PeerJ Preprints: Virologyhttps://peerj.com/preprints/index.atom?journal=peerj&subject=3000Virology articles published in PeerJ PreprintsAn analysis of the mechanism of aging: endogenous viral stimulus and the deleterious effect of chronic inflammationhttps://peerj.com/preprints/274412019-09-132019-09-13Chingis Ochirov
This article describes a putative mechanism of aging based on the interaction of endogenous viral particles with the receptors of the innate immune system leading to producing pro-inflammatory cytokines. The innate immune response induces a complex of signaling pathways leading to senescence or tumorigenesis. The fate of a cell is depended on the activity of the p53 tumor-suppressive signaling pathway. Chronic inflammation is characterized by upregulation of the NF-kB signaling. The NF-kB protein stimulates the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) leading to remodeling of extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix alterations induce the loss of stem cell environment and their depletion. The innate immune system also mediates the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway that inhibits autophagy and transforms energy metabolism providing cell senescence, high level of blood glucose, high lipid synthesis and mitochondrial alterations. The STAT3-HIF1 signaling pathway suppresses oxidative phosphorylation increasing ROS production and promoting the MAPK pathway leading to excessive cell proliferation. The increased ROS production causes the global DNA and histone demethylation contributing to retrotransposon reactivation whose activity leads to genome instability. However, the activity of retrotransposons may be partly explained by their role in adaptation. Among retrotransposons, endogenous retroviruses may be considered as an intrinsic stimulus for the innate immune system and are also able to avoid the adaptive immune system. Therefore, I consider endogenous retroviruses as promising targets in anti-aging therapies
This article describes a putative mechanism of aging based on the interaction of endogenous viral particles with the receptors of the innate immune system leading to producing pro-inflammatory cytokines. The innate immune response induces a complex of signaling pathways leading to senescence or tumorigenesis. The fate of a cell is depended on the activity of the p53 tumor-suppressive signaling pathway. Chronic inflammation is characterized by upregulation of the NF-kB signaling. The NF-kB protein stimulates the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) leading to remodeling of extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix alterations induce the loss of stem cell environment and their depletion. The innate immune system also mediates the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway that inhibits autophagy and transforms energy metabolism providing cell senescence, high level of blood glucose, high lipid synthesis and mitochondrial alterations. The STAT3-HIF1 signaling pathway suppresses oxidative phosphorylation increasing ROS production and promoting the MAPK pathway leading to excessive cell proliferation. The increased ROS production causes the global DNA and histone demethylation contributing to retrotransposon reactivation whose activity leads to genome instability. However, the activity of retrotransposons may be partly explained by their role in adaptation. Among retrotransposons, endogenous retroviruses may be considered as an intrinsic stimulus for the innate immune system and are also able to avoid the adaptive immune system. Therefore, I consider endogenous retroviruses as promising targets in anti-aging therapiesBenchmarking protocols for the metagenomic analysis of stream biofilm viromeshttps://peerj.com/preprints/279142019-08-232019-08-23Meriem BeklizJade BrandaniMassimo BourquinTom BattinHannes Peter
Viruses drive microbial diversity, function and evolution and influence important biogeochemical cycles in aquatic ecosystems. Despite their relevance, we currently lack an understanding of their potential impacts on stream biofilm structure and function. This is surprising given the critical role of biofilms for stream ecosystem processes. Currently, the study of viruses in stream biofilms is hindered by the lack of an optimized protocol for their extraction, concentration and purification. Here, we evaluate a range of methods to separate viral particles from stream biofilms, and to concentrate and purify them prior to DNA extraction and metagenome sequencing. Based on epifluorescence microscopy counts of viral-like particles (VLP) and DNA yields, we optimize a protocol including treatment with tetrasodium pyrophosphate and ultra-sonication to disintegrate biofilms, tangential-flow filtration to extract and concentrate VLP, followed by ultracentrifugation in a sucrose density gradient to isolate VLP from the biofilm slurry. Viromes derived from biofilms sampled from three different streams were dominated by Siphoviridae, Myoviridae and Podoviridae and provide first insights into the viral diversity of stream biofilms. Our protocol optimization provides an important step towards a better understanding of the ecological role of viruses in stream biofilms.
