Chinese Virus Research Articles

Asian Americans’ Lived Experiences with and Perceptions of Social Stigma during COVID-19

It has been well documented that Asian Americans have experienced increased social stigmatization related to COVID-19 since Donald Trump began referring to the virus as the “Chinese virus” and “kung flu” in March 2020. Stigma has negative social and health impacts on minority communities, such as labeling, avoiding, shame, disgust, and social exclusion. The health impacts include both physical and mental illness, and the acceleration of health disparities. This study seeks to understand these lived experiences and subsequent coping strategies. Using focus groups, 17 Asian American participants were interviewed to understand their experiences with stigmatization during the pandemic. The findings reveal that stigmatized behavior and attitudes of others did not deter Asian Americans from following the COVID-19 related health guidelines, likely because perceived health threats were high. Consumer behaviors of Asian Americans also changed dramatically toward buying almost everything online (due to both the pandemic and personal safety). This behavioral decisioning provides insights into the complex motivations for adopting health behaviors, and, in this case, social distancing can double as a means by which to avoid people, for fear of becoming victims of stigmatization in public areas.

Enhancement of antiviral activity of egg yolk antibodies against Chinese sacbrood virus

Chinese sacbrood virus (CSBV) poses a serious threat to the apiculture of China. Although several approaches have been attempted to control CSBV infection, their applications have been greatly limited in practical breeding of honeybees due to poor effectiveness. Egg yolk antibodies (EYA) have shown a promising protection for bees against CSBV infection. This study was conducted to produce high titer EYA and then further improve their antiviral effect. Among three vaccination groups, the EYA titer in graphene oxide-chitosan group was highest (1.591 ± 0.145), in Freund's group was modest (1.195 ± 0.040), and in white oil group was lowest (1.058 ± 0.056). After three injections of each vaccine in hens, EYA were produced at the highest level with a 14-day period. After application of EYA for more than two years in actual bee breeding, prevention and treatment assays showed that EYA confered 98.9 to 100% protection from CSBV infection. The mortality of the control group reached to a range of 91.2 to 100%. This study demonstrated that the high titer EYA have been successfully prepared with significant anti-CSBV activity and that these antibodies may feasibly be used for CSBV treatment to meet the practical needs of apiculture.

First Report of Chinese Wheat Mosaic Virus that Infects Barley in Japan.

Chinese wheat mosaic virus (CWMV), a member of the genus Furovirus in the family Virgaviridae (Adams et al. 2017), has a positive-sense RNA genome and is transmitted by Polymyxa graminis. CWMV is a causal agent of yellow mosaic disease in winter wheat in China (Guo et al. 2019). CWMV has also been detected in wheat plants in limited areas of the northern Japan (Nagano and Iwate Prefectures) (Fuji et al. 2022; Maeshima et al. 2010; Shirako and Maejima 2008). In preliminary tests using Western blotting with an antiserum raised against CWMV capsid protein (by Dr Y. Shirako, Tokyo University), we detected a furovirus in a breeding line of barley, “Tozan Kawa 111” (Hordeum vulgare L.) (collected in April 2012), grown in an experimental field infested with CWMV and wheat yellow mosaic virus (genus Bymovirus) in Nagano Prefecture. To investigate the infection of barley plants with cereal plant-associated soil-borne viruses, we collected leaf samples of “Tozan Kawa 111” plants (ten plants) showing yellow mosaic symptoms, but with not apparent wilting or stunting (Fig. S1A) in April 2016 (2015/16 growing season). Total RNA was extracted from symptomatic leave samples with TaKaRa RNAiso reagent (TaKaRa Bio) and subjected to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect virus agents. After cDNA synthesis using Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase (Thermo Fisher Scientific) with random hexamers, PCR amplification with QuickTaq HS Dye Mix (Toyobo Co.) was conducted using primer sets specific to two furoviruses and three bymoviruses (Fig. S1B) known to infect wheat and/or barley plants in Japan (Tamada and Kondo 2013). RT-PCR analysis detected infection with CWMV in the leaf samples of “Tozan Kawa 111” plants (Fig. S1B), but not the other soil-borne viruses tested. The amplified PCR products (752 and 718 bp for CWMV RNA1 and RNA2, respectively) were purified by Wizard® SV Gel and PCR Clean-Up System (Promega) and subjected to Sanger sequencing to confirm their nucleotide sequences. The virus sequences from PCR amplicons were deposited in GenBank/DDBJ/ENA with accession numbers LC657081 (RNA1) and LC657082 (RNA2). Nucleotide Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLASTn) analysis showed that the sequences have 98.7% and 98.8% nucleotide sequence identity with RNA1 of CWMV Japanese northern isolate (accession No, AB299271) and RNA2 of CWMV Nagano-A isolate (AB935554), respectively. Identical sequences were also found in symptomatic wheat leaf samples (“Fukuho Komugi” cultivar) obtained from the same field (Fig. S1B). Rod-shaped particles were observed by transmission electron microscopy (Hitachi H-7650) in symptomatic “Tozan Kawa 111” leaf samples (Fig. S1C). Using reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (Fukuta et al. 2013), CWMV was detected in “Tozan Kawa 111” plants in the same field in the 2015/16–2017/18 growing seasons, but not in the 2018/19–2020/21 growing seasons (Fig. S1D). In the 2015/16–2017/18 growing seasons, CWMV was detected in the barley plants (pooled five plant samples) cultivar “Kashima-mugi”, which showed similar yellow mosaic symptoms (Fig. S1D), but not in most of the other barley variants planted in the field. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CWMV field infection in plants other than wheat (Kuhne 2009). Further extensive virus screening in the fields and virus inoculation experiments are necessary to understand the pathology of CWMV in barley and possibly in other cereal crops.

