Virological tools fail to properly identify "unusual" hepatitis C virus subtypes resistant to direct-acting antiviral drugs in The Gambia.

We evaluated the ability of the commercial Sentosa SQ Hepatitis C Virus Genotyping Assay to identify the HCV genotype subtype in patients from The Gambia. Subtype was determined from the Sentosa-generated NS5B sequences using 3 bioanalytical methods: the Sentosa SQ HCV Genotyping Assay bioanalytical tool, Geno2pheno, and the National Reference Center in-house method. The Sentosa assay result agreed with the reference method in only 2 of 13 cases.

Picomolar bivalent inhibitors of protein kinase CK2 active against β-coronavirus replication.

The protein casein kinase 2 (CK2) has been shown to be upregulated in SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, few inhibitors have been tested for antiviral activity against coronaviruses. In this study, highly potent and selective bivalent inhibitors targeting the protein kinase CK2 were developed.

Genomics-based approach for detection and characterization of SARS-CoV-2 co-infections and diverse viral populations.

Unlabelled: Due to the continuous genetic diversification of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) over time, the co-circulation of two different lineages in the same region may lead to co-infections within a host, a situation known to contribute to the emergence of hybrid viral populations through genomic recombination. The aim of this study was to use a genomics-based approach to identify distinct viral populations of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as an indicator of potential co-infections and recombination events. The cohort included 41,224 serial nasopharyngeal swabs positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, prospectively collected between January 2021 and April 2022 as part of the French national surveillance program.

Performance of the cobas 5800 System for Hepatitis B virus DNA and Hepatitis C virus RNA quantification.

Hepatitis B and C infections are an underdiagnosed global health problem. Measurement of HBV DNA or HCV RNA levels using nucleic acid-based molecular diagnostic assays has been established as the standard of care for assessing diagnosis, guiding the treatment decision, and evaluating responses to antiviral therapy. In the present study, we examined the performance of the cobas 5800 System for HBV DNA and HCV RNA quantification in a large series of patients chronically infected.

Performance evaluation of a fully automated deep sequencing platform for hepatitis B genotyping and resistance testing.

Background: Treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection requires lifelong administration of nucleos(t)ide analogues with a high barrier to resistance and effective viral suppression. The major limitation of lifelong therapy is the possible selection of drug-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains. International Liver Society guidelines recommend that hepatitis B resistance testing must be performed by a reference laboratory.

Molecular Characterization of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections in Elderly Patients During the 2023-2024 Season in the Era of Nirsevimab Introduction.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause severe infections in elderly individuals. Nirsevimab is a novel prophylactic monoclonal antibody, widely used in infants in France during the 2023-2024 season. It may select for resistant RSV variants that, if transmitted in the community, could compromise vaccine efficacy in the elderly.

Virological markers for clinical trials in chronic viral hepatitis.

Chronic hepatitis virus infections remain a major public health problem, despite significant therapeutic advances over the past two decades. Considerable progress has been made in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis, but continued efforts are needed to develop and bring to market new drugs to fill the gaps in the current therapeutic armamentarium. Thus, clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of these new therapeutic approaches, including the selection of reliable and objective treatment endpoints, are still needed.

Clinical phenotypes and outcomes associated with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineage JN.1 in critically ill COVID-19 patients: a prospective, multicenter cohort study in France, November 2022 to January 2024.

Background: A notable increase in severe cases of COVID-19, with significant hospitalizations due to the emergence and spread of JN.1 was observed worldwide in late 2023 and early 2024. However, no clinical data are available regarding critically-ill JN.

'Unusual' HCV genotype subtypes: origin, distribution, sensitivity to direct-acting antiviral drugs and behaviour on antiviral treatment and retreatment.

The high genetic diversity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has led to the emergence of eight genotypes and a large number of subtypes in limited geographical areas. Currently approved pangenotypic DAA regimens have been designed and developed to be effective against the most common subtypes (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 4a, 5a and 6a). However, large populations living in Africa and Asia, or who have migrated from these regions to industrialised countries, are infected with 'unusual', non-epidemic HCV subtypes, including some that are inherently resistant to currently available direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs due to the presence of natural polymorphisms at resistance-associated substitution positions.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus vs Influenza Virus Infection: Mortality and Morbidity Comparison Over 7 Epidemic Seasons in an Elderly Population.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is gaining interest due to the recent development of vaccines but is still misdiagnosed in the elderly. The primary objective was to compare all-cause mortality at day 30. Secondary objectives were to compare clinical presentation and rates of consolidative pneumonia, hospitalization, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Gut microbiome diversity and composition in individuals with and without extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales carriage: a matched case-control study in infectious diseases department.

Objective: Little is known about the effect of gut microbial and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) carriage, particularly in the general population. The aim of this study was to identify microbiota signatures uniquely correlated with ESBL-E carriage.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study among individuals seeking care at the Sexual Health Clinic or Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France.

High fusion and cytopathy of SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.640.1.

SARS-CoV-2 variants with undetermined properties have emerged intermittently throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Some variants possess unique phenotypes and mutations which allow further characterization of viral evolution and Spike functions. Around 1,100 cases of the B.

Omicron induced distinct immune respiratory transcriptomics signatures compared to pre-existing variants in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is related to dysregulated immune responses. We aimed to explore the effect of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants on the immune response by nasopharyngeal transcriptomic in critically-ill patients. This prospective monocentric study included COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission between March 2020 and 2022.

The novel cyclophilin inhibitor C105SR reduces hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion injury via mitoprotection.

Background & Aims: Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening is critical for mediating cell death during hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Blocking mPTP opening by inhibiting cyclophilin D (CypD) is a promising pharmacological approach for the treatment of IRI. Here, we show that diastereoisomers of a new class of small-molecule cyclophilin inhibitors (SMCypIs) have properties that make them attractive candidates for the development of therapeutic agents against liver IRI.

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 breakthrough infection drives late remodeling of the memory B cell repertoire in vaccinated individuals.

How infection by a viral variant showing antigenic drift impacts a preformed mature human memory B cell (MBC) repertoire remains an open question. Here, we studied the MBC response up to 6 months after SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 breakthrough infection in individuals previously vaccinated with three doses of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.