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Molecular Characterisation and Phylogeny of Tula Virus in Kazakhstan. Viruses 2022; 14:v14061258. [PMID: 35746729 PMCID: PMC9230364 DOI: 10.3390/v14061258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Orthohantaviruses are zoonotic pathogens that play a significant role in public health. These viruses can cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Eurasia. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, the first human cases were registered in the year 2000 in the West Kazakhstan region. Small mammals can be reservoirs of orthohantaviruses. Previous studies showed orthohantavirus antigens in wild-living small mammals in four districts of West Kazakhstan. Clinical studies suggested that there might be further regions with human orthohantavirus infections in Kazakhstan, but genetic data of orthohantaviruses in natural foci are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate small mammals for the presence of orthohantaviruses by molecular biological methods and to provide a phylogenetic characterization of the circulating strains in Kazakhstan. Small mammals were trapped at 19 sites in West Kazakhstan, four in Almaty region and at seven sites around Almaty city during all seasons of 2018 and 2019. Lung tissues of small mammals were homogenized and RNA was extracted. Orthohantavirus RT-PCR assays were applied for detection of partial S and L segment sequences. Results were compared to published fragments. In total, 621 small mammals from 11 species were analysed. Among the collected small mammals, 2.4% tested positive for orthohantavirus RNA, one sample from West Kazakhstan and 14 samples from Almaty region. None of the rodents caught in Almaty city were infected. Sequencing parts of the small (S) and large (L) segments specified Tula virus (TULV) in these two regions. Our data show that geographical distribution of TULV is more extended as previously thought. The detected sequences were found to be split in two distinct genetic clusters of TULV in West Kazakhstan and Almaty region. TULV was detected in the common vole (Microtus arvalis) and for the first time in two individuals of the forest dormouse (Dryomys nitedula), interpreted as a spill-over infection in Kazakhstan.
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2
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Wagner E, Shin A, Tukhanova N, Turebekov N, Nurmakhanov T, Sutyagin V, Berdibekov A, Maikanov N, Lezdinsh I, Shapiyeva Z, Shevtsov A, Freimüller K, Peintner L, Ehrhardt C, Essbauer S. First Indications of Omsk Haemorrhagic Fever Virus beyond Russia. Viruses 2022; 14:v14040754. [PMID: 35458484 PMCID: PMC9030969 DOI: 10.3390/v14040754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Omsk haemorrhagic fever virus (OHFV) is the agent leading to Omsk haemorrhagic fever (OHF), a viral disease currently only known in Western Siberia in Russia. The symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, muscle pain, cough and haemorrhages. The transmission cycle of OHFV is complex. Tick bites or contact with infected small mammals are the main source of infection. The Republic of Kazakhstan is adjacent to the endemic areas of OHFV in Russia and febrile diseases with haemorrhages occur throughout the country—often with unclear aetiology. In this study, we examined human cerebrospinal fluid samples of patients with suspected meningitis or meningoencephalitis with unknown origins for the presence of OHFV RNA. Further, reservoir hosts such as rodents and ticks from four Kazakhstan regions were screened for OHFV RNA to clarify if this virus could be the causative agent for many undiagnosed cases of febrile diseases in humans in Kazakhstan. Out of 130 cerebrospinal fluid samples, two patients (1.53%) originating from Almaty city were positive for OHFV RNA. Screening of tick samples revealed positive pools from different areas in the Akmola region. Of the caught rodents, 1.1% out of 621 were positive for OHFV at four trapping areas from the West Kazakhstan region. In this paper, we present a broad investigation of the spread of OHFV in Kazakhstan in human cerebrospinal fluid samples, rodents and ticks. Our study shows for the first time that OHFV can not only be found in the area of Western Siberia in Russia, but can also be detected up to 1.600 km away in the Almaty region in patients and natural foci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edith Wagner
- Section of Experimental Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jena University Hospital, 07743 Jena, Germany; (E.W.); (C.E.)
- Department of Virology and Intracellular Agents, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany; (K.F.); (S.E.)
| | - Anna Shin
- Center for International Health, University Hospital, LMU, 80336 Munich, Germany; (A.S.); (N.T.)
- Aikimbayev’s National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan; (N.T.); (T.N.)
| | - Nur Tukhanova
- Center for International Health, University Hospital, LMU, 80336 Munich, Germany; (A.S.); (N.T.)
- Aikimbayev’s National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan; (N.T.); (T.N.)
| | - Nurkeldi Turebekov
- Aikimbayev’s National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan; (N.T.); (T.N.)
| | - Talgat Nurmakhanov
- Aikimbayev’s National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan; (N.T.); (T.N.)
| | - Vitaliy Sutyagin
- Antiplague Station Taldykorgan, Branch Aikimbayev’s National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Taldykorgan 040000, Kazakhstan; (V.S.); (A.B.); (I.L.)
| | - Almas Berdibekov
- Antiplague Station Taldykorgan, Branch Aikimbayev’s National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Taldykorgan 040000, Kazakhstan; (V.S.); (A.B.); (I.L.)