Adenosine and L-proline can possibly hinder Chinese Sacbrood virus infection in honey bees via immune modulation

Sacbrood virus (SBV) infects larvae of honey bees, resulting in infected larvae becoming fluid-filled sacs. Our previous studies showed that the extract of herbal medicine, Radix Isatidis, could inhibit Chinese SBV (CSBV) infection in Asian honey bees (Apis cerana). Here, two compounds, adenosine and L-proline, which were previously reported to be associated with immune modulation, were identified in R. Isatidis extract and then selected for an evaluation of their antiviral effect on CSBV infection in A. cerana. Our results revealed that both adenosine and L-proline could significantly mitigate the impact of CSBV on the growth and development of infected larvae and modulate hosts' immune responses by downregulating the expression of immune genes in infected larvae. The results gained from this study suggest that adenosine and L-proline could possibly interfere CSBV infection via immune modulation to avoid exacerbations and nonspecific damage to infected larvae's own tissues.

When blame avoidance backfires: Responses to performance framing and outgroup scapegoating during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public officials use blame avoidance strategies when communicating performance information. While such strategies typically involve shifting blame to political opponents or other governments, we examine how they might direct blame to ethnic groups. We focus on the COVID‐19 pandemic, where the Trump administration sought to shift blame by scapegoating (using the term “Chinese virus”) and mitigate blame by positively framing performance information on COVID‐19 testing. Using a novel experimental design that leverages machine learning techniques, we find scapegoating outgroups backfired, leading to greater blame of political leadership for the poor administrative response, especially among conservatives. Backlash was strongest for negatively framed performance data, demonstrating that performance framing shapes blame avoidance outcomes. We discuss how divisive blame avoidance strategies may alienate even supporters.

Anti-Asian American Hate Crimes Spike During the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The recent high-profile cases of hate crimes in the U.S., especially those targeting Asian Americans, have raised concerns about their risk of victimization. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, intimations—and even accusations—that the novel coronavirus is an “Asian” or “Chinese” virus have been linked to anti-Asian American hate crime, potentially leaving members of this group not only fearful of being victimized but also at risk for victimization. According to the Stop AAPI Hate Center, nearly 1900 hate crimes against Asian Americans were reported by victims, and around 69% of cases were related to verbal harassment, including being called the “Chinese Coronavirus.” Yet, most of the evidence martialed on spikes in anti-Asian American hate crime during the COVID-19 pandemic has been descriptive. Using data from four U.S. cities that have large Asian American populations (New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C.), this study finds that hate crime against Asian Americans increased considerably in 2020 compared with that of 2019. Specifically, hate crime against Asian Americans temporarily surged after March 16, 2020, when the blaming labels including “Kung flu” or “Chinese Virus” were used publicly. However, the significant spike after March 16, 2020, in anti-Asian American hate crime was not sustained over the follow-up time period available for analysis.

Covid-19, the Chinese diaspora, and the enduring legacy of racism in Peru.

