Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses: Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Virology and Viral Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2024 | Viewed by 3179

Special Issue Editor

Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 106 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208, USA
Interests: RNA viruses; influenza; vaccine development; antiviral development; viral immunology; viral pathogenesis; molecular virology; virus–host interaction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Viral respiratory infections are the most common diseases in humans, contributing to substantial morbidity, mortality, and economic losses annually worldwide. As the world continues to deal with COVID-19, upsurges in infections caused by other respiratory viruses, such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza, metapneumovirus, bocaviruses, and non-rhinovirus enteroviruses, have burdened healthcare systems in several countries. Because of their transmissibility, advances in the diagnosis and surveillance of these respiratory viruses are critically needed to guide the use of available therapeutics, the allocation of hospital as well as community resources, and the targeting of vaccination in addition to behavioral change campaigns by public health officials to mitigate their spread. Furthermore, since many of these respiratory viruses have limited therapeutic options and lack effective vaccines, there is an urgent need for further research into the biology of these viruses to help guide the development of effective strategies for the treatment and prevention of infection.

This Special Issue of Viruses seeks to attract original research and review articles focused on (1) advances and innovations in the development of highly sensitive diagnostic tests for the early detection of human respiratory virus infections; (2) timely findings on the epidemiology and transmission of human respiratory viruses; (3) the development and clinical trials of new vaccines, antivirals, and immunotherapeutics for influenza, RSV, coronaviruses, and other clinically relevant human respiratory viruses; (4) studies detailing the effectiveness and/or immunogenicity of existing vaccines; and (5) mitigation measures or strategies to reduce viral transmission/community spread, disease incidence in at-risk populations, and cross-species transmission.

Dr. Eric Yager
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • influenza
  • adenovirus
  • coronoavirus
  • respiratory syncytial virus
  • rhinovirus
  • respiratory virus
  • antiviral strategies
  • epidemiology
  • diagnosis
  • treatment
  • vaccination
  • surveillance
  • vaccine development

