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Virology in Italy 2023: National Congress of the Italian Society...
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Virology in Italy 2023: National Congress of the Italian Society for Virology

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "General Virology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 10076

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Enzo Tramontano

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Guest Editor
Chair, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato SS554, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
Interests: virology; microbiology; antiviral drugs; drug development; endogenous retroviruses; innate immunity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Arnaldo Caruso

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Guest Editor
Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa, 11–25123 Brescia, Italy
Interests: HIV; human respiratory viruses; vaccines; gene therapy; viral oncology; cell/host interaction; endothelial cell dysfunction; cancer microenvironment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is dedicated to the 7th Congress of the Italian Society for Virology (SIV-ISV (https://siv-isv.org), which will be held in Brescia, Italy, 25–28 June 2023. The Congress will provide an important opportunity for Italian virologists across different disciplines (basic, clinical, epidemiological, veterinary, plant, etc.) to meet and foster exchanges, thereby creating a broader base of research expertise committed to tackling global challenges of virus infections from a One Health perspective. Presentations will encompass a wide variety of virus-related topics, including emerging viruses, viral subversion of host cell processes, viruses of microbes, antivirals and vaccines, emerging methods in virology, RNA in virus infection, viruses of flora and fauna, and antiviral innate immunity.

Symposium participants are invited to contribute original research papers or reviews to this Special Issue of Viruses.

Prof. Dr. Enzo Tramontano
Prof. Dr. Arnaldo Caruso
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Viruses is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Italy
  • emerging viruses
  • viral subversion of host cell processes
  • viruses of microbes
  • antivirals
  • vaccines
  • emerging methods in virology
  • RNA in virus infection
  • viruses of plants
  • antiviral innate immunity
  • animal viruses

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1904 KiB  
Article
Antibodies Induced by Smallpox Vaccination after at Least 45 Years Cross-React with and In Vitro Neutralize Mpox Virus: A Role for Polyclonal B Cell Activation?
by Sabrina Mariotti, Giulietta Venturi, Maria Vincenza Chiantore, Raffaela Teloni, Riccardo De Santis, Antonello Amendola, Claudia Fortuna, Giulia Marsili, Giorgia Grilli, Maria Stella Lia, Seble Tekle Kiros, Filippo Lagi, Alessandro Bartoloni, Angelo Iacobino, Raffaele Cresta, Marco Lastilla, Roberto Biselli, Paola Di Bonito, Florigio Lista and Roberto Nisini
Viruses 2024, 16(4), 620; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16040620 - 17 Apr 2024
Viewed by 452
Abstract
Aims: To evaluate whether antibodies specific for the vaccinia virus (VV) are still detectable after at least 45 years from immunization. To confirm that VV-specific antibodies are endowed with the capacity to neutralize Mpox virus (MPXV) in vitro. To test a possible role [...] Read more.
Aims: To evaluate whether antibodies specific for the vaccinia virus (VV) are still detectable after at least 45 years from immunization. To confirm that VV-specific antibodies are endowed with the capacity to neutralize Mpox virus (MPXV) in vitro. To test a possible role of polyclonal non-specific activation in the maintenance of immunologic memory. Methods: Sera were collected from the following groups: smallpox-vaccinated individuals with or without latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), unvaccinated donors, and convalescent individuals after MPXV infection. Supernatant of VV- or MPXV-infected Vero cells were inactivated and used as antigens in ELISA or in Western blot (WB) analyses. An MPXV plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) was optimized and performed on study samples. VV- and PPD-specific memory T cells were measured by flow cytometry. Results: None of the smallpox unvaccinated donors tested