Viruses drive microbial diversity, function and evolution and influence important biogeochemical cycles in aquatic ecosystems. Despite their relevance, we currently lack an understanding of their potential impacts on stream biofilm structure and function. This is surprising given the critical role of biofilms for stream ecosystem processes. Currently, the study of viruses in stream biofilms is hindered by the lack of an optimized protocol for their extraction, concentration and purification. Here, we evaluate a range of methods to separate viral particles from stream biofilms, and to concentrate and purify them prior to DNA extraction and metagenome sequencing. Based on epifluorescence microscopy counts of viral-like particles (VLP) and DNA yields, we optimize a protocol including treatment with tetrasodium pyrophosphate and ultra-sonication to disintegrate biofilms, tangential-flow filtration to extract and concentrate VLP, followed by ultracentrifugation in a sucrose density gradient to isolate VLP from the biofilm slurry. Viromes derived from biofilms sampled from three different streams were dominated by Siphoviridae, Myoviridae and Podoviridae and provide first insights into the viral diversity of stream biofilms. Our protocol optimization provides an important step towards a better understanding of the ecological role of viruses in stream biofilms.New mutations of env gene and its impact on virulence properties for Bovine leukemia virushttps://peerj.com/preprints/279022019-08-152019-08-15Natalia BlazhkoSultan VyshegurovAlexander DonchenkoKirill ShatokhinValeria RyabininaKirill PlotnikovAlevtina Khodakova
This study is the biodiversity and properties of bovine leukemia virus in Western Siberia. The researchers focused on exploring the polymorphism of the env gene and, in doing so, discovered the new genotypes Ia and Ib, which differ from genotype I. Restrictase Hae III sections the nucleotide sequence of the env gene intofragments with lengths of 316-27-95-5 bp (genotype I), 31-285-27-95-5 bp (genotype Ia), and 31-85-200-27-100 bp (genotype Ib). There are 2.57±0.55% (20 out of 779) samples of genotype Ib which does not differ significantly from 1% (χ2=2.46). Other genotypes were observed in the cattle of Siberia as wild type genotypes (their frequency varied from 17.84 to 32.73 %). This paper explores the effect of the env gene of the cattle leukemia virus on hematological parameters of infected animals. The maximum viral load was observed in animals with the II and IV viral genotypes (1000 – 1400 viral particles per 1000 healthy cells), and the minimum viral load was observed animals with genotype Ib (from 700 to 900 viral particles per 1000 healthy cells). Several hypotheses on the origin of the different genotypes in Siberia are discussed. The probability of the direct introduction of genotype II from South America to Siberia is extremely small and it is more likely that the strain originated independently in an autonomous population with its distribution also occurring independently. A new variety of genotype I (Ib) was found, which can be both a neoplasm and a relict strain.
This study is the biodiversity and properties of bovine leukemia virus in Western Siberia. The researchers focused on exploring the polymorphism of the env gene and, in doing so, discovered the new genotypes Ia and Ib, which differ from genotype I. Restrictase Hae III sections the nucleotide sequence of the env gene intofragments with lengths of 316-27-95-5 bp (genotype I), 31-285-27-95-5 bp (genotype Ia), and 31-85-200-27-100 bp (genotype Ib). There are 2.57±0.55% (20 out of 779) samples of genotype Ib which does not differ significantly from 1% (χ2=2.46). Other genotypes were observed in the cattle of Siberia as wild type genotypes (their frequency varied from 17.84 to 32.73 %). This paper explores the effect of the env gene of the cattle leukemia virus on hematological parameters of infected animals. The maximum viral load was observed in animals with the II and IV viral genotypes (1000 – 1400 viral particles per 1000 healthy cells), and the minimum viral load was observed animals with genotype Ib(from 700 to 900 viral particles per 1000 healthy cells). Several hypotheses on the origin of the different genotypes in Siberia are discussed. The probability of the direct introduction of genotype II from South America to Siberia is extremely small and it is more likely that the strain originated independently in an autonomous population with its distribution also occurring independently. A new variety of genotype I (Ib) was found, which can be both a neoplasm and a relict strain.Bacteriophages of Klebsiella spp., their diversity and potential therapeutic useshttps://peerj.com/preprints/278902019-08-092019-08-09Warren P HerridgePreetha ShibuJessica O'SheaThomas C BrookLesley Hoyles
Klebsiella spp. are commensals of the human microbiota, and a leading cause of opportunistic nosocomial infections. The incidence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae causing serious infections is increasing, and K. oxytoca is an emerging pathogen. Alternative strategies to tackle infections caused by these bacteria are required as strains become resistant to last-resort antibiotics such as colistin. Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that can infect and kill bacteria. They and their gene products are now being considered as alternatives or adjuncts to antimicrobial therapies. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown the potential for lytic phages to combat MDR K. pneumoniae infections. Ready access to cheap sequencing technologies has led to a large increase in the number of genomes available for Klebsiella-infecting phages, with these phages heterogeneous at the whole-genome level. This review summarises our current knowledge on phages of Klebsiella spp. and highlights technological and biological issues relevant to the development of phage-based therapies targeting these bacteria.
