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Topic Review
Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases Caused by Badnaviruses
New and emerging plant diseases are caused by different pathogens including viruses that often cause significant crop losses. Badnaviruses are pararetroviruses that contain a single molecule of ds DNA genome of 7 to 9 kb in size and infect a large number of economically important crops such as banana and plantains, black pepper, cacao, citrus, grapevine, pineapple, sugarcane, sweet potato, taro, and yam, causing significant yield losses. Many of the species in the genus have a restricted host range and several of them are known to infect a single crop. Combined infections of different virus species and strains offer conditions that favor the development of new strains via recombination, especially in vegetatively propagated crops. The primary spread of badnaviruses is through vegetative propagating materials while for the secondary spread, they depend on insects such as mealybugs and aphids. Disease emerges as a consequence of the interactions between host and pathogens under favorable environmental conditions. The viral genome of the pararetroviruses is known to be integrated into the chromosome of the host and a few plants with integrants when subjected to different kinds of abiotic stress will give rise to episomal forms of the virus and cause disease.
  • 1.1K
  • 16 May 2023
Topic Review
Human Papilloma Virus and Associated Malignancies
HPV, or Human Papilloma Virus, has been the primary causative agent of genital warts and cervical cancer worldwide. It is a sexually transmitted infection mainly affecting women of reproductive age group, also infecting men and high-risk group individuals globally, resulting in high mortality.
  • 1.1K
  • 25 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Human Cytomegalovirus-Encoded miRNAs
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to the β-herpesvirus family and infects 40–90% of the adult population worldwide. HCMV infection is usually asymptomatic in healthy individuals but causes serious problems in immunocompromised people. It is found that a series of HCMV-encoded miRNAs (e.g., miR-UL112 and miR-UL148D) are explicitly involved in the regulation of viral DNA replication, immune evasion, as well as host cell fate. MiRNA-targeted therapies have been explored for the treatment of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and hepatitis C virus infection. It is feasible to develop an alternative vaccine to restart peripheral immunity or to inhibit HCMV activity, which may contribute to the antiviral intervention for serious HCMV-related diseases. 
  • 1.0K
  • 09 Feb 2022
Topic Review
COVID-19 Infection on Pregnancy Maternal and Fetal Health
When compared with uninfected mothers, pregnant women with a COVID-19 infection are at a higher risk for maternal mortality. With the additional difficulties of the COVID-19 infection, pregnant persons also have higher hospitalization and ICU admission rates, increased risk of requiring ventilation, and elevated mortality rate than non-pregnant women who are infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 surveillance system.
  • 1.0K
  • 31 May 2023
Topic Review
A Defective Viral Particle Approach to COVID-19
Defective interfering particles, which arise naturally and interfere with viruses, have long inspired the idea that they might be adapted to treat viral diseases. Here, we explore how such defective interfering particles and other therapeutic nanoparticles might be designed and constructed to interfere with SARS-CoV-2.
  • 1.0K
  • 28 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Polysaccharide Vaccines and Non-Typhoidal Salmonella
Polysaccharides are often the most abundant antigens found on the extracellular surfaces of bacterial cells. These polysaccharides play key roles in interactions with the outside world, and for many bacterial pathogens, they represent what is presented to the human immune system. As a result, many vaccines have been or currently are being developed against carbohydrate antigens. In this review, we explore the diversity of capsular polysaccharides (CPS) in Salmonella and other selected bacterial species and explain the classification and function of CPS as vaccine antigens. Despite many vaccines being developed using carbohydrate antigens, the low immunogenicity and the diversity of infecting strains and serovars present an antigen formulation challenge to manufacturers. Vaccines tend to focus on common serovars or have changing formulations over time, reflecting the trends in human infection, which can be costly and time-consuming. We summarize the approaches to generate carbohydrate-based vaccines for Salmonella, describe vaccines that are in development and emphasize the need for an effective vaccine against non-typhoidal Salmonella strains.