positive in ELISA or WB analysis and their sera were unable to neutralize MPXV in vitro. Sera from all the individuals convalescing from an MPXV infection tested positive for anti-VV or MPXV IgG with high titers and showed MPXV in vitro neutralization capacity. Sera from most of the vaccinated individuals showed IgG anti-VV and anti-MPXV at high titers. WB analyses showed that positive sera from vaccinated or convalescent individuals recognized both VV and MPXV antigens. Higher VV-specific IgG titer and specific T cells were observed in LTBI individuals. Conclusions: ELISA and WB performed using supernatant of VV- or MPXV-infected cells are suitable to identify individuals vaccinated against smallpox at more than 45 years from immunization and individuals convalescing from a recent MPXV infection. ELISA and WB results show a good correlation with PRNT. Data confirm that a smallpox vaccination induces a long-lasting memory in terms of specific IgG and that antibodies raised against VV may neutralize MPXV in vitro. Finally, higher titers of VV-specific antibodies and higher frequency of VV-specific memory T cells in LTBI individuals suggest a role of polyclonal non-specific activation in the maintenance of immunologic memory. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Virology in Italy 2023: National Congress of the Italian Society for Virology)
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14 pages, 3785 KiB  
Article
Molecular and Serological Detection of Bovine Coronaviruses in Marmots (Marmota marmota) in the Alpine Region
by Ana Moreno, Sabrina Canziani, Davide Lelli, Anna Castelli, Alessandro Bianchi, Irene Bertoletti, Federica Maccarinelli, Marco Carlomagno, Matteo Paini, Marzia Rossato, Massimo Delledonne, Stefano Giacomelli, Antonella Cordedda, Sandro Nicoloso, Enrica Bellinello, Anna Campagnoli and Tiziana Trogu
Viruses 2024, 16(4), 591; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16040591 - 11 Apr 2024
Viewed by 386
Abstract
In this study, virological surveillance focused on coronaviruses in marmots in the Alpine region in 2022, captured as part of a population control reduction program in the Livigno area. Seventy-six faecal samples were randomly collected from marmots at the time of capture and [...] Read more.
In this study, virological surveillance focused on coronaviruses in marmots in the Alpine region in 2022, captured as part of a population control reduction program in the Livigno area. Seventy-six faecal samples were randomly collected from marmots at the time of capture and release and tested for genome detection of pan-coronavirus, pan-pestivirus, canine distemper virus, and influenza A and D virus. Nine faecal samples were positive in the Pan-CoV RT-PCR, while all were negative for the other viruses. Pan-coronavirus positives were further identified using Illumina’s complete genome sequencing, which showed the highest homology with Bovine Coronavirus previously detected in roe deer in the Alps. Blood samples (n.35) were collected randomly from animals at release and tested for bovine coronavirus (BCoV) antibodies using competitive ELISA and VNT. Serological analyses revealed that 8/35 sera were positive for BCoV antibodies in both serological tests. This study provides molecular and serological evidence of the presence of BCoV in an alpine marmot population due to a likely spillover event. Marmots share areas and pastures with roe deer and other wild ruminants, and environmental transmission is a concrete possibility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Virology in Italy 2023: National Congress of the Italian Society for Virology)
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12 pages, 928 KiB  
Article
Wastewater-Based Epidemiology for Viral Surveillance from an Endemic Perspective: Evidence and Challenges
by Marco Verani, Alessandra Pagani, Ileana Federigi, Giulia Lauretani, Nebiyu Tariku Atomsa, Virginia Rossi, Luca Viviani and Annalaura Carducci
Viruses 2024, 16(3), 482; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16030482 - 20 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1008
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is currently used to monitor not only the spread of the viral SARS-CoV-2 pandemic but also that of other viruses in endemic conditions, particularly in the absence of syndromic surveillance. The continuous monitoring of sewage requires high expenditure and significant [...] Read more.