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed a global tendency throughout history to blame immigrants for propagating epidemics. Chinese individuals were thus targeted during past public health crises in Peru, but during the current coronavirus pandemic racist notions painting people of Chinese descent as "agents of contagion" diminished significantly. Here we examine three major epidemics (yellow fever, the bubonic plague, and covid-19) to demonstrate the current and somewhat surprising shift in negative attitudes toward the Chinese community. Peruvians' refusal to embrace derogatory terms (the "Chinese virus") or target individuals of Asian descent constitutes an intriguing case at a moment when xenophobic discourse is rampant in the Western hemisphere.

Genomic and phylogenetic analysis of the ORF7b gene from a Chinese feline infectious peritonitis virus isolate

Genomic and phylogenetic analysis of the ORF7b gene from a Chinese feline infectious peritonitis virus isolate

Anti-Asian Xenophobia, Hate Crime Victimization, and Fear of Victimization During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

While the World Health Organization advised against referring to COVID-19 using racial overtones, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread, many disparagingly called it the “Wuhan virus,” the “Chinese virus,” and other terms. In this context, the FBI warned police agencies about an expected increase in anti-Asian hate crimes during the early months of the pandemic. But, while some researchers and media outlets discussed these potential increases at length, very few studies have been able to directly assess the nature of anti-Asian hate and bias victimization during the pandemic. Following this, the current study directly examines variation in anti-Asian bias and victimization in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this research presents results from two studies using a survey of 3,163 non-Asian and 575 Asian American and Pacific Islander respondents, respectively. The first study examines the prevalence of anti-Asian xenophobia among the non-Asian sample and assesses differences in these prejudicial attitudes across respondent characteristics, while the second study examines variation in experiences with bias during the pandemic among the Asian sample. The results illustrate the ubiquity of anti-Asian sentiment, suggesting that those who indicate greater fear of the pandemic report more prejudicial attitudes, as well as important racial differences in these patterns. The results also demonstrate the extent to which the pandemic has impacted individual experiences with anti-Asian bias victimization, such that more than one-third of Asian respondents report bias victimization during the pandemic, and more than half of Asian respondents report that they know someone who has been victimized. These patterns have important implications for addressing COVID-19-related hate crime moving forward.

“The Chinese virus”: How COVID-19’s transmission context and fear affect negative attitudes toward Chinese people.

This research examines the impact of COVID-19 fear on attitudes toward Chinese depending on the context of propagation of COVID-19. We predicted that COVID-19 fear was linked to negative attitudes toward Chinese people, especially when the spread of the virus was external (in China;vs. when the spread was internal with transmission within the French ingroup). We collected data online (N = 403) when COVID-19 was being transmitted externally, outside of France (Phase 1) and after transmission between French people had begun (Phase 2). We measured COVID-19 fear and attitudes toward Chinese people. Our hypothesis was supported. COVID-19 fear was linked to more negative attitudes toward Chinese people only in Phase 1. This study highlights individuals' adoption of defence strategies is dependent on the societal context surrounding the threat. We also discuss the potential to promote peace and reduce conflict by focusing on internal crises versus external threats. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement This study shows ecologically that the source of a threat influences hostility toward certain groups. Focusing on a threat as internal to a country can help decrease negative attitudes toward outgroups and decrease conflict. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Uncritical Patriotism and Belief in COVID-19 Conspiracies.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has also led to many conspiracy theories. While the origin of the pandemic in China led some, including former US president Donald Trump, to dub the pathogen “Chinese virus” and to support anti-Chinese conspiracy narratives, it caused Chinese state officials to openly support anti-US conspiracy theories about the “true” origin of the virus. In this article, we study whether nationalism, or more precisely uncritical patriotism, is related to belief in conspiracy theories among normal people. We hypothesize based on group identity theory and motivated reasoning that for the particular case of conspiracy theories related to the origin of COVID-19, such a relation should be stronger for Chinese than for Germans. To test this hypothesis, we use survey data from Germany and China, including data from the Chinese community in Germany. We also look at relations to other factors, in particular media consumption and xenophobia.

Phosphorylated viral protein evades plant immunity through interfering the function of RNA-binding protein.

