Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Farmed Mink (Neovison vison), Poland

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiologic agent of coronavirus disease and has been spreading worldwide since December 2019. The virus can infect different animal species under experimental conditions, and mink on fur farms in Europe and other areas are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. We investigated SARS-CoV-2 infection in 91 mink from a farm in northern Poland. Using reverse transcription PCR, antigen detection, and next-generation sequencing, we confirmed that 15 animals were positive for SARS-CoV-2. We verified this finding by sequencing full viral genomes and confirmed a virus variant that has sporadic mutations through the full genome sequence in the spike protein (G75V and C1247F). We were unable to find other SARS-CoV-2 sequences simultaneously containing these 2 mutations. Country-scale monitoring by veterinary inspection should be implemented to detect SARS-CoV-2 in other mink farms.Peer reviewe

Detection of Newcastle Disease Virus Minor Genetic Variants by Modified Single-Stranded Conformational Polymorphism Analysis

Newcastle disease and Avian Influenza are considered to be the most dangerous fowl diseases which may cause huge economic losses. Newcastle disease is caused by the enveloped, and single-stranded RNA virus (NDV, APMV-1; belonging to Paramyxoviridae family), which can be further divided into sixteen different genotypes grouped into five pathotypes according to their pathogenicity. It has been reported that low pathogenic virus can greatly increase its pathogenicity even during a single passage. Additionally, due to the widespread use of live vaccines, a mixture of two or more different viruses in one sample can be detected. Hence, there is a great need for establishment of fast, inexpensive, sensitive, and relatively simple diagnostic method for multistrain and quasispecies detection of NDV infection. In this paper we describe a diagnostic method based on RT-PCR followed by a modified version of single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis using short DNA fragments of gene encoding viral F protein. The method allows for rapid diagnosis of genetic variant emerging from previously stable population which may prevent the spread of the pathogenic viral variant

Biological Evaluation of Uridine Derivatives of 2-Deoxy Sugars as Potential Antiviral Compounds against Influenza A Virus

Influenza virus infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Due to the limited ability of currently available treatments, there is an urgent need for new anti-influenza drugs with broad spectrum protection. We have previously shown that two 2-deoxy sugar derivatives of uridine (designated IW3 and IW7) targeting the glycan processing steps during maturation of viral glycoproteins show good anti-influenza virus activity and may be a promising alternative approach for the development of new anti-influenza therapy. In this study, a number of IW3 and IW7 analogues with different structural modifications in 2-deoxy sugar or uridine parts were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit influenza A virus infection in vitro. Using the cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition assay and viral plaque reduction assay in vitro, we showed that compounds 2, 3, and 4 exerted the most inhibitory effect on influenza virus A/ostrich/Denmark/725/96 (H5N2) infection in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for virus growth ranging from 82 to 100 (μM) without significant toxicity for the cells. The most active compound (2) showed activity of 82 μM with a selectivity index value of 5.27 against type A (H5N2) virus. Additionally, compound 2 reduced the formation of HA glycoprotein in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, an analysis of physicochemical properties of studied compounds demonstrated a significant linear correlation between lipophilicity and antiviral activity. Therefore, inhibition of influenza A virus infection by conjugates of uridine and 2-deoxy sugars is a new promising approach for the development of new derivatives with anti-influenza activities

Anti-Hepatitis C Virus Activity of Uridine Derivatives of 2-Deoxy Sugars

Hepatitis C virus (HCV), the etiological agent of the most common and dangerous diseases of the liver, is a major health problem worldwide. Despite many attempts, there is still no vaccine available. Although many drugs have been approved for use mostly in combination regimen, their high costs make them out of reach in less developed regions. Previously, we have synthesized a series of compounds belonging to uridine derivatives of 2-deoxy sugars and have proved that some of them possess antiviral activity against influenza A virus associated with N-glycosylation inhibition. Here, we analyze the antiviral properties of these compounds against HCV. Using cell culture-derived HCV (HCVcc), HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp), and replicon cell lines, we have shown high anti-HCV activity of two compounds. Our results indicated that compounds 2 and 4 significantly reduced HCVcc propagation with IC50 values in low μM range. Further experiments using the HCVpp system confirmed that both compounds significantly impaired the infectivity of produced HCVpp due to the inhibition of the correct maturation of viral glycoproteins. Overall, our results suggest that inhibiting the glycosylation process might be a good target for new therapeutics not only against HCV, but other important viral pathogens which contain envelopes with highly glycosylated proteins

Coding-complete genome sequences of six influenza type A strains circulating in Lithuania in the 2009-2010 epidemic season

Here, we report the coding-complete genome sequences of six influenza A(H1N1) strains that were detected in Vilnius, Lithuania, among patients exhibiting influenza-like symptoms during the 2009-2010 epidemic season, within national influenza surveillance. Several mutations were found in genes encoding hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, in comparison with the A/California/07/2009 reference strain (GenBank accession numbers NC_026433 and NC_026434)

Baculovirus biopesticides – a safe alternative to chemical protection of plants

ABSTRACT Chemical pest control agents, though extensively used in all countries of the world, have been widely regarded as ecologically unacceptable. Therefore, there is the increased social pressure to replace them gradually with biopesticides which are safe to humans and non-target organisms. Viruses of a few families infect invertebrates but only those belonging to the family Baculoviridae have been used as biopesticides because they are safe to wildlife and their specificity is very narrow. Until recently, the application as bioinsectides was limited because of their slow killing action and technical problems for in vitro commercial production. However, successful protection of large area of soybean fields in Brazil revived the interest in baculoviruses as effective agents for biocontrol and the wider application for pest control is very likely to occur in future. To improve baculovirus killing properties, two approaches can be foreseen: i) in countries where use of genetically modified organisms is restricted, changes in biopesticide formulations and the improvements of the in vitro production are to be expected, ii) in countries with more relaxed attitude towards genetically modified organisms, the killing activity of baculoviruses will be improved by genetic modifications of the baculovirus genome

Antiviral Activity of Uridine Derivatives of 2-Deoxy Sugars against Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), one of the most important human infections involving the central nervous system. Although effective vaccines are available on the market, they are recommended only in endemic areas. Despite many attempts, there are still no specific antiviral therapies for TBEV treatment. Previously, we synthesized a series of uridine derivatives of 2-deoxy sugars and proved that some compounds show antiviral activity against viruses from the Flaviviridae and Orthomyxoviridae families targeting the late steps of the N-glycosylation process, affecting the maturation of viral proteins. In this study, we evaluated a series of uridine derivatives of 2-deoxy sugars for their antiviral properties against two strains of the tick-borne encephalitis virus; the highly virulent TBEV strain Hypr and the less virulent strain Neudoerfl. Four compounds (2, 4, 10, and 11) showed significant anti-TBEV activity with IC50 values ranging from 1.4 to 10.2 µM and low cytotoxicity. The obtained results indicate that glycosylation inhibitors, which may interact with glycosylated membrane TBEV E and prM proteins, might be promising candidates for future antiviral therapies against TBEV