| | - Nurbek Maikanov
- Oral Antiplague Station, Branch Aikimbayev’s National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Oral 090002, Kazakhstan;
| | - Ilmars Lezdinsh
- Antiplague Station Taldykorgan, Branch Aikimbayev’s National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Taldykorgan 040000, Kazakhstan; (V.S.); (A.B.); (I.L.)
| | - Zhanna Shapiyeva
- Scientific Practical Center of Sanitary Epidemiological Expertise and Monitoring, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan;
| | | | - Klaus Freimüller
- Department of Virology and Intracellular Agents, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany; (K.F.); (S.E.)
| | - Lukas Peintner
- Department of Virology and Intracellular Agents, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany; (K.F.); (S.E.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-89-992-692-3813
| | - Christina Ehrhardt
- Section of Experimental Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jena University Hospital, 07743 Jena, Germany; (E.W.); (C.E.)
| | - Sandra Essbauer
- Department of Virology and Intracellular Agents, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany; (K.F.); (S.E.)
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Yeh KB, Tabynov K, Parekh FK, Maltseva E, Skiba Y, Shapiyeva Z, Sansyzbai A, Frey S, Essbauer S, Hewson R, Richards AL, Hay J. Building Scientific Capability and Reducing Biological Threats: The Effect of Three Cooperative Bio-Research Programs in Kazakhstan. Front Public Health 2021; 9:683192. [PMID: 34712634 PMCID: PMC8545806 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.683192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cooperative research programs aimed at reducing biological threats have increased scientific capabilities and capacities in Kazakhstan. The German Federal Foreign Office's German Biosecurity Programme, the United Kingdom's International Biological Security Programme and the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Biological Threat Reduction Program provide funding for partner countries, like Kazakhstan. The mutual goals of the programs are to reduce biological threats and enhance global health security. Our investigation examined these cooperative research programs, summarizing major impacts they have made, as well as common successes and challenges. By mapping various projects across the three programs, research networks are highlighted which demonstrate best communication practices to share results and reinforce conclusions. Our team performed a survey to collect results from Kazakhstani partner scientists on their experiences that help gain insights into enhancing day-to-day approaches to conducting cooperative scientific research. This analysis will serve as a basis for a capability maturity model as used in industry, and in addition builds synergy for future collaborations that will be essential for quality and sustainment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kairat Tabynov
- International Center for Vaccinology, Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | | | - Elina Maltseva
- Almaty Branch of National Center for Biotechnology at Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Yuriy Skiba
- Almaty Branch of National Center for Biotechnology at Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Zhanna Shapiyeva
- Scientific Practical Center for Sanitary Epidemiological Expertise and Monitoring, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Ablay Sansyzbai
- International Center for Vaccinology, Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Stefan Frey
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany.,Bundeswehr Research Institute for Protective Technologies and Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Protection, Munster, Germany
| | | | - Roger Hewson
- Public Health England, Salisbury, United Kingdom.,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Allen L Richards
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - John Hay
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, United States
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Yeh KB, Parekh FK, Tabynov K, Tabynov K, Hewson R, Fair JM, Essbauer S, Hay J. Operationalizing Cooperative Research for Infectious Disease Surveillance: Lessons Learned and Ways Forward. Front Public Health 2021; 9:659695. [PMID: 34568249 PMCID: PMC8460863 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.659695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The current COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the need for urgent and on-demand solutions to provide diagnostics, treatment and preventative measures for infectious disease outbreaks. Once solutions are developed, meeting capacities depends on the ability to mitigate technical, logistical and production issues. While it is difficult to predict the next outbreak, augmenting investments in preparedness, such as infectious disease surveillance, is far more effective than mustering last-minute response funds. Bringing research outputs into practice sooner rather than later is part of an agile approach to pivot and deliver solutions. Cooperative multi- country research programs, especially those funded by global biosecurity programs, develop capacity that can be applied to infectious disease surveillance and research that enhances detection, identification, and response to emerging and re-emerging pathogens with epidemic or pandemic potential. Moreover, these programs enhance trust building among partners, which is essential because setting expectation and commitment are required for successful research and training. Measuring research outputs, evaluating outcomes and justifying continual investments are essential but not straightforward. Lessons learned include those related to reducing biological threats and maturing capabilities for national laboratory diagnostics strategy and related health systems. Challenges, such as growing networks, promoting scientific transparency, data and material sharing, sustaining funds and developing research strategies remain to be fully resolved. Here, experiences from several programs highlight successful partnerships that provide ways forward to address the next outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kairat Tabynov
- International Center for Vaccinology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Kaissar Tabynov
- International Center for Vaccinology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Roger Hewson
- Public Health England, Salisbury, United Kingdom
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jeanne M. Fair
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | | | - John Hay
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, United States