Successful pathogen infection in plant depends on a proper interaction between the invading pathogen and its host. Post-translational modification (PTM) plays critical role(s) in plant-pathogen interaction. However, how PTM of viral protein regulates plant immunity remains poorly understood. Here, we found that S162 and S165 of Chinese wheat mosaic virus (CWMV) cysteine-rich protein (CRP) are phosphorylated by SAPK7 and play key roles in CWMV infection. Furthermore, the phosphorylation-mimic mutant of CRP (CRPS162/165D) but not the non-phosphorylatable mutant of CRP (CRPS162/165A) interacts with RNA-binding protein UBP1-associated protein 2C (TaUBA2C). Silencing of TaUBA2C expression in wheat plants enhanced CWMV infection. In contrast, overexpression of TaUBA2C in wheat plants inhibited CWMV infection. TaUBA2C inhibits CWMV infection through recruiting the pre-mRNA of TaNPR1, TaPR1 and TaRBOHD to induce cell death and H2O2 production. This effect can be supressed by CRPS162/165D through changing TaUBA2C chromatin-bound status and attenuating it's the RNA- or DNA-binding activities. Taken together, our findings provide new knowledge on how CRP phosphorylation affects CWMV infection as well as the arms race between virus and wheat plants.

A noval strategy of deletion in PK gene for construction of a vaccine candidate with exellent safety and complete protection efficiency against high virulent Chinese pseudorabies virus variant

A variant of pseudorabies virus (PRV) with enhanced pathogenicity have emerged in many vaccinated swine herds in China since 2011. PRVΔTK&gE-AH02, a previously described TK/gE deletion PRV strain arising from the PRV variant AH02LA, has been shown to be safe for PRV antibody positive piglets, and could provide protection against emerging PRV variants. However, inoculation of PRVΔTK&gE-AH02 into PRV antibody negative neonatal piglets caused lethal infection. In the study, in order to attenuate the virulence of PRVΔTK&gE-AH02, an additional deletion of 1∼x223C13 bp of US3 (the serine/threonine kinase, PK) gene was performed to generate a TK/PK/gE deletion PRV variant (PRVΔTK&PK&gE-AH02). We found that the growth kinetics of PRVΔTK&PK&gE-AH02 was similar to that of PRVΔTK&gE-AH02. Mice inoculated with PRVΔTK&PK&gE-AH02 in different dose (104.0∼x223C107.0 TCID50) survived and showed no observable clinical symptoms. No virus was detected in the brains or lungs of the mice inoculated with PRVΔTK&PK&gE-AH02. Moreover, mice inoculated with PRVΔTK&PK&gE-AH02 and PRVΔTK&gE-AH02 showed similar survival against virulent PRV AH02LA strain. Importantly, safety test showed no clinical symptoms in PRV antibody negative neonatal piglets that were intranasally inoculated with PRVΔTK&PK&gE-AH02 at a dose of 106.5 TCID50, indicating that the virulence of PRVΔTK&PK&gE-AH02 was significantly mitigated. Piglets immunized with PRVΔTK&PK&gE-AH02 exhibited a high serum neutralization index. All piglets inoculated intramuscularly (I.M.) with 1 mL (105.0 TCID50) PRVΔTK&PK&gE-AH02 were completely protected against challenge intranasally (I.N.) with 2LD50 (106.5TCID50) PRV AH02LA strain. In summary, our results indicate that deletion of 1∼x223C13 bp of US3 (PK) can provide a useful way for further attenuation of PRV and the PRVΔTK&PK&gE-AH02 might be a promising vaccine candidate for controlling of the virulent PRV variants in China.

Harming and Shaming through Naming: Examining Why Calling the Coronavirus the “COVID-19 Virus,” Not the “Chinese Virus,” Matters

ABSTRACT In an effort to stave off racial and geographic prejudices, The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised against naming pathogens for geographic regions. Despite this, some media reports, and prominent politicians, have persisted in calling the coronavirus the “Chinese Virus,” or some variant thereof. In this pre-registered online experiment (N = 614), we examined the effect media frames and individual factors (i.e., political affiliation and party) had on perceptions of COVID-19, prejudice against Chinese- and Asian-Americans, and attributing blame to China for the coronavirus. We found that articles that labeled the coronavirus the “Chinese Virus” (versus the “COVID-19 Virus”) were perceived less favorably by Democrats and liberals, in comparison to Republicans and conservatives, who were also more likely to express greater racial prejudice against Chinese- and Asian-Americans and to blame China for the pandemic. Findings from this study suggest that amongst a host of other variables, media framing has an effect on the public’s attitudes and feelings of blame for the pandemic.

