Optimized Mouse Model for the Imaging of Tumor Metastasis upon Experimental Therapy

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Mutation of the Fiber Shaft Heparan Sulphate Binding Site of a 5/3 Chimeric Adenovirus Reduces Liver Tropism

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Defects in Innate Immunity Render Breast Cancer Initiating Cells Permissive to Oncolytic Adenovirus

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Behavioral, Physiologic, and Habitat Influences on the Dynamics of Puumala virus Infection in Bank Voles (Clethrionomys glareolus)

Populations of bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) were monitored during a 4-year study in southern Belgium to assess the influence of agonistic behavior, reproductive status, mobility, and distribution of the rodents on the dynamics of Puumala virus (abbreviation: PUUV; genus: Hantavirus) infection. Concordance was high between data from serologic testing and results of viral RNA detection. Wounds resulting from biting or scratching were observed mainly in adult rodents. Hantavirus infection in adults was associated with wounds in the fall, i.e., at the end of the breeding season, but not in spring. In addition, sexually active animals were significantly more often wounded and positive for infection. Hantavirus infection was associated with higher mobility in juvenile and subadult males. Seroconversions observed 6 months apart also occurred more frequently in animals that had moved longer distances from their original capture point. During nonepidemic years, the distribution of infection was patchy, and positive foci were mainly located in dense ground vegetation

Adenoviruses with an alpha(v)beta integrin targeting moiety in the fiber shaft or the HI-loop increase tumor specificity without compromising antitumor efficacy in magnetic resonance imaging of colorectal cancer metastases

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Hantavirus Infections

Hantaviruses are the causative agents of the zoonotic diseases known as haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Europe and Asia, and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in the Americas. These pathogens are maintained in the wild by rodent reservoirs and are mainly transmitted via the aerosol route. The infection is chronic and apparently asymptomatic in host animals. Whilst HFRS is caused by Hantaan, Seoul, Dobrava and Puumala hantaviruses, HPS is associated with Sin Nombre-like viruses. Common clinical features of HFRS and HPS include fever, myalgia, thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis and a capillary leak syndrome associated with shock in most severe cases. Outbreaks of HFRS and HPS are generally observed during years with dense rodent populations resulting from favourable climatic and environmental conditions. Human activities, such as rodent trapping, farming, cleaning rodent-infested areas, construction work, camping and hunting, are also implicated in the occurrence of hantavirus disease. Prophylactic measures in endemic areas rely essentially on information campaigns and rodent control

Hantaviruses: Molecular evolution and epidemiology of infection

Hantaviruses belong to the Bunyaviridae family and are responsible for human diseases called haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Asia and Europe, and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in Americas. Hantaviruses are carried by wild rodents and have been co-evolving with their hosts for millions of years. The genetic diversity among hantaviruses is linked to the specificity of the reservoirs and to their geographical distribution. Host rodents are chronically infected and spread the virus in saliva, urine and faeces. Humans are generally contaminated by inhalation of viral particles from infected material. In Europe, Puumala (PUU) virus is responsible for a mild form of HFRS, called nephropathia epidemica (NE), and Dobrava (DOB) virus causes more severe symptoms that may lead to the death of the patients. Until now, no vaccine against hantaviruses has been available in Europe

Hantavirus epidemiology in red bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus)

Hantavirus disease is an anthropozoonosis caused by a hemorrhagic fever virus. In Western Europe, the etiologic agent is Puumala virus whose main vector is the red bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus). Hantaviral outbreaks are chiefly observed in woodlands and during years with dense local population of bank voles, increasing the risk of direct or indirect contact with men. In these rodents, infection is not associated with clinical signs. Infectious viruses present in saliva, urine and feces are transmitted by aerosol or bites. The percentage of infected bank voles and the occurrence of disease in men are closely related to the rodent population size. Hantavirus disease mainly occurs in autumn and spring: this seasonality is partly due to changes in the size and structure of bank voles communities. Human activities are also implied in hantavirus disease appearance. Each serotype has its specific main rodent reservoir. However other species may secondarily carry the virus. In domestic animals, cats and swines are the only recognized positive species for hantavirus in Western Europe