Klebsiella spp. are commensals of the human microbiota, and a leading cause of opportunistic nosocomial infections. The incidence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae causing serious infections is increasing, and K. oxytoca is an emerging pathogen. Alternative strategies to tackle infections caused by these bacteria are required as strains become resistant to last-resort antibiotics such as colistin. Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that can infect and kill bacteria. They and their gene products are now being considered as alternatives or adjuncts to antimicrobial therapies. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown the potential for lytic phages to combat MDR K. pneumoniae infections. Ready access to cheap sequencing technologies has led to a large increase in the number of genomes available for Klebsiella-infecting phages, with these phages heterogeneous at the whole-genome level. This review summarises our current knowledge on phages of Klebsiella spp. and highlights technological and biological issues relevant to the development of phage-based therapies targeting these bacteria.A novel computational approach to the silencing of Sugarcane Bacilliform Guadeloupe A Virus determines potential host-derived MicroRNAs in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)https://peerj.com/preprints/278422019-07-042019-07-04Fakiha AshrafMuhammad Aleem AshrafXiaowen HuShuzhen Zhang
Sugarcane Bacilliform Guadeloupe A Virus (SCBGAV, genus Badnavirus, family Caulimoviridae) is an emerging, deleterious pathogen of sugarcane which presents a substantial barrier to producing high sugarcane earnings. The circular, double-stranded (ds) DNA genome of SCBGAV (7.4 Kb) is composed of three open reading frames (ORF) that replicate by a reverse transcriptase. In the current study, we used miRNA target prediction algorithms to identify and comprehensively analyze the genome-wide sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)-encoded microRNA (miRNA) targets against the SCBGAV. A total of 28 potential mature target miRNAs were retrieved from the miRBase database and were further analyzed for hybridization to the SCBGAV genome. Multiple computational approaches—including miRNA-target seed pairing, multiple target positions, minimum free energy, target site accessibility, maximum complementarity, pattern recognition and minimum folding energy for attachments— were considered by all algorithms. Only 4 sugarcane miRNAs are selected for SCBGAV silencing. Among those 4, sof-miR396 was identified as the top effective candidate, capable of targeting the vital ORF3 which encodes polyprotein of the SCBGAV genome. miRanda, RNA22 and RNAhybrid algorithms predicted hybridization of sof-miR396 at common locus position 3394. A Circos plot was created to study the network visualization of sugarcane-encoded miRNAs with SCBGAV genes determines detailed evidence for any ideal targets of SCBGAV ORFs by precise miRNAs. The present study concludes a comprehensive report towards the creation of SCBGAV-resistant sugarcane through the expression analysis of the identified miRNAs.