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 504 KiB  
Communication
Impact of the H274Y Substitution on N1, N4, N5, and N8 Neuraminidase Enzymatic Properties and Expression in Reverse Genetic Influenza A Viruses
by Alexandre Gaymard, Caroline Picard, Guilhem Vazzoler, Pascale Massin, Emilie Frobert, Murielle Sabatier, Mendy Barthelemy, Martine Valette, Michèle Ottmann, Jean-Sébastien Casalegno, Bruno Lina and Vanessa Escuret
Viruses 2024, 16(3), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16030388 - 01 Mar 2024
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Abstract
The H274Y substitution (N2 numbering) in neuraminidase (NA) N1 confers oseltamivir resistance to A(H1N1) influenza viruses. This resistance has been associated with reduced N1 expression using transfected cells, but the effect of this substitution on the enzymatic properties and on the expression of [...] Read more.
The H274Y substitution (N2 numbering) in neuraminidase (NA) N1 confers oseltamivir resistance to A(H1N1) influenza viruses. This resistance has been associated with reduced N1 expression using transfected cells, but the effect of this substitution on the enzymatic properties and on the expression of other group-1-NA subtypes is unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antiviral resistance, enzymatic properties, and expression of wild-type (WT) and H274Y-substituted NA for each group-1-NA. To this end, viruses with WT or H274Y-substituted NA (N1pdm09 or avian N4, N5 or N8) were generated by reverse genetics, and for each reverse-genetic virus, antiviral susceptibility, NA affinity (Km), and maximum velocity (Vm) were measured. The enzymatic properties were coupled with NA quantification on concentrated reverse genetic viruses using mass spectrometry. The H274Y-NA substitution resulted in highly reduced inhibition by oseltamivir and normal inhibition by zanamivir and laninamivir. This resistance was associated with a reduced affinity for MUNANA substrate and a conserved Vm in all viruses. NA quantification was not significantly different between viruses carrying WT or H274Y-N1, N4 or N8, but was lower for viruses carrying H274Y-N5 compared to those carrying a WT-N5. In conclusion, the H274Y-NA substitution of different group-1-NAs systematically reduced their affinity for MUNANA substrate without a significant impact on NA Vm. The impact of the H274Y-NA substitution on viral NA expression was different according to the studied NA. Full article
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10 pages, 1738 KiB  
Article
Influenza A, like Omicron SARS-CoV-2, Is Similarly Detected in Saliva or Nasopharyngeal Samples via RT-qPCR
by Hellen Abreu, Carla Adriane Royer, Carolina Gracia Poitevin, Ana Flávia Kohler, Ana Carolina Rodrigues, Sonia Mara Raboni, Meri Bordignon Nogueira, Pedro Henrique Cardoso, Monica Barcellos Arruda, Patrícia Alvarez da Silva Baptista, Ana Claudia Bonatto, Daniela Fiori Gradia, Douglas Adamoski, Emanuel Maltempi de Souza and Jaqueline Carvalho de Oliveira
Viruses 2023, 15(12), 2352; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15122352 - 30 Nov 2023
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Abstract
After the Coronavirus pandemic, the importance of virus surveillance was highlighted, reinforcing the constant necessity of discussing and updating the methods for collection and diagnoses, including for other respiratory viruses. Although the nasopharyngeal swab is the gold-standard sample for detecting and genotyping SARS-CoV-2 [...] Read more.
After the Coronavirus pandemic, the importance of virus surveillance was highlighted, reinforcing the constant necessity of discussing and updating the methods for collection and diagnoses, including for other respiratory viruses. Although the nasopharyngeal swab is the gold-standard sample for detecting and genotyping SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza viruses, its collection is uncomfortable and requires specialized teams, which can be costly. During the pandemic, non-invasive saliva samples proved to be a suitable alternative for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, but for Influenza virus the use of this sample source is not recognized yet. In addition, most SARS-CoV-2 comparisons were conducted before the Omicron variant emerged. Here, we aimed to compare Influenza A and Omicron RT-qPCR analysis of nasopharyngeal swabs and saliva self-collection in paired samples from 663 individuals. We found that both nasopharyngeal swab and saliva collection are efficient for the diagnosis of Omicron (including sub-lineages) and for Influenza A, with high sensitivity and accuracy (>90%). The kappa index is 0.938 for Influenza A and 0.905 for SARS-CoV-2. These results showed excellent agreement between the two samples reinforcing saliva samples as a reliable source for detecting Omicron and highlighting saliva as a valid sample source for Influenza detection, considering this cheaper and more comfortable alternative. Full article
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10 pages, 2849 KiB  
Case Report
Sudden Infant Death Associated with Rhinovirus Infection
by Christelle Auvray, Stéphanie Perez-Martin, Isabelle Schuffenecker, Cécile Pitoiset, Georges Tarris, Katia Ambert-Balay, Laurent Martin, Nathalie Dullier-Taillefumier, Jean-Baptiste Bour and Catherine Manoha
Viruses 2024, 16(4), 518; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16040518 - 27 Mar 2024
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Abstract
A less than one-month-old infant with symptoms of rhinitis died unexpectedly in his sleep. He was not born prematurely and had no known underlying disease. Cerebrospinal fluid, nasopharyngeal and lung samples, and rectal swab were found to be positive for subgroup A rhinovirus, [...] Read more.
A less than one-month-old infant with symptoms of rhinitis died unexpectedly in his sleep. He was not born prematurely and had no known underlying disease. Cerebrospinal fluid, nasopharyngeal and lung samples, and rectal swab were found to be positive for subgroup A rhinovirus, while the blood was negative. This case highlights the important finding that the rhinovirus, a common pathogen associated with upper respiratory tract infections, can sometimes, as the only pathogen, lead to complications such as a cerebrospinal infection and be involved in the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Vigilance is necessary in case of viral infections in the infant’s environment, and measures of hygiene and protection must be encouraged in order to reduce the risk of the SIDS. Full article
9 pages, 1132 KiB  
Brief Report
Temporal Shift of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus Epidemic Peak for the Years 2020–2023 in Marseille, Southern France
by Lucille Claire De Maria, Philippe Colson, Aurélie Morand, Noémie Vanel, Didier Stoupan, Bernard La Scola and Céline Boschi
Viruses 2023, 15(8), 1671; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15081671 - 31 Jul 2023
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Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus is among the most common causes of respiratory infections. Typically, this viral infection has a seasonality during the cold months but with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic this has been considerably modified. Here, we studied the epidemiology of this virus in university [...] Read more.
Respiratory syncytial virus is among the most common causes of respiratory infections. Typically, this viral infection has a seasonality during the cold months but with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic this has been considerably modified. Here, we studied the epidemiology of this virus in university hospitals of Marseille, South of France, over the period 2020 to 2023. We tested in our laboratory from July 2020 to October 2021 16,516 nasopharyngeal swabs from 16,468 patients for RSV infection using different qPCR assays. We then analyzed data from previous and subsequent winters (from 2018 to 2023) and previous summers (from 2015 to 2021). A total of 676 patients were RSV-positive; their mean age was 3 years and 91 were under 5 years of age. We observed a delay of 4 months of the RSV epidemic’s onset compared to other years with an epidemic that peaked in March 2021. We had significantly more RSV-positive cases during summer 2021 compared to previous summers, whereas the incidence of RSV infections was not significantly higher during winter 2022 versus previous winters. Moreover, 494 patients were diagnosed as RSV-positive in the emergency unit and 181 were subsequently hospitalized, and 34 patients were diagnosed RSV-positive while already in the intensive care unit. Over all the study periods, 38 patients diagnosed as RSV-positive died, the majority of whom (23/28) were over 65 years of age. These data show an atypical evolution of the incidence of RSV infections in our city and is another example of the unpredictability of infectious disease epidemiology. Full article
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