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is currently used to monitor not only the spread of the viral SARS-CoV-2 pandemic but also that of other viruses in endemic conditions, particularly in the absence of syndromic surveillance. The continuous monitoring of sewage requires high expenditure and significant time investments, highlighting the need for standardized methods and structured monitoring strategies. In this context, we conducted weekly wastewater monitoring in northwestern Tuscany (Italy) and targeted human adenovirus (HAdV), norovirus genogroup II (NoVggII), enterovirus (EV), and SARS-CoV-2. Samples were collected at the entrances of treatment plants and concentrated using PEG/NaCl precipitation, and viral nucleic acids were extracted and detected through real-time reverse transcription qPCR. NoVggII was the most identified target (84.4%), followed by HAdV, SARS-CoV-2, and EV. Only HAdV and EV exhibited seasonal peaks in spring and summer. Compared with data that were previously collected in the same study area (from February 2021 to September 2021), the results for SARS-CoV-2 revealed a shift from an epidemic to an endemic pattern, at least in the region under investigation, which was likely due to viral mutations that led to the spreading of new variants with increased resistance to summer environmental conditions. In conclusion, using standardized methods and an efficient monitoring strategy, WBE proves valuable for viral surveillance in pandemic and epidemic scenarios, enabling the identification of temporal–local distribution patterns that are useful for making informed public health decisions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Virology in Italy 2023: National Congress of the Italian Society for Virology)
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17 pages, 2121 KiB  
Article
Immune System Deficiencies Do Not Alter SARS-CoV-2 Evolutionary Rate but Favour the Emergence of Mutations by Extending Viral Persistence
by Laura Manuto, Martina Bado, Marco Cola, Elena Vanzo, Maria Antonello, Giorgia Mazzotti, Monia Pacenti, Giampaolo Cordioli, Lolita Sasset, Anna Maria Cattelan, Stefano Toppo and Enrico Lavezzo
Viruses 2024, 16(3), 447; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16030447 - 13 Mar 2024
Viewed by 793
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, immunosuppressed patients showed prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infections, with several studies reporting the accumulation of mutations in the viral genome. The weakened immune system present in these individuals, along with the effect of antiviral therapies, are thought to create a favourable [...] Read more.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, immunosuppressed patients showed prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infections, with several studies reporting the accumulation of mutations in the viral genome. The weakened immune system present in these individuals, along with the effect of antiviral therapies, are thought to create a favourable environment for intra-host viral evolution and have been linked to the emergence of new viral variants which strongly challenged containment measures and some therapeutic treatments. To assess whether impaired immunity could lead to the increased instability of viral genomes, longitudinal nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from eight immunocompromised patients and fourteen non-immunocompromised subjects, all undergoing SARS-CoV-2 infection. Intra-host viral evolution was compared between the two groups through deep sequencing, exploiting a probe-based enrichment method to minimise the possibility of artefactual mutations commonly generated in amplicon-based methods, which heavily rely on PCR amplification. Although, as expected, immunocompromised patients experienced significantly longer infections, the acquisition of novel intra-host viral mutations was similar between the two groups. Moreover, a thorough analysis of viral quasispecies showed that the variability of viral populations in the two groups is comparable not only at the consensus level, but also when considering low-frequency mutations. This study suggests that a compromised immune system alone does not affect SARS-CoV-2 within-host genomic variability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Virology in Italy 2023: National Congress of the Italian Society for Virology)
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13 pages, 1702 KiB  
Article
Development of an Oral IgA Response against SARS-CoV-2 Following Immunization with Different COVID-19 Vaccines
by Irene Soffritti, Maria D’Accolti, Francesca Bini, Eleonora Mazziga, Davide Proietto, Beatrice Dallan, Martina De Laurentis, Sara Ghisellini, Francesco Nicoli and Elisabetta Caselli
Viruses 2023, 15(12), 2319; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15122319 - 25 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1053
Abstract
The mucosal immune response is recognized to be important in the early control of infection sustained by viruses with mucosal tissues as the primary site of entry and replication, such as SARS-CoV-2. Mucosal IgA has been consistently reported in the mouth and eye [...] Read more.