  • 1.0K
  • 12 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Variability of H1N1pdm09 Influenza Viruses
The influenza virus is a worldwide disease that affects up to 5–15% of the global population. The mortality from influenza-associated respiratory disease is estimated to be more than half a million each year, and that number significantly increases when a new strain emerges to cause a pandemic. The influenza virus has a high mutation rate, which is the basis for the evolutionary variability of the influenza virus. One cycle of virus replication may lead to a new strain with significant changes in its viral biocharacteristics and pathogenicity.
  • 1.0K
  • 17 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Polydatin/Resveratrol interference in ACE2:Spike recognition
In the search for new therapeutic strategies to contrast SARS-CoV-2, we here studied the interaction of polydatin (PD) and resveratrol (RESV)—two natural stilbene polyphenols with manifold, well known biological activities—with Spike, the viral protein essential for virus entry into host cells, and ACE2, the angiotensin-converting enzyme present on the surface of multiple cell types (including respiratory epithelial cells) which is the main host receptor for Spike binding. Molecular Docking simulations evidenced that both compounds can bind Spike, ACE2 and the ACE2:Spike complex with good affinity, although the interaction of PD appears stronger than that of RESV on all the investigated targets. Preliminary biochemical assays revealed a significant inhibitory activity of the ACE2:Spike recognition with a dose-response effect only in the case of PD. 
  • 1.0K
  • 09 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Views on Vaccination against COVID-19 Virus
Mass immunization of the citizens of the Republic of Serbia began in January 2021. Information on the significance, manner, advantages and consequences of this process was intensively distributed through all communication channels, with the media playing a key role. According to the data of the official institutions for the public health of Serbia, by July 2021 the lowest percentage of vaccinated population was among those between the ages of 18 and 24—only 15% of this demographic had received the vaccine by this point.
  • 1.0K
  • 08 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Monkeypox
In 1958, several monkeys in a Copenhagen laboratory developed a skin rash from which an orthopoxvirus could be isolated, which was named monkeypox virus (MPXV). However, the natural animal reservoir for MPXV is thought to be a rodent. The first human case occurred in 1970, and the incidence has increased progressively throughout the years. 
  • 1.0K
  • 31 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Garlic Virus E Genome
Garlic (Allium sativum L.) plants exhibiting mosaics, deformation, and yellow stripes symptoms were identified in Meerut City, Uttar Pradesh, India. To investigate the viruses in the garlic samples, the method of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) was used. Complete genome of the garlic virus E (GarV-E) isolate (NCBI accession No. MW925710) was retrieved. The virus complete genome comprises 8450 nucleotides (nts), excluding the poly (A) tail at the 3′ terminus, with 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of 99 and 384 nts, respectively, and ORFs encoding replicase with a conserved motif for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP), TGB1, TGB2, TGB3, serine-rich protein, coat protein, and nucleic acid binding protein (NABP). The sequence homology shared 83.49–90.40% and 87.48–92.87% with those of GarV-E isolates available in NCBI at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed a close relationship of this isolate from India (MW925710) with GarV-E isolate YH (AJ292230) from Zhejiang, China. The presence of GarV-E was also confirmed by RT-PCR.
  • 1.0K
  • 14 Mar 2022
Topic Review
JC Polyomavirus and Transplantation
The JC polyomavirus (JCPyV/JCV) is a member of the Polyomaviridae family and is ubiquitious in the general population, infecting 50–80% of individuals globally. The virus remains latent but can reactivate under conditions of immunosuppression and cause life-threatening disease such as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).  PML can be a complication of HIV disease especially in HIV patients who are not receiving anti retroviral therapy. In immunocompetent individuals, PML is rare however, the incidence of PML is increasing due to the widespread use of immune modulating therapies.  JCV induced PML is rare in solid organ transplant patients but there is documented cases that correlate with immunosuppression that is required allograft transplantation. Currently there no curative therapies for PML with high mortality after diagnosis. 