Sugarcane Bacilliform Guadeloupe A Virus (SCBGAV, genus Badnavirus, family Caulimoviridae) is an emerging, deleterious pathogen of sugarcane which presents a substantial barrier to producing high sugarcane earnings. The circular, double-stranded (ds) DNA genome of SCBGAV (7.4 Kb) is composed of three open reading frames (ORF) that replicate by a reverse transcriptase. In the current study, we used miRNA target prediction algorithms to identify and comprehensively analyze the genome-wide sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)-encoded microRNA (miRNA) targets against the SCBGAV. A total of 28 potential mature target miRNAs were retrieved from the miRBase database and were further analyzed for hybridization to the SCBGAV genome. Multiple computationalapproaches—including miRNA-target seed pairing, multiple target positions, minimum free energy, target site accessibility, maximum complementarity, pattern recognition and minimum folding energy for attachments— were considered by all algorithms. Only4 sugarcane miRNAs are selected for SCBGAV silencing. Among those 4, sof-miR396 was identified as the top effective candidate, capable of targeting the vital ORF3 which encodes polyprotein of the SCBGAV genome. miRanda, RNA22 and RNAhybrid algorithms predicted hybridization of sof-miR396 at common locus position 3394. A Circos plot was created to study the network visualization of sugarcane-encoded miRNAs with SCBGAV genes determines detailed evidence for any ideal targets of SCBGAV ORFs by precise miRNAs. The present study concludes a comprehensive report towards the creation of SCBGAV-resistant sugarcane through the expression analysis of the identified miRNAs.Epidemiological scenario of Dengue in the state of Manipur during the last 3 yearshttps://peerj.com/preprints/277862019-06-062019-06-06Leimapokpam Shivadutta SinghRajkumar Manojkumar SinghHuidrom Lokhendro Singh
Background. In recent years, Dengue has been emerging as a global health problem with approximately 2.5 billion people being affected by it .In the last 50 years, the incidence of dengue infection has increased 30-fold, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that 96 million cases of dengue occur annually. The epidemiology of dengue fever (DF) is complex in the Indian subcontinent as all the four serotypes are circulating. And there is no systematic epidemiological study done on dengue cases in Manipur, a north-eastern state of India. This study is therefore done to report observations on dengue cases from a virus diagnostic and research laboratory of Manipur to present an epidemiological scenario of the state for the last three years. Method. We used the dengue data extracted from the laboratory register of Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) from 2016 to 2018. All suspected outpatient and inpatients dengue cases from public and private health services are included in the VRDL database whose informed consent were obtained. We evaluated the overall features of the data for generating seasonal pattern, geographical pattern, gender wise distribution, age wise distribution and seroprevelance pattern of dengue cases for the study period from 2016 to 2018. Results. A total of 1689 cases of suspected patients of dengue virus infection were tested for dengue ELISA test and 272(16.10%) samples were found to be seropositive. The month wise distribution of dengue cases is quite an interesting as the three years of study shows variant pattern in observation. In all the three years dengue seropositive cases were seen higher in male population. But there is no significant value to the positivity of dengue seropositive towards male than female (The chi-square statistic is 2.1314.The p-value is .344481. The result is not significant at p < .05.). Conclusion. Our study presents a comparative epidemiological study on seroprevelance of dengue in the state of Manipur from the year 2016 to 2018. The findings in the present study extend the knowledge of the geographical distribution and seroprevelance of dengue in the state of Manipur for the last three years. This is an attempt to present epidemiological dengue seroprevelance in the state of Manipur which in future would be a reference from public health concerns for taking up necessary action plan to curtail the spread of dengue.
Background. In recent years, Dengue has been emerging as a global health problem with approximately 2.5 billion people being affected by it .In the last 50 years, the incidence of dengue infection has increased 30-fold, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that 96 million cases of dengue occur annually. The epidemiology of dengue fever (DF) is complex in the Indian subcontinent as all the four serotypes are circulating. And there is no systematic epidemiological study done on dengue cases in Manipur, a north-eastern state of India. This study is therefore done to report observations on dengue cases from a virus diagnostic and research laboratory of Manipur to present an epidemiological scenario of the state for the last three years. Method. We used the dengue data extracted from the laboratory register of Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) from 2016 to 2018. All suspected outpatient and inpatients dengue cases from public and private health services are included in the VRDL database whose informed consent were obtained. We evaluated the overall features of the data for generating seasonal pattern, geographical pattern, gender wise distribution, age wise distribution and seroprevelance pattern of dengue cases for the study period from 2016 to 2018. Results. A total of 1689 cases of suspected patients of dengue virus infection were tested for dengue ELISA test and 272(16.10%) samples were found to be seropositive. The month wise distribution of dengue cases is quite an interesting as the three years of study shows variant pattern in observation. In all the three years dengue seropositive cases were seen higher in male population. But there is no significant value to the positivity of dengue seropositive towards male than female (The chi-square statistic is 2.1314.The p-value is .344481. The result is not significant at p < .05.). Conclusion. Our study presents a comparative epidemiological study on seroprevelance of dengue in the state of Manipur from the year 2016 to 2018. The findings in the present study extend the knowledge of the geographical distribution and seroprevelance of dengue in the state of Manipur for the last three years. This is an attempt to present epidemiological dengue seroprevelance in the state of Manipur which in future would be a reference from public health concerns for taking up necessary action plan to curtail the spread of dengue.Towards optimized viral metagenomes for double-stranded and single-stranded DNA viruses from challenging soilshttps://peerj.com/preprints/276402019-04-062019-04-06Gareth TrublSimon RouxNatalie SolonenkoYueh-Fen LiBenjamin BolducJosué Rodríguez-RamosEmiley A. Eloe-FadroshVirginia I. RichMatthew B. Sullivan