The mucosal immune response is recognized to be important in the early control of infection sustained by viruses with mucosal tissues as the primary site of entry and replication, such as SARS-CoV-2. Mucosal IgA has been consistently reported in the mouth and eye of SARS-CoV-2 infected subjects, where it correlated inversely with COVID-19 symptom severity. Yet, there is still scarce information on the comparative ability of the diverse SARS-CoV-2 vaccines to induce local IgA responses at the virus entry site. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA in the saliva of 95 subjects vaccinated with a booster dose and different combinations of vaccines, including mRNA-1273 (Moderna), BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech), and Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca). The results showed the presence of a mucosal response in 93.7% of vaccinated subjects, with a mean IgA titer of 351.5 ± 31.77 U/mL, strongly correlating with the serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titer (p < 0.0001). No statistically significant differences emerged between the vaccine types, although the salivary IgA titer appeared slightly higher after receiving a booster dose of the mRNA-1273 vaccine (Moderna) following two doses of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech), compared to the other vaccine combinations. These data confirm what was previously reported at the eye level and suggest that monitoring salivary IgA may be a useful tool for driving forward vaccine design and surveillance strategies, potentially leading to novel routes of vaccine administration and boosting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Virology in Italy 2023: National Congress of the Italian Society for Virology)
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14 pages, 5914 KiB  
Article
COVID-19 Genomic Surveillance in Bangui (Central African Republic) Reveals a Landscape of Circulating Variants Linked to Validated Antiviral Targets of SARS-CoV-2 Proteome
by Ulrich Vickos, Marianna Camasta, Nicole Grandi, Sante Scognamiglio, Tobias Schindler, Marie Roseline Darnycka Belizaire, Ernest Lango-Yaya, Giscard Wilfried Koyaweda, Oscar Senzongo, Simon Pounguinza, Kaleb Kandou Jephté Francis Estimé, Stephanie N’yetobouko, Christelle Luce Bobossi Gadia, Dominos-Alfred Feiganazoui, Alain Le Faou, Massimiliano Orsini, Carlo Federico Perno, Luca Zinzula and Clotaire Donatien Rafaï
Viruses 2023, 15(12), 2309; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15122309 - 24 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1326
Abstract
Since its outbreak, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spread rapidly, causing the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Even with the vaccines’ administration, the virus continued to circulate due to inequal access to prevention and therapeutic measures in African countries. Information about [...] Read more.
Since its outbreak, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spread rapidly, causing the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Even with the vaccines’ administration, the virus continued to circulate due to inequal access to prevention and therapeutic measures in African countries. Information about COVID-19 in Africa has been limited and contradictory, and thus regional studies are important. On this premise, we conducted a genomic surveillance study about COVID-19 lineages circulating in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR). We collected 2687 nasopharyngeal samples at four checkpoints in Bangui from 2 to 22 July 2021. Fifty-three samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and viral genomes were sequenced to look for the presence of different viral strains. We performed phylogenetic analysis and described the lineage landscape of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in the CAR along 15 months of pandemics and in Africa during the study period, finding the Delta variant as the predominant Variant of Concern (VoC). The deduced aminoacidic sequences of structural and non-structural genes were determined and compared to reference and reported isolates from Africa. Despite the limited number of positive samples obtained, this study provides valuable information about COVID-19 evolution at the regional level and allows for a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 circulation in the CAR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Virology in Italy 2023: National Congress of the Italian Society for Virology)
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17 pages, 5000 KiB  
Article
Biological Specimen Banking as a Time Capsule to Explore the Temporal Dynamics of Norovirus Epidemiology
by Floriana Bonura, Chiara Filizzolo, Mariangela Pizzo, Giuseppa L. Sanfilippo, Federica Cacioppo, Emilia Palazzotto, Francesca Di Bernardo, Antonina Collura, Vito Martella, Simona De Grazia and Giovanni M. Giammanco
Viruses 2023, 15(12), 2303; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15122303 - 24 Nov 2023
Viewed by 809
Abstract
Norovirus is recognised as a major cause of epidemic and sporadic acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in all age groups. Information on the genetic diversity of the noroviruses circulating in the 1980s and 1990s, before the development and adoption of dedicated molecular assays, is limited [...] Read more.
