Severe Parvovirus B19 Infection in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease Hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit.

Parvovirus B19 infection can lead to severe complications in patients with chronic haemolysis. The aim of this study was to describe severe Parvovirus B19 infections in adult patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). In this multicentre, retrospective, observational cohort study, adult patients with SCD admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) between 2011 and 2024 with acute Parvovirus B19 infection were included.

Metagenomics Diagnosis of a Parvovirus B19-Associated Encephalomyelitis in an Epidemic Context.

In the context of increasing parvovirus B19 (B19V) infections, we describe a case of B19V encephalomyelitis without any usually associated clinical features. Etiology was identified by metagenomics and confirmed by PCR and whole-genome sequencing. This case highlights the need to consider the diagnosis of B19V infection in patients presenting with neurological symptoms.

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 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.

Lymphadenopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus: no microbial trigger found by shotgun metagenomics in a retrospective study on 38 patients.

Objectives: Lymphadenopathy is a classical manifestation of SLE flare, occurring in approximately half of patients during the course of the disease. Lymphadenopathy in SLE is frequently associated with fever. Microbial infection may play a role in SLE onset and flares.

Gynoid Fat Distribution and Adipocyte Trapping May Explain Virological Failure With Intramuscular Long-Acting Cabotegravir and Rilpivirine.

Intramuscular long-acting antiretroviral drugs can improve adherence to lifelong antiretroviral treatment. Nevertheless, adipose tissue thickness and distribution play a critical role with injectable drugs. We describe a virological failure with cabotegravir and rilpivirine in a Black African woman with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 with gynoid fat distribution (ie, adipose tissue prevailing in the pelvis and hip area) and body mass index <30 kg/m.

Unknown Circovirus in Immunosuppressed Patient with Hepatitis, France, 2022.

Hepatitis of undetermined origin can be caused by a wide variety of pathogens, sometimes emerging pathogens. We report the discovery, by means of routine shotgun metagenomics, of a new virus belonging to the family Circoviridae, genus Circovirus, in a patient in France who had acute hepatitis of unknown origin.

SARS-CoV-2 and post-donation information: a one-year experience of the French haemovigilance network.

Background: There is growing evidence to support the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 is probably not transmissible by blood transfusion. In this study, we use the data gathered over one year by the French haemovigilance network on post-donation information related to SARS-CoV-2, and virological investigations on corresponding plasma to explore viral transmission by transfusion.

Materials And Methods: Whenever a donor reported COVID-19 symptoms and/or a positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal (NP) PCR test, information regarding diagnosis and symptoms was collected using a specific questionnaire, and repository plasmas were screened using the SARS-COV-2 R-GENE assay (Biomérieux).

Low rate of RNAemia in blood donations collected during the first wave of COVID-19 in France.

Background: To investigate the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via blood, we conducted retrospective molecular screening in blood donated during the first pandemic peak in the two French regions with the highest community transmission.

Methods: Archived plasma samples randomly selected from donations collected between March 23 and 29, 2020, in Eastern and Northern regions of France were tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in minipools of 4 donations (MP4) using the Grifols ProcleixSARS-CoV-2 assay. Reactive MP4 and the four corresponding plasmas were further tested with alternative RT-PCRs and sequencing.

HIV transmission network analysis allows identifying unreported risk factors in HIV-positive blood donors in France.

Objectives: As sex between men is a major route of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in most western countries, restrictive deferral rules for blood donation have largely been implemented regarding men having sex with men (MSM). Here, we sought here to assign unreported HIV risk factors in blood donors (BDs) and reevaluated the MSM-associated fraction of HIV transfusion residual risk (%RR ).

Methods: We applied a genetic distance-based approach to infer an HIV transmission network for 384 HIV sequences from French BDs and 1337 HIV sequences from individuals with known risk factors (ANRS PRIMO primary HIV infection cohort).

