulating with other types and presented an alternate prevalence pattern.

Pericardial effusion caused by viral pericarditis in a patient receiving peritoneal dialysis

BackgroundAcute pericarditis causes acute inflammation of the pericardium. Although most cases of pericarditis are idiopathic with no identifiable cause, its etiology can be infectious, such as viral, bacterial, mycotic, and tuberculous infections, or non-infectious, including post-pericardiotomy, metastatic malignant tumor, connective tissue disease, or uremia. However, there has been no report of pericarditis caused by adenoviral infection in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Herein, we report a case of pericarditis and pericardial effusion caused by adenoviral infection in a patient undergoing PD.Case presentationA 59-year-old man who had been undergoing PD in our department for 3 years had a bout of acute enteritis. He was later admitted to the emergency department of our hospital because of malaise and loss of consciousness due to pericardial effusion. Testing after admission revealed elevated adenovirus antibody titers. Pericardial effusion improved although no changes in his PD prescription were made. The patient was hospitalized and admitted to maintain hemodynamics and prevent hypotension. Since insufficient dialysis volume was ruled out by peritoneal equilibrium tests and dialysis volume assessment, the patient was kept under observation, and no changes were made regarding the method of dialysis. Pericardial effusion and the C-reactive protein level both gradually declined, and the patient’s weight remained steady. The adenovirus antibody titer alone increased to 1:64 at approximately 2 weeks after hospitalization. The final diagnosis was acute pericarditis due to adenoviral infection rather than uremia or dialysis-associated pericarditis.ConclusionsWe treated a patient with a rare case of pericardial effusion caused by viral (adenoviral) pericarditis in a patient undergoing PD. In addition to testing for the usual causes, uremic and dialysis-associated pericarditis must always be ruled out in patients receiving dialysis. In cases of pericarditis with a viral origin, diagnosis and treatment must be comprehensive.

The Association Between Adenovirus Infection and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Case-Control Study in Iran

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder. The precise etiology of this disease is not clear, but some reports have indicated the role of infectious agents in the incidence of the disease. Objectives: Because of the potential role of viruses in the incidence of the disease, this study aimed to evaluate and compare the frequency of colonic adenovirus infection in both IBS and control subjects. Methods: Stool and serum samples were collected from 40 IBS patients and 40 healthy individuals. Immunochemical detection of adenovirus (anti-adenoviral IgG and IgM monoclonal antibodies) was performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), adenovirus viral load was evaluated in the stool samples. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Differences among the mean concentrations of anti-adenovirus IgM and anti-adenovirus IgG in IBS patients and healthy controls were not statistically significant (P = 0.764 and P = 0.910, respectively). Adenovirus DNA was detected in 37 patients (92.5%) and 35 healthy controls (87.5 %) with varying viral loads ranging from 0.150 to 0.225 (according to the standard curve). Viral loads showed no significant difference between the 2 groups (P = 0.958). Our findings showed no significant relationship between the presence of adenovirus infection and IBS. Conclusions: Adenovirus DNA is almost always detectable in stool samples of IBS and control subjects. Adenoviruses are unlikely to play a significant role in the incidence of IBS. However, further studies are necessary to confirm our results or clarify the role of other gastrointestinal viruses in IBS.

SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Expression In Vitro and Hematologic Effects in Mice Vaccinated With AZD1222 (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19).

Severe COVID-19 can be associated with a prothrombotic state, increasing risk of morbidity and mortality. The SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein is purported to directly promote platelet activation via the S1 subunit and is cleaved from host cells during infection. High plasma concentrations of S1 subunit are associated with disease progression and respiratory failure during severe COVID-19. There is limited evidence on whether COVID-19 vaccine-induced spike protein is similarly cleaved and on the immediate effects of vaccination on host immune responses or hematology parameters. We investigated vaccine-induced S1 subunit cleavage and effects on hematology parameters using AZD1222 (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19), a simian, replication-deficient adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccine. We observed S1 subunit cleavage in vitro following AZD1222 transduction of HEK293x cells. S1 subunit cleavage also occurred in vivo and was detectable in sera 12 hours post intramuscular immunization (1x1010 viral particles) in CD-1 mice. Soluble S1 protein levels decreased within 3 days and were no longer detectable 7–14 days post immunization. Intravenous immunization (1x109 viral particles) produced higher soluble S1 protein levels with similar expression kinetics. Spike protein was undetectable by immunohistochemistry 14 days post intramuscular immunization. Intramuscular immunization resulted in transiently lower platelet (12 hours) and white blood cell (12–24 hours) counts relative to vehicle. Similarly, intravenous immunization resulted in lower platelet (24–72 hours) and white blood cell (12–24 hours) counts, and increased neutrophil (2 hours) counts. The responses observed with either route of immunization represent transient hematologic changes and correspond to expected innate immune responses to adenoviral infection.