Norovirus is recognised as a major cause of epidemic and sporadic acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in all age groups. Information on the genetic diversity of the noroviruses circulating in the 1980s and 1990s, before the development and adoption of dedicated molecular assays, is limited compared with the last decades. Between 1986 and 2020, uninterrupted viral surveillance was conducted in symptomatic children hospitalized with AGE in Palermo, Italy, providing a unique time capsule for exploring the epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of enteric viruses. A total of 8433 stool samples were tested using real-time RT-PCR. All samples were stored at −20 or −80 °C until processing. In this 35-year long time span, noroviruses of genogroup II (GII) were detected in 15.6% of AGE requiring hospitalization, whilst GI noroviruses were detected in 1.4% of AGE. Overall, the predominant norovirus capsid (Cap) genotype was GII.4 (60.8%), followed by GII.3 (13.3%) and GII.2 (12.4%). Temporal replacement of the GII.4 Cap variants associated with different polymerase (Pol) types were observed over the study period. The chronology of emergence and circulation of the different GII.4 variants were consistent with data available in the literature. Also, for GII.3 and GII.2 NoVs, the circulation of different lineages/strains, differing in either the Cap or Pol genes or in both, was observed. This long-term study revealed the ability of noroviruses to continuously and rapidly modify their genomic makeup and highlights the importance of surveillance activities in vaccine design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Virology in Italy 2023: National Congress of the Italian Society for Virology)
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15 pages, 1614 KiB  
Article
Accuracy of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing on Urine and Vaginal Self-Samples Compared to Clinician-Collected Cervical Sample in Women Referred to Colposcopy
by Marianna Martinelli, Chiara Giubbi, Maria Letizia Di Meo, Federica Perdoni, Rosario Musumeci, Biagio Eugenio Leone, Robert Fruscio, Fabio Landoni and Clementina Elvezia Cocuzza
Viruses 2023, 15(9), 1889; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15091889 - 07 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1882
Abstract
In the context of cervical cancer prevention, where human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is pivotal, HPV testing is replacing Pap Smear in primary screening. This transition offers an opportunity for integrating self-sampling to enhance coverage. We evaluated the accuracy of HPV testing using self-collected [...] Read more.
In the context of cervical cancer prevention, where human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is pivotal, HPV testing is replacing Pap Smear in primary screening. This transition offers an opportunity for integrating self-sampling to enhance coverage. We evaluated the accuracy of HPV testing using self-collected urine and vaginal samples, comparing them to physician-collected cervical swabs. From a cohort of 245 women with abnormal cytology, we collected self-sampled vaginal, urine, and clinician-administered cervical specimens. Employing Anyplex™II HPV28 assay, outcomes revealed HPV positivity rates of 75.1% (cervical), 78.4% (vaginal), and 77.1% (urine). Significant, hr-HPV detection concordance was observed between self-taken cervical samples and clinical counterparts (k = 0.898 for vaginal; k = 0.715 for urine). This study extends beyond accuracy, highlighting self-collected sample efficacy in detecting high-grade cervical lesions. The insight underscores self-sampling’s role in bolstering participation and aligns with WHO’s goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Virology in Italy 2023: National Congress of the Italian Society for Virology)
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Review

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17 pages, 889 KiB  
Review
Human Oncogenic Viruses: Characteristics and Prevention Strategies—Lessons Learned from Human Papillomaviruses
by Luisa Galati, Maria Vincenza Chiantore, Mariarosaria Marinaro and Paola Di Bonito
Viruses 2024, 16(3), 416; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16030416 - 08 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1163
Abstract
Approximately 12% of human cancers worldwide are associated with infectious agents, which are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as Group 1 within the agents that are carcinogenic to humans. Most of these agents are viruses. Group 1 oncogenic [...] Read more.
Approximately 12% of human cancers worldwide are associated with infectious agents, which are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as Group 1 within the agents that are carcinogenic to humans. Most of these agents are viruses. Group 1 oncogenic viruses include hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus (HBV), human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1, Epstein-Barr virus, Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, human immunodeficiency virus-1 and high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs). In addition, some human polyomaviruses are suspected of inducing cancer prevalently in hosts with impaired immune responses. Merkel cell polyomavirus has been associated with Merkel cell carcinoma and included by the IARC in Group 2A (i.e., probably carcinogenic to humans). Linking viruses to human cancers has allowed for the development of diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic measures. Vaccination significantly reduced tumours induced by two oncogenic viruses as follows: HBV and HPV. Herein, we focus on mucosal alpha HPVs, which are responsible for the highest number of cancer cases due to tumour viruses and against which effective prevention strategies have been developed to reduce the global burden of HPV-related cancers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Virology in Italy 2023: National Congress of the Italian Society for Virology)
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