Improving Virological Monitoring of HDV Infection: A Proof-of-Concept Comparative Study of Bosphore and AltoStar Assays in Patients Treated with Bulevirtide.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection is associated with severe hepatic complications and rapid progression towards liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Accurate measurement of HDV RNA is critical for monitoring therapeutic responses, especially during treatment with novel therapies such as bulevirtide (BLV). This study compared the analytical performance of two HDV RNA quantification assays, Bosphore (Anatolia) and AltoStar (Altona), focusing on their sensitivity, specificity, and potential implications for clinical management.

Co-Infection Patterns of Beta, Gamma, and Alpha HPV Types in Cervical and Anal Sites in HIV-Positive Women.

This study investigates the prevalence of beta (β) and gamma (γ) human papillomavirus (HPV) types in cervical and anal samples from women living with HIV and examines their association with alpha (α) HPV and cytological lesions. Cervical and anal swabs were collected from 138 women. Detection of β- and γ-HPV types were performed using bead-based assays, and data analysis included only samples with adequate DNA quality, as confirmed by β-globin amplification.

Exploring Predictive Factors for Bulevirtide Treatment Response in Hepatitis Delta-Positive Patients.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection represents the most severe form of viral hepatitis and is a significant global health challenge. Bulevirtide (BLV) is a novel therapeutic treatment that has resulted in variable response rates in HBV/HDV-coinfected patients. We evaluated clinical, virological, and polymorphic factors for the purpose of predicting BLV treatment success.

Viral Oncogenesis: Synergistic Role of Genome Integration and Persistence.

Persistence is a strategy used by many viruses to evade eradication by the immune system, ensuring their permanence and transmission within the host and optimizing viral fitness. During persistence, viruses can trigger various phenomena, including target organ damage, mainly due to an inflammatory state induced by infection, as well as cell proliferation and/or immortalization. In addition to immune evasion and chronic inflammation, factors contributing to viral persistence include low-level viral replication, the accumulation of viral mutants, and, most importantly, maintenance of the viral genome and reliance on viral oncoprotein production.

Heat Treatment as a Safe-Handling Procedure for Rift Valley Fever Virus.

Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne virus with high pathogenic potential in ruminants and humans. Due to its high potential for spreading, it is considered a priority pathogen, and it is included in the Bluepoint list of the World Health Organization (WHO). Given the high pathogenic potential of the virus, it is crucial to develop a rapid heat-mediated inactivation protocol to create a safer working environment, particularly in medical facilities that lack a biosafety level 3 laboratory required for direct handling of RVFV.

Spillover: Mechanisms, Genetic Barriers, and the Role of Reservoirs in Emerging Pathogens.

Viral spillover represents the transmission of pathogen viruses from one species to another that can give rise to an outbreak. It is a critical concept that has gained increasing attention, particularly after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, the term is often used inaccurately to describe events that do not meet the true definition of spillover.

Update on Hepatitis C Vaccine: Results and Challenges.

Therapy against the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has significantly improved with the introduction of direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs), achieving over 95% sustained virological response (SVR). Despite this, the development of an effective anti-HCV vaccine remains a critical challenge due to the low number of patients treated with DAAs and the occurrence of HCV reinfections in high-risk groups. Current vaccine strategies aim to stimulate either B-cell or T-cell responses.

Association of Methylated DNA Markers with High-Risk HPV Infections in Oral Site and Precancer Anal Lesions in HIV-Positive MSM.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is linked to several cancers, including anal and oral cancers. The incidence of anal cancer is particularly high among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM). DNA methylation markers have shown promise as biomarkers for identifying precancerous lesions and cancer in HPV-infected individuals.

Hepatitis B Virus and microRNAs: A Bioinformatics Approach.

In recent decades, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of gene expression, and the identification of viral miRNAs (v-miRNAs) within some viruses, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), has attracted significant attention. HBV infections often progress to chronic states (CHB) and may induce fibrosis/cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The presence of HBV can dysregulate host miRNA expression, influencing several biological pathways, such as apoptosis, innate and immune response, viral replication, and pathogenesis.

Phylogenetic and Phylodynamic Analysis of Delta Strains Circulating in Italy.

The hepatitis delta virus (HDV) exhibits high genetic and evolutionary variability and is classified into eight genotypes (HDV-1 to -8). HDV-1 is the most widespread genotype worldwide and includes several subtypes. It predominates mainly in Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Northern Africa, and is associated with both severe and mild forms of liver disease.