Soils impact global carbon cycling and their resident microbes are critical to their biogeochemical processing and ecosystem outputs. Based on studies in marine systems, viruses infecting soil microbes likely modulate host activities via mortality, horizontal gene transfer, and metabolic control. However, their roles remain largely unexplored due to technical challenges with separating, isolating, and extracting DNA from viruses in soils. Some of these challenges have been overcome by using whole genome amplification methods and while these have allowed insights into the identities of soil viruses and their genomes, their inherit biases have prevented meaningful ecological interpretations. Here we experimentally optimized steps for generating quantitatively-amplified viral metagenomes to better capture both ssDNA and dsDNA viruses across three distinct soil habitats along a permafrost thaw gradient. First, we assessed differing DNA extraction methods (PowerSoil, Wizard mini columns, and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide) for quantity and quality of viral DNA. This established PowerSoil as best for yield and quality of DNA from our samples, though ~1/3 of the viral populations captured by each extraction kit were unique, suggesting appreciable differential biases among DNA extraction kits. Second, we evaluated the impact of purifying viral particles after resuspension (by cesium chloride gradients; CsCl) and of viral lysis method (heat vs bead-beating) on the resultant viromes. DNA yields after CsCl particle-purification were largely non-detectable, while unpurified samples yielded 1–2-fold more DNA after lysis by heat than by bead-beating. Virome quality was assessed by the number and size of metagenome-assembled viral contigs, which showed no increase after CsCl-purification, but did from heat lysis relative to bead-beating. We also evaluated sample preparation protocols for ssDNA virus recovery. In both CsCl-purified and non-purified samples, ssDNA viruses were successfully recovered by using the Accel-NGS 1S Plus Library Kit. While ssDNA viruses were identified in all three soil types, none were identified in the samples that used bead-beating, suggesting this lysis method may impact recovery. Further, 13 ssDNA vOTUs were identified compared to 582 dsDNA vOTUs, and the ssDNA vOTUs only accounted for ~4% of the assembled reads, implying dsDNA viruses were dominant in these samples. This optimized approach was combined with the previously published viral resuspension protocol into a sample-to-virome protocol for soils now available at protocols.io, where community feedback creates ‘living’ protocols. This collective approach will be particularly valuable given the high physicochemical variability of soils, which will may require considerable soil type-specific optimization. This optimized protocol provides a starting place for developing quantitatively-amplified viromic datasets and will help enable viral ecogenomic studies on organic-rich soils.
Soils impact global carbon cycling and their resident microbes are critical to their biogeochemical processing and ecosystem outputs. Based on studies in marine systems, viruses infecting soil microbes likely modulate host activities via mortality, horizontal gene transfer, and metabolic control. However, their roles remain largely unexplored due to technical challenges with separating, isolating, and extracting DNA from viruses in soils. Some of these challenges have been overcome by using whole genome amplification methods and while these have allowed insights into the identities of soil viruses and their genomes, their inherit biases have prevented meaningful ecological interpretations. Here we experimentally optimized steps for generating quantitatively-amplified viral metagenomes to better capture both ssDNA and dsDNA viruses across three distinct soil habitats along a permafrost thaw gradient. First, we assessed differing DNA extraction methods (PowerSoil, Wizard mini columns, and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide) for quantity and quality of viral DNA. This established PowerSoil as best for yield and quality of DNA from our samples, though ~1/3 of the viral populations captured by each extraction kit were unique, suggesting appreciable differential biases among DNA extraction kits. Second, we evaluated the impact of purifying viral particles after resuspension (by cesium chloride gradients; CsCl) and of viral lysis method (heat vs bead-beating) on the resultant viromes. DNA yields after CsCl particle-purification were largely non-detectable, while unpurified samples yielded 1–2-fold more DNA after lysis by heat than by bead-beating. Virome quality was assessed by the number and size of metagenome-assembled viral contigs, which showed no increase after CsCl-purification, but did from heat lysis relative to bead-beating. We also evaluated sample preparation protocols for ssDNA virus recovery. In both CsCl-purified and non-purified samples, ssDNA viruses were successfully recovered by using the Accel-NGS 1S Plus Library Kit. While ssDNA viruses were identified in all three soil types, none were identified in the samples that used bead-beating, suggesting this lysis method may impact recovery. Further, 13 ssDNA vOTUs were identified compared to 582 dsDNA vOTUs, and the ssDNA vOTUs only accounted for ~4% of the assembled reads, implying dsDNA viruses were dominant in these samples. This optimized approach was combined with the previously published viral resuspension protocol into a sample-to-virome protocol for soils now available at protocols.io, where community feedback creates ‘living’ protocols. This collective approach will be particularly valuable given the high physicochemical variability of soils, which will may require considerable soil type-specific optimization. This optimized protocol provides a starting place for developing quantitatively-amplified viromic datasets and will help enable viral ecogenomic studies on organic-rich soils.A short history of the CaMV 35S promoterhttps://peerj.com/preprints/270962019-02-282019-02-28Marc Somssich
In an organism, be it plant, animal or human, almost every gene has its own promoter sequence, which is typified as a DNA stretch that controls how a gene is expressed in a cell. Hence, the activity of a promoter controls in which cell type, during which developmental stage or during what environmental condition a certain gene is expressed. However, the most widely used promoter in plant biotechnology is actually not derived from a plant, but a pathogenic virus. How and why did that happen? Here's a short history of the CaMV 35S promoter.
