Outbreak of autochthonous West Nile virus infection in Lazio region, Italy, July to August 2025: preliminary investigation.

In July-18 August 2025, 171 autochthonous cases with West Nile virus (WNV) infection were confirmed in Lazio, Italy: four asymptomatic blood donors, 110 with WNV fever, 57 with neuroinvasive syndrome and nine deaths. WNV lineage 2 was detected in two neuroinvasive cases. Infection with WNV was confirmed in 28 horses, five crows and a pool.

CT changes in a randomized trial comparing early therapies in an outpatient population at high risk of severe COVID19 disease.

Although in vitro studies suggest that neutralization by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against SARS CoV2 Omicron sub lineages is reduced, in vivo virological response data are lacking. MONET (EudraCT: 2021-004188-28) was multi-centric phase 4 open-label parallel randomized clinical trial, conducted in Italy over 2022-2023, to assess the efficacy of sotrovimab (SOT), tixagevimab/cilgavimab (TIX/CIL) and Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (NMV/r), in outpatients at high risk for severe COVID-19. The outcome (secondary in the trial protocol) was SARS-CoV-2 variation in cycle threshold (CT) values over the first 7 days (D1-D7) of the trial.

Seroprevalence of Zika virus and dengue virus infections in migrants in Italy.

Introduction: Estimating the burden of Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) infections in migrants is important to promote their health status and recommend appropriate interventions. We aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of ZIKV and DENV in migrants from high endemic countries attended at a referral center in Rome (Italy), arriving via the Mediterranean from North and sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia.

Methods: Sixty-four serum samples from migrants were tested for anti-ZIKV and anti-DENV immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM by ELISA.

Immune Response Against Recent Omicron Sub-Lineages in Persons with HIV Receiving a Protein-Based or mRNA XBB.1.5 SARS-CoV-2 Booster Vaccine.

The new Nuvaxovid protein-based and Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA-based vaccines targeting Omicron XBB.1.5 were available during the 2023-2024 autumn/winter vaccination campaign for frail individuals, including people with HIV (PWH).

Kinetics of the humoral and cellular immune response up to 1 year from mpox virus infection.

Objectives: The immunological signature of mpox Clade IIb was described in the early stages of infection. We aimed to characterize the kinetics of both humoral and cellular immune responses against mpox from the onset of symptoms up to one year later.

Methods: Sixty-nine patients with mpox infected with Clade IIb during the 2022 outbreak were included in a longitudinal study.

Dengue Virus Dynamic and Persistence in Body Fluids of Infected Patients in Italy, 2018-2023.

Dengue, a mosquito-borne disease caused by the dengue virus (DENV), is constantly expanding worldwide. We investigated the presence and persistence of DENV RNA in the bloodstream and other body fluids to describe the viral kinetics in the human host. We longitudinally collected serum (n = 118), plasma (n = 110), whole blood (n = 90), urine (n = 118), oral swabs (n = 68), saliva (n = 42), semen (n = 23), and vaginal fluids (n = 49) from 42 DENV patients.

Oropouche Virus: Implications for Transfusion Services.

In 2024, a novel recombinant of the Oropouche virus emerged as a potential threat. This virus has caused a significant outbreak in Brazil and Cuba, with imported cases subsequently reported in the USA and Europe. This review summarises the existing knowledge on the Oropouche virus, and discusses potential risk mitigation strategies for the transfusion community.

Assessing Torquetenovirus (TTV) as a Biomarker for Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccines in People Living with HIV and Healthy Individuals.

: Torquetenovirus (TTV) viremia is increasingly recognized as a marker of immune competence. In the context of COVID-19, TTV viral load (VL) has been shown to predict anti-Spike antibody levels in severely immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to evaluate whether pre-vaccine TTV VL could predict humoral and cellular immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in people living with HIV (PLWH) and healthy individuals (HP).

Reactogenicity and Immunogenicity Against MPXV of the Intradermal Administration of Modified Vaccinia Ankara Compared to the Standard Subcutaneous Route.

Background: The recent resurgence of mpox in central Africa has been declared a new public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) requiring coordinated international responses. Vaccination is a priority to expand protection and enhance control strategies, but the vaccine's need exceeds the currently available doses. Intradermal (ID) administration of one-fifth of the standard modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA-BN) dose was temporarily authorized during the 2022 PHEIC.

Innate and SARS-CoV-2 specific adaptive immune response kinetic in neutralizing monoclonal antibody successfully treated COVID-19 patients.

The impact of anti-Spike monoclonal antibody (mAbs) treatment on the immune response of COVID19-patients is poorly explored. In particular, a comparison of the immunological influence of different therapeutic regimens has not yet been performed. Aim of the study was to compare the kinetic of innate and adaptive immune response as well as the SARS-CoV-2 specific humoral and T cell response in two groups of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients treated with two different mAbs regimens: Bamlanivimab/Etesevimab (BAM/ETE) or Casirivimab/Imdevimab (CAS/IMD).

MPXV DNA kinetics in bloodstream and other body fluids samples.

Since spring 2022, the global epidemiology of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) has changed. The unprecedented increase of human clade II MPXV cases worldwide heightened concerns about this emerging zoonotic disease. We analysed the positivity rates, viral loads, infectiousness, and persistence of MPXV DNA for up to 4 months in several biological samples from 89 MPXV-confirmed cases.

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of modified vaccinia Ankara pre-exposure vaccination against mpox according to previous smallpox vaccine exposure and HIV infection: prospective cohort study.

Background: Pre-exposure vaccination with MVA-BN has been widely used against mpox to contain the 2022 outbreak. Many countries have defined prioritized strategies, administering a single dose to those historically vaccinated for smallpox, to achieve quickly adequate coverage in front of low supplies. Using epidemiological models, real-life effectiveness was estimated at approximately 36%-86%, but no clinical trials were performed.

Association between sex hormones and anti-S/RBD antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccines in healthcare workers.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are the target population for vaccination against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as they are at a high risk of exposure and transmission of pathogens to patients. Neutralizing antibodies developed after COVID-19 vaccination decline within few months of vaccination. Several factors, including age and sex, can affect the intensity, efficacy, and duration of immune response to vaccines.

Evaluation of Cross-Immunity to the Mpox Virus Due to Historic Smallpox Vaccination.

When the Mpox virus (MPXV) began spreading globally in 2022, it became critical to evaluate whether residual immunity from smallpox vaccination provided cross-protection. To assess the cross-immune response to MPXV, we collected serum samples ( = 97) and PBMCs ( = 30) from healthy-donors, either born before 1974 and reporting smallpox vaccination during childhood or born after 1975 and not vaccinated with Vaccinia virus (VACV)-based vaccines. We evaluated the levels of anti-MPXV IgG and neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) and the presence of a T cell response against MPXV.

Safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in patients on dialysis: a multicentre cohort study in Italy.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients undergoing haemodialysis in Italy compared to the general population.

Methods: In this cohort study, 118 dialysis centres from 18 Italian Regions participated. Individuals older than 16 years on dialysis treatment for at least 3 months, who provided informed consent were included.