Emerging and Re-emerging Arboviral Diseases as a Global Health Problem

Newly emerging or re-emerging infections continue to pose significant global public health threats. This chapter provides an overview of the combinations of factors that led to the emergence of arthropod-borne viruses as human and veterinary health threats, in order to understand the risk associated and how this can be mitigated. Considering the history of emergence of some arboviruses, these epidemics have occurred globally as a result of climate and socioeconomic changes that have allowed the spread to new geographical areas of viruses previously confined to specific ecological niches such as West Nile and Chikungunya, or viruses considered under control such as Dengue, Japanese encephalitis, and Yellow fever. Moreover, the greatest risk for humans derives from the ability of these viruses to adopt transmission cycles involving highly anthropophilic mosquito species. Finally, many other arboviruses are largely ignored despite their potential to emerge globally. The recent epidemic spread of Zika virus throughout the Americas is the evidence that arboviruses are likely to continually emerge and re-emerge and that improved scientific technologies and knowledge is essential to deal with future vector-borne epidemics. Research priorities should therefore focus on surveillance systems and vector control tools, as well as on the development of antiviral molecules or candidate vaccine

The baculovirus expression vector system: a modern technology for the future of influenza vaccine manufacturing

Introduction Influenza is a vaccine-preventable disease. Due to the evolving nature of influenza viruses, the composition of vaccines has to be updated annually. Most of the current influenza vaccines are still produced in embryonated chicken eggs, a well-established process with some limitations. Area covered This review focuses on the recombinant DNA technology using baculovirus expression vector system a modern method of manufacturing licensed influenza vaccines. The speed, scalability, biosafety and flexibility of the process, together with the reliability of the hemagglutinin in the vaccine, represent a significant advance toward new platforms for vaccine production. Expert opinion The scenario of vaccine production in the next years seems to be particularly interesting, involving a transition from the current egg-based production to new technologies, such as the cell culture platform, the RNA technology, the plant-based system, and the DNA vaccine. This latter offers great advantages over egg- and cell-based influenza vaccine production. The universal vaccine remains the goal of researchers and ideally would avoid the need for annual reformulation and re-administration of seasonal vaccines. The lesson learned from the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the importance of having different technologies available and able to promptly respond to a great demand of vaccines worldwide

IMPACT OF ERYTHROCYTE SPECIES ON ASSAYS FOR INFLUENZA SEROLOGY

The influenza viruses have the ability to agglutinate erythrocytes by binding to sialic acid receptors on the host cell. Human influenza viruses preferentially bind to sialic acid linked to galactose by α 2,6 linkage, while avian influenza viruses preferentially bind to sialic acid linked to Gal by 2,3 linkage. There is a close correlation between the ability of influenza A viruses to agglutinate erythrocytes from different animal species and their receptor specificity. The haemagglutination and haemagglutination inhibition assays are influenced by the species of erythrocytes. To provide an overview of the expression of sialic acid receptors on different erythrocytes, avian (turkey, chicken, pigeon) and mammalian (sheep, horse, human) species have been analysed. The erythrocytes from the same avian and mammalian species have been evaluated by haemagglutination and haemagglutination inhibition assays with seasonal and avian strains. Chicken, turkey and human erythrocytes display both types of linkages. Horse and sheep erythrocytes show almost exclusively a sialic acid α 2,3 Gal linkage, while pigeon erythrocytes express almost exclusively a sialic acid α 2,6 Gal linkage. Chicken and turkey erythrocytes seem to be the most appropriate for both assays with seasonal influenza strains, in addition to pigeon erythrocytes, particularly for the B strains. In the case of the avian strain, chicken erythrocytes are suitable for haemagglutination assay and horse erythrocytes for haemagglutination inhibition assay. The choice of erythrocytes has a significant impact on the titres measured by both assays

Toxoplasma gondii in women of childbearing age and during pregnancy: seroprevalence study in Central and Southern Italy from 2013 to 2017

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide health problem. Infection in pregnant women can result in severe fetal morbidity or in subclinical neonatal infection; most subclinical cases develop ocular and neurological sequelae. The purpose of this serological study was to assess the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in two populations of women of childbearing age in Siena (Tuscany, Central Italy) and Bari (Apulia, Southern Italy) between 2013 and 2017 and in a group of pregnant women in Bari in 2016-2017. Serum samples were tested for the presence of specific anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies by a commercially available ELISA test. The percentage of seropositive subjects in Bari was significantly higher than in Siena (22.4% vs. 12.4%) and an age-related trend was observed. A low prevalence of T. gondii infection (13.8%) was observed among the pregnant women tested. In addition to showing a significant difference between Central and Southern Italy, this study provides updated data on T. gondii seroprevalence in women during childbearing age and pregnancy. The results confirm a trend toward a decrease, especially in younger people and pregnant women

Epidemiology of herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 in Italy: a seroprevalence study over 15 years