In an organism, be it plant, animal or human, almost every gene has its own promoter sequence, which is typified as a DNA stretch that controls how a gene is expressed in a cell. Hence, the activity of a promoter controls in which cell type, during which developmental stage or during what environmental condition a certain gene is expressed. However, the most widely used promoter in plant biotechnology is actually not derived from a plant, but a pathogenic virus. How and why did that happen? Here's a short history of the CaMV 35S promoter.Approach to a highly-virulent emerging viral epidemic: A thought experiment and literature reviewhttps://peerj.com/preprints/275182019-02-052019-02-05Mohamed AmgadYousef A FouadMaha AT Elsebaie
What are the immunological facets of a highly successful viral epidemic, and what are likely successful strategies that can be used to counter its spread? Unlike many challenges in biology and public policy, viral epidemics are unique in that they require swift response, and quick application of existing knowledge to infer the underlying biology of a new pathological agent. This essay contextualizes the experience and findings from the viral immunology literature to respond to a hypothetical (yet likely) emerging viral epidemic. It begins with a review of the causes of some defining features of highly virulent viral epidemics, including causes of mortality, viral virulence, and immune evasion and suppression tactics. We provide an overview of lines of investigation to characterize emerging viral epidemics, including a brief survey of clinical and biological assays for immune surveillance and in-depth interrogation of viral biology. Finally, we provide a broad overview of management and vaccine development response strategies.
What are the immunological facets of a highly successful viral epidemic, and what are likely successful strategies that can be used to counter its spread? Unlike many challenges in biology and public policy, viral epidemics are unique in that they require swift response, and quick application of existing knowledge to infer the underlying biology of a new pathological agent. This essay contextualizes the experience and findings from the viral immunology literature to respond to a hypothetical (yet likely) emerging viral epidemic. It begins with a review of the causes of some defining features of highly virulent viral epidemics, including causes of mortality, viral virulence, and immune evasion and suppression tactics. We provide an overview of lines of investigation to characterize emerging viral epidemics, including a brief survey of clinical and biological assays for immune surveillance and in-depth interrogation of viral biology. Finally, we provide a broad overview of management and vaccine development response strategies.Cetacean morbillivirus, a journey from land to sea and vice versahttps://peerj.com/preprints/274872019-01-152019-01-15Giovanni Di GuardoSandro Mazzariol
Cetacean Morbillivirus, the most relevant pathogen impacting the health and conservation of cetaceans worldwide, has shown in recent years an increased tendency to cross “interspecies barriers”, thereby giving rise to disease and mortality outbreaks in free-ranging dolphins and whales. The present “Opinion Article” deals with the evolutionary “trajectories” of this viral pathogen, likely originating from Rinderpest Virus, along with its "journey" from land to sea (and vice versa), mimicking that of cetaceans' terrestrial ancestors.
Cetacean Morbillivirus, the most relevant pathogen impacting the health and conservation of cetaceans worldwide, has shown in recent years an increased tendency to cross “interspecies barriers”, thereby giving rise to disease and mortality outbreaks in free-ranging dolphins and whales. The present “Opinion Article” deals with the evolutionary “trajectories” of this viral pathogen, likely originating from Rinderpest Virus, along with its "journey" from land to sea (and vice versa), mimicking that of cetaceans' terrestrial ancestors.