Role of routine laboratory markers in the diagnosis of rotavirus and adenovirus gastroenteritis

Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate and estimate the additional and auxiliary diagnostic value of routine laboratory parameters in patients with acute diarrhea caused by rotavirus and adenovirus. Methods/ patients: A total of 6784 patients diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis were evaluated. Rotavirus and adenovirus infection was diagnosed via a Qualitative immunochromatographic combo rapid cassette antigen test. Complete blood count and biochemical blood tests were performed in all the patients and were compared between the groups according to the positivity or negativity of the virus. Results: Rotavirus diarrhea was diagnosed in 16.8% and adenovirus diarrhea in 3.2% of patients. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean cell volume (MCV) levels were lower, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were significantly higher in rotavirus positive cases. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was significantly higher, and lymphocyte to monocyte ratio was significantly lower in positive rotavirus cases than negative ones 2.96 and 2.56, respectively (p&lt;0.001). Conclusions: Hematological and biochemical parameters may assist in diagnosing and distinguishing rotaviral and adenoviral gastroenteritis, especially in low-resource environments. Keywords: adenovirus; children; diarrhea; laboratory markers; rotavirus

An Overview: the types of Covid-19 vaccines in Iraq

Background:&#x0D; SARS-CoV-2 is RNA virus belonging to the Coronaviridae family that causes COVID-19. This newly sequenced virus seems to have originated in China and spread throughout world rapidly, causing a pandemic. According to the WHO, as of August 27 it had killed more than 2, 34 million people.Vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an important part of the multifaceted public health response, and may be the best solution for ending the pandemic. In addition, the laboratories around the world are working hard to develop an efficient vaccine for this disease, which is crucial to reduce mortality and morbidity. Most vaccines are designed to stimulate the synthesis of neutralizing antibodies against coat protein. These antibodies block the human ACE-2 receptor, thus preventing the entry of virus. While many vaccine platforms have developed vaccines, each offers several advantages and disadvantages. To date, there are seven types of vaccine (Pfizer Vaccine, Moderna Vaccine, AstraZeneca Vaccine, Johnson &amp; Johnson Vaccine, Sinofarm Vaccine, Sputnik-V Vaccine and Novavax Vaccine) which are used around the world. Pfizer and Biontech vaccines are the most widely used vaccines in 10 countries: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia and Iraq. The Pfizer vaccine is a molecule of mRNA, a "messenger" ribonucleic acid, that codes the spike protein on the surface of the coronavirus, which is used by the virus uses to attach to human cells. Once the vaccine enters the body, human cells produce antibodies against this protein to intercept viruses before they enter the cells and multiply, so that the immune system can recognize and attack the virus. Moderna vaccine; uses the same mechanism as the mRNA-based Pfizer vaccine, stimulating the generation of antibodies.&#x0D; AstraZeneca vaccine came in second place with 9 countries: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Morocco and Egypt, in addition to Iraq. AstraZeneca vaccine containing a weakened copy of the adenovirus, the common cold virus. The scientists modified the virus so that it cannot reproduce in human cells. Then, added the genes that code for the spike protein found on the surface of the Corona virus. When the vaccine enters the body and reaches the cells, it delivers these spike protein genes, which are used to build the protein itself. The spike proteins triggers an immune response.Similar to the AstraZeneca vaccine, The Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine contains a weakened version of the common cold virus (adenovirus). Scientists modified the adenovirus genetically so that it could no longer infect human cells. Then, they added genes that code for the coronavirus' spike protein. Once in the body, the vaccine trains the immune system to recognize the spike protein and targets the coronavirus to destroy it.The Chinese Sinopharm vaccine is used in five countries: the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Morocco and Egypt, In cooperation with the Beijing Institute of Biological Products, Sinopharm developed a vaccine from the inactive corona-virus, a modified version of the virus (SARS-CoV-2) that cannot reproduce. The Russian Sputnik vaccine was used in Bahrain, Tunisia and Algeria.The Sputnik-V vaccine is based on adenovirus vectors. Adenoviruses are among the most easy and simple viruses to modify, and therefore their spread as vectors has expanded."Vectors" are carriers that can transport genetic material from one virus to another. The infectious adenovirus has its genetic material deleted, and a gene “coding” a protein from another virus, which, in the case of developing corona-virus infection, enters the body. This new added component helps the immune system respond and produce antibodies that protect it from infection.Novavax uses a different approach than other vaccines, in which proteins from the virus and chemicals are injected to stimulate the body's immune system. The vaccine is based on inserting a mutated gene into a virus called baculovirus, which was then allowed to infect insect cells. Subsequently, spike proteins from these cells were combined into nanoparticles that look like coronaviruses they are not. It has the ability to replicate and cause COVID-19. These nanoparticles within the vaccine trigger the immune system response, so that when it encounters the corona-virus it will be able to resist it.&#x0D; Conclusion:&#x0D; In Iraq used only three types of vaccines (Pfizer, Sinofarm and AstraZeneca Vaccine. All types of vaccines can be reduce the morbidity of Covid-19.

Viral Etiology of Acute Respiratory Infections During 2014–2016 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Aim: Viral etiology of respiratory infections is not well understood in Saudi Arabia. This study was conceptualized to understand viral etiology in children with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) from Riyadh. Patients &amp; methods: Respiratory viruses were detected by real-time PCR in nasopharyngeal aspirates or swab from 580 children aged ≤5 years. Results: Respiratory viruses were detected in 64% of the samples with 6% mixed viral infections. Respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, influenza, parainfluenza and human metapneumovirus infections accounted for 42, 20, 16, 12 and 10%, respectively. Maximum prevalence (37%) was among the lowest age group followed by 30% among the 7- to 12-month age group. Conclusion: The prevalence and determinants of viral etiology are in line with the previous report from the region. No major shift in the viral etiologies was observed in the 2-year study period.