Understanding Chinese Christian Far-Right Narrative in the COVID-19 Context: A Cross-Disciplinary Perspective

AbstractThis article introduces the controversy over the naming of COVID-19 as the “Chinese Virus” and the related hate crimes in the US. It focuses on a group of Chinese Christians in North America who devote themselves to defending and legitimising the concept of the “Chinese Virus” within various social media. This research analyses the content of the related texts and videos and defines the Christian far-right narrative and reviews the relationship between the Christian far-right narrative, Christian fundamentalism, and Christian nationalism. It explores the frame alignment process of American Christian nationalism and evaluates the frame bridging, amplification, extension, and transformation dynamics of the Chinese Christian far-right narrative. It discusses the similarity between Chinese Christian far-right and religious nationalism in different countries and evaluates the cultural and structural factors that contributed to Christian nationalism with Chinese characteristics. The Chinese Christian far-right narrative tends to adopt a friend/foe binary interpretation of political issues, moralise the goal of nation-building, downplay the democratic process and legal systems, and put religious communitarian values over the secular state’s responsibility to protect human rights. The Christian far-right narrative reflects a religious nationalist sentiment to exclude political, religious, and cultural others, which is fundamentalist theologically, opposing to system politically, anti-secular humanism culturally, and anti-progressive morally.

The Effects of Right-Wing Authoritarianism and Aggression on Individuals’ Intention to Harm Asian Americans during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. has experienced a large increase in anti-Asian hate crimes due to the mistaken and pervasive belief that COVID-19 was a Chinese virus. While the rise in hate crimes is well-documented, not much research has been conducted into the characteristics that predict an individual’s intention to harm Asian Americans. Therefore, we examined individuals’ intention to harm Asian Americans related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (N = 94) were recruited from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and were given 10 real-world scenarios of acts of aggression toward Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants responded to three questions for each real-world scenario, and right-wing authoritarianism and four types of aggression (i.e., physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, hostility) were examined as predictors of individuals’ intention to harm Asian Americans. We found that right-wing authoritarianism, physical aggression, and anger were significant predictors of one’s intention to harm Asian Americans. However, verbal aggression and hostility were not significant predictors of one’s intention to harm Asian Americans. Implications of these findings are discussed since these findings can assist researchers’ understanding of issues pertaining to prejudice and racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Search of the “Chinese Virus”: Mythonarrativas of Western Synophobia During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In Search of the “Chinese Virus”: Mythonarrativas of Western Synophobia During the COVID-19 Pandemic

A Pantheology of Pandemic: Sex, Race, Nature, and the Virus

A Pantheology of Pandemic: Sex, Race, Nature, and the Virus

#STOPASIANHATE: Donald Trump's Political Propaganda Against Asian Racism in the United States

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the issue of racism became a hot topic discussed by the world community, especially in the United States. The bustle of the #STOPASIANHATE hashtag illustrates that the issue of racism is attracting the attention of the world community massively. The emergence of this hashtag was triggered by one of the political propagandas of the Former President of the United States, Donald Trump, through his tweet stating that the Covid-19 virus was the "Chinese Virus". Therefore, this paper aims to find out how the influence of Donald Trump's political propaganda on the level of racism among Asian-Americans. In this paper, the authors use qualitative research methods through case studies. The results show that Donald Trump's political propaganda affects the level of racism in the United States with an increase in hate-speech cases against Asian-Americans by 15% during the pandemic compared to 2019.

Immune response to hepatitis B vaccination in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients in China: A 2-year retrospective study.

Currently, the studies focused on the immune response to hepatitis B vaccination in Chinese human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients are limited. In this study, the participants with an initial hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) titer <10 mIU/ml were assigned to Cohort 1 to receive a standard dose of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, and participants with an initial HBsAb titer between 10 and 100 mIU/ml were assigned to Cohort 2 to receive a single reinforced recombinant vaccine. In Cohort 1, the immune and high response rates in HIV-positive patients were 93.4%/81.4%, 87.4%/51.5%, and 83.2%/40.7% at 1-3 months, 1 year, and 2 years postvaccination. Multivariate analysis showed that only age and HIV RNA status at baseline were independent factors related to sustained immune response at 2 years postvaccination. In Cohort 2, the high immune response rates in HIV-positive patients were 78.8%, 60.6%, and 51.5% at 1-3 months, 1 year, and 2 years postvaccination. The immune or high response rates did not differ between HIV-positive patients and healthy controls at 1-3 months postvaccination in these two cohorts; however, HBsAb titers were significantly lower in HIV-positive patients. This study summarized the 2-year data of immune response to hepatitis B vaccination and analyzed the factors related to sustained immune response at 2 years postvaccination in Chinese HIV-positive patients.