Introduction: Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) are among the most widespread causative agents of human viral infections. HSV-2 is one of the commonest causes of genital disease, while HSV-1 is associated primarily with orolabial ulceration; however, recent changes in HSV epidemiology showed an increase in genital and neonatal herpes particularly caused by HSV-1. The main purpose of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in a random population in Siena (central Italy) in 2000, 2005 and 2013-2014 and in Bari (southern Italy) in 2005. Moreover, a preliminary study was conducted to investigate the spread of HSV infection in a population of pregnant women and infants in Bari in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Methods: Human serum samples were tested for the presence of specific anti-HSV-1 and anti-HSV-2 IgG antibodies using a commercially available ELISA test. Results and conclusions: For the primary purpose, seroprevalence rates observed in Siena were compared over the years sampled and with the seroprevalence rate found in Bari. Results of seroprevalence in Siena show a decreased trend for both viruses, especially in adolescents and young adults; moreover, HSV-2 seroprevalence rates found in the two cities suggest geographical differences. For the secondary purpose, prevalence rates among pregnant women were compared with the seroprevalence found in women of the general population. No significant difference in prevalence rates were found among pregnant women, while results indicate both viruses are a source of infection in infants

Uma análise da adaptação cinematográfica e da obra literária “Morte e vida Severina: auto de natal Pernambucano” enquanto enunciados de acordo com os conceitos de Mikhail Bakhtin e Robert Stam

The poem “Morte e Vida Severina: auto de Natal Pernambucano” by João Cabral de Mello was adapted  by movie director Zelito Viana in 1977, 22 years after the literary publication, which, in turn, had other adaptations, from the TV special by Rede Globo to comics and animation. Given the concepts of  Russian linguist Mikhail Bakhtin, as well as those related to Robert Stam's adaptation theories, we intend, specifically, to investigate whether discussions that overestimate literary content at the expense of cinematographic content still have some plausibility. The theme will be approached in line with the dialectical method, we will also make use of the historical, comparative and, possibly, monographic method.O poema “Morte e Vida Severina: auto de Natal Pernambucano” de João Cabral de Mello foi adaptado para o cinema pelo diretor Zelito Viana em 1977, 22 anos após a publicação literária que, por sua vez, teve outras adaptações, desde especial da Rede Globo até quadrinhos e animação. Diante dos conceitos do linguista russo Mikhail Bakhtin, bem como daqueles correlatos as teorias da adaptação, de Robert Stam, pretendemos, especificamente, investigar se as discussões que superestimam o conteúdo literário em detrimento do cinematográfico ainda possuem alguma plausibilidade. O tema será abordado em consonância com o método dialético, valer-nos-emos, também, do método histórico, comparativo e, possivelmente, monográfico

Evaluation of maternal perception of children's weight and Body Mass Index in Tuscany, Italy

Background: The prevention of overweight is a high-priority public health task. The perception that parents have of their children’s nutritional status is a well recognized risk factor for obesity in children, so the aim of our study was to evaluate mothers’ perceptions of their children’s nutritional status. Methods: We conducted, in 2016, a cross-sectional study enrolling1710 children (third grade of all primary schools ) in Tuscany, as well as their mothers. Mothers’ information were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, while children (weighed and measured) filled a questionnaire under the supervision of qualified personnel. Results: 1449 children completed the questionnaire. 74.12% of mothers were able to correctly identify children BMI. The non correct classification tends to significantly decrease in presence of a high educational level compared to low educational level. Mothers’ BMI seems to not be associated with misclassification. The non correct classification was significantly associated with mothers’ opinion about their children’s eating habit. Conclusion: Our data confirmed that, in Tuscany, a limited percentage of mothers tend to misclassify the nutritional state of their children, but in order to maintain these encouraging results, further efforts should be done in order to make all mothers able to correctly evaluate their children. Statements:Authors declare no conflict of interest. The study was conducted according to the criteria set by the declaration of Helsinki and each subject signed an informed consent before participating to the study. Approval of the protocol was obtained from the institutional review board of the National Institute of Health, including the use of opt-out consent; that is, parents could refuse participation but the lack of a returned form was taken to imply consent to their child’s participation

Syphilitic Balanitis of Follmann: Can Dermoscopy Be Useful Tool in the Differential Diagnosis?

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Influenza vaccines: Evaluation of the safety profile

3noopenThe safety of vaccines is a critical factor in maintaining public trust in national vaccination programs. Vaccines are recommended for children, adults and elderly subjects and have to meet higher safety standards, since they are administered to healthy subjects, mainly healthy children. Although vaccines are strictly monitored before authorization, the possibility of adverse events and/or rare adverse events cannot be totally eliminated. Two main types of influenza vaccines are currently available: parenteral inactivated influenza vaccines and intranasal live attenuated vaccines. Both display a good safety profile in adults and children. However, they can cause adverse events and/or rare adverse events, some of which are more prevalent in children, while others with a higher prevalence in adults. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of influenza vaccine safety according to target groups, vaccine types and production methods.openTrombetta, Claudia Maria*; Gianchecchi, Elena; Montomoli, EmanueleTrombetta, Claudia Maria; Gianchecchi, Elena; Montomoli, Emanuel

Establishment and validation of a high-throughput micro-neutralization assay for respiratory syncytial virus (subtypes A and B)

The validation of a bioanalytical method allows us to determine its validity for a designated purpose and to guarantee the reliability of its analytical results. The virus neutralization assay has proved to be suitable for the detection and quantification of specific serum-neutralizing antibodies against respiratory syncytial virus subtypes A and B. Respiratory syncytial virus is a negative-sense RNA virus and is responsible for the majority of acute lower respiratory tract infections in infants and older adults worldwide. Owing to its widespread infection, the WHO considers it a target for the development of preventive vaccines. Despite the high impact of its infections, however, only one vaccine has been recently approved. The aim of this paper is to provide a detailed validation process for the microneutralization assay and to demonstrate that this method can effectively support the efficacy assessment of candidate vaccines and the definition of correlates of protection