No Evidence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-Assisted Hepatitis D Virus Propagation in a Large Cohort of HCV-Positive Blood Donors.

A study reported in 2019 showed that hepatitis C virus (HCV) could help disseminate hepatitis D virus (HDV). To test this finding, 2123 plasma samples positive for anti-HCV antibody were screened for anti-HDV antibodies, and HDV-RNA was searched for in samples positive for anti-HDV antibody. Of 41 samples (1.

NKNK: a New Essential Motif in the C-Terminal Domain of HIV-1 Group M Integrases.

Using coevolution network interference based on comparison of two phylogenetically distantly related isolates, one from the main group M and the other from the minor group O of HIV-1, we identify, in the C-terminal domain (CTD) of integrase, a new functional motif constituted by four noncontiguous amino acids (NKNK). Mutating the lysines abolishes integration through decreased 3' processing and inefficient nuclear import of reverse-transcribed genomes. Solution of the crystal structures of wild-type (wt) and mutated CTDs shows that the motif generates a positive surface potential that is important for integration.

A Highly Prevalent Polymorphism in the Core Region Impairs Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) by the cobas TaqMan HBV Assay.

The high genetic variability of hepatitis B virus (HBV) can impair DNA quantification. Here, we investigate a major underquantification of HBV by the cobas TaqMan HBV assay (CTM; Roche). In France, between 2005 and 2017, HBV DNA was detected in 3,102 blood donations by use of the CTM (95% limit of detection [LOD], 4.

High rate of hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus false-positive results in serologic screening in sub-Saharan Africa: adverse impact on the blood supply.

Background: False positivity in blood screening may cause unnecessary deferral of healthy donors and exacerbate blood shortages. An international multicenter study was conducted to estimate the frequency of HCV and HIV false seropositivity in seven African countries (Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger).

Study Design And Methods: Blood donations were tested for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with rapid detection tests (RDTs), third-generation enzyme immunoassays (EIAs), or fourth-generation EIAs.

Transfusion of HIV-infected blood products despite highly sensitive nucleic acid testing.

Background: In France, the risk of HIV transmission by transfusion was reduced by implementing pooled nucleic acid testing (NAT) in 2001 and individual NAT in 2010. We report here the first case in France of transfusion of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected blood donated during HIV pre-ramp-up phase that tested individual NAT negative.

Methods: Blood donations are screened for HIV antibodies and HIV RNA (ProcleixUltrio, Grifols; limit of detection at 95%, 23 copies/mL).

Detection of numerous HIV-1/MO recombinants in France.

Background: The broad genetic divergence of HIV-1/O relative to HIV-1/M has important implications for diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. Despite this divergence, some HIV-1/M+O dual infections and HIV-1/MO recombinant forms have been reported, mostly in Cameroon, where both groups are prevalent. Here, we describe the characteristics of such infections detected in France in 10 new patients, and discuss their implications for biological and clinical practice, owing to the presence of group O species.

HIV-1 sequences in the epidemic suggest an alternative pathway for the generation of the Long Terminal Repeats.

To generate the long-terminal repeats (LTR) that border the integrated viral genome, two-strand transfer steps must occur during reverse transcription. Analysis of the genetic polymorphisms that are present in the LTR of HIV-1 heterozygous virions in single infection cycle studies has revealed which of the two copies of genomic RNAs is used for each transfer event. Thus, the first event of strand transfer has been described to be either intra- or intermolecular, while the second event is generally intramolecular.

A Multiplex PCR Approach for Detecting Dual Infections and Recombinants Involving Major HIV Variants.

The cocirculation of different HIV types and groups can lead to dual infections and recombinants, which hinder diagnosis and therapeutic management. We designed two multiplex PCRs (mPCRs) coupled with capillary electrophoresis to facilitate the detection of such infections. The first, MMO2, targets three variants (HIV-1/M, HIV-1/O, and HIV-2), and the second, MMO, targets HIV-1/M and HIV-1/O.