  • 1.0K
  • 12 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Vaccinia Virus Arrests and Shifts the Cell Cycle
Modulation of the host cell cycle is a common strategy used by viruses to create a pro-replicative environment. To facilitate viral genome replication, vaccinia virus (VACV) has been reported to alter cell cycle regulation and trigger the host cell DNA damage response. However, the cellular factors and viral effectors that mediate these changes remain unknown.
  • 1.0K
  • 04 Mar 2022
Topic Review
RNA Capping Functions during Infection
RNAs with methylated cap structures are present throughout multiple domains of life. Given that cap structures play a myriad of important roles beyond translation, such as stability and immune recognition, it is not surprising that viruses have adopted RNA capping processes for their own benefit throughout co-evolution with their hosts. In fact, that RNAs are capped was first discovered in a member of the Spinareovirinae family, Cypovirus, before these findings were translated to other domains of life.
  • 1.0K
  • 12 Mar 2021
Topic Review
ACE2 Expression and COVID-19 Infection
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to an unprecedented threat to the international community and raised major concerns in terms of public health safety. Although our current understanding of the complexity of COVID-19 pathogenesis remains limited, the infection is largely mediated by the interaction of viral spike protein and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The functional importance of ACE2 in different demographic and comorbid conditions may explain the significant variation in incidence and mortality of COVID-19 in vulnerable groups, and highlights its candidacy as a potential therapeutic target.
  • 1.0K
  • 05 May 2021
Topic Review
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) of ruminants is a viral pathology that has significant welfare, social, and economic implications. The causative agent, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), belongs to the Orbivirus genus and leads to significant regional disease outbreaks among livestock and wildlife in North America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, causing significant morbidity and mortality.
  • 1.0K
  • 23 May 2023
Topic Review
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus–Host Protein Interactions
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a disease with a high incidence due to sow miscarriage, stillbirth, and piglet respiratory tract infections. PRRS is caused by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). The disease was first reported in the United States in 1987 and then spread worldwide. China reported the first case of PRRS in 1996. In 2006, there was an outbreak of a “high fever symptom” caused by a mutant PRRSV with a 30-amino-acid deletion in the nonstructural protein (NSP) 2. PRRSV continues to mutate, and a series of new PRRSV mutant strains such as the NADC30-like strain have appeared in recent years, making the prevention and control of the disease increasingly difficult. PRRSV continues to recombine and mutant, and since PRRSV has the antibody-dependent enhancement effect, the development of effective vaccines against PRRS is not as good as expected.
  • 1.0K
  • 17 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Oncolytic Virus Therapy for PDAC
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating malignancy with poor prognosis and a dismal survival rate, expected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Oncolytic virus (OV) is an anticancer approach that utilizes replication-competent viruses to preferentially infect and kill tumor cells. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), one such OV, is already in several phase I clinical trials against different malignancies. VSV-based recombinant viruses are effective OVs against a majority of tested PDAC cell lines. 
  • 1.0K
  • 22 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Bacteriophage Treatment
The rapid and ever-growing increase in numbers of antibiotic resistance pathogens calls for alternative treatment options. Bacteriophage represents a well-suited option due to its adaptability and diversity. The review highlighted the significance of phage therapy and addressed the work needed in the clinical, experimental, regulatory, and manufacturing fields to emphasize phage's value as an antibacterial agent. Additionally, the review discussed effective implementation methods of phage therapy against infections such as antibiotic- phage combination therapy. Finally, although phage therapy has multiple challenges, undertaking it will improve treatment outcomes. 
  • 1.0K
  • 18 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Newly Emerged Antiviral Strategies for SARS-CoV-2
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become the most severe health crisis, causing extraordinary economic disruption worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA-enveloped virus. The process of viral replication and particle packaging is finished in host cells. Viral proteins, including both structural and nonstructural proteins, play important roles in the viral life cycle, which also provides the targets of treatment. Therefore, a better understanding of the structural function of virus proteins is crucial to speed up the development of vaccines and therapeutic strategies. The structure-function correlation of viral proteins provides a fundamental rationale for vaccine development and targeted therapy. 
  • 1.0K
  • 02 Jun 2022
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