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Peintner L, Wagner E, Shin A, Tukhanova N, Turebekov N, Abdiyeva K, Spaiser O, Serebrennikova Y, Tintrup E, Dmitrovskiy A, Zhalmagambetova A, Frey S, Essbauer SS. Eight Years of Collaboration on Biosafety and Biosecurity Issues Between Kazakhstan and Germany as Part of the German Biosecurity Programme and the G7 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. Front Public Health 2021; 9:649393. [PMID: 34434910 PMCID: PMC8381731 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.649393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2013, the German Federal Foreign Office launched the German Biosecurity Programme with the aim to minimise risks associated with biological substances and pathogens. In this context, the German-Kazakh Network for Biosafety and Biosecurity was established in 2013 and constitutes a successful collaboration between Kazakh and German biomedical organisations, under the co-management of the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology (IMB), and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Ever since then, a network of scientists, stake holders and policymakers has been established, aiming to work on highly pathogenic, potential biological warfare agents with the focus on biosafety and biosecurity, surveillance, detection and diagnostics, networking and awareness raising of these agents in Kazakhstan. Over the past 8 years, the project members trained four PhD candidates, organised over 30 workshops and trainings with more than 250 participants and conducted more than 5,000 PCR assays and 5,000 serological analyses for surveillance. A great success was the description of new endemic areas for Orthohantaviruses, the mixture of two Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus genetic clusters, new foci and genetic information on tick-borne encephalitis virus and rickettsiae in Kazakh oblasts. The latter even led to the description of two new genogroups. Furthermore, joint contributions to international conferences were made. In this report, we summarise the evolution of the German-Kazakh Network for Biosafety and Biosecurity and critically reflect on the strengths and possible weaknesses. We were able to establish a viable network of biosafety and biosecurity shareholders and to accomplish the aims of the German Biosecurity Programme to lower biosecurity risks by increased awareness, improved detection and diagnostic methods and surveillance. Further, we reflect on forthcoming aspects to lead this interstate endeavour into a sustainable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Peintner
- Department of Virology and Intracellular Agents, German Centre for Infection Research, Munich Partner Site, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Edith Wagner
- Department of Virology and Intracellular Agents, German Centre for Infection Research, Munich Partner Site, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany.,Section of Experimental Virology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Anna Shin
- Central Reference Laboratory, M. Aikimbaev National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Almaty, Kazakhstan.,Center for International Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Nur Tukhanova
- Central Reference Laboratory, M. Aikimbaev National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Almaty, Kazakhstan.,Center for International Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Nurkeldi Turebekov
- Central Reference Laboratory, M. Aikimbaev National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Karlygash Abdiyeva
- Central Reference Laboratory, M. Aikimbaev National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Olga Spaiser
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Erik Tintrup
- Division OR12 "Chemical and Biological Weapons, Disarmament, G7 Global Partnership", German Federal Foreign Office, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrey Dmitrovskiy
- Central Reference Laboratory, M. Aikimbaev National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Aliya Zhalmagambetova
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, Berlin, Germany.,Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Stefan Frey
- Department of Virology and Intracellular Agents, German Centre for Infection Research, Munich Partner Site, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany.,Bundeswehr Research Institute for Protective Technologies and CBRN Protection, Munster, Germany
| | - Sandra Simone Essbauer
- Department of Virology and Intracellular Agents, German Centre for Infection Research, Munich Partner Site, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
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6
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Turebekov N, Abdiyeva K, Yegemberdiyeva R, Kuznetsov A, Dmitrovskiy A, Yeraliyeva L, Shapiyeva Z, Batyrbayeva D, Tukhanova N, Shin A, Musralina L, Hoelscher M, Froeschl G, Dobler G, Freimueller K, Wagner E, Frey S, Essbauer S. Occurrence of Anti-Rickettsia spp. Antibodies in Hospitalized Patients with Undifferentiated Febrile Illness in the Southern Region of Kazakhstan. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2021; 104:2000-2008. [PMID: 33901004 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Undifferentiated febrile illness still represents a demanding medical problem all over the world, but primarily in low- and middle-income countries. Scientific and clinical investigations related to undifferentiated febrile illness and rickettsial diseases in Kazakhstan are lacking. This study reflects the investigation of antibodies against spotted fever group (SFG) and typhus group (TG) rickettsiae in patients with undifferentiated febrile illness in the southern region of Kazakhstan (Almaty and Kyzylorda oblasts). Paired serum samples were gathered from 13 hospitals in these two oblasts and explored for the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies against typhus group and IgG antibodies against spotted fever group rickettsiae using ELISA. Patient's questionnaires were statistically analyzed. In total, 802 inpatients from Almaty (N = 9) and Kyzylorda (N = 4) hospitals were included in this research. Based on ELISA results, 250 patients out of 802 (31.2%) from both oblasts had IgG antibodies against SFG rickettsiae. Results from 11 (1.4%) patients indicated acute infection with tick-borne rickettsiosis. Regarding TG rickettsiae (R. typhi), a past infection was detected in 248 (30.9%) febrile patients and acute infection in 22 (2.7%) patients in the two selected oblasts. The data indicated that SFG and TG rickettsioses are present in Kazakhstan. Kazakh physicians should be aware of these emerging diseases in both investigated oblasts because the occurrence of these diseases is not suspected during day-to-day clinical practice. The identification of rickettsial pathogens and implementation of modern laboratory methods for the diagnostics of rickettsioses are in need throughout Kazakhstan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurkeldi Turebekov
- 1Central Reference Laboratory, National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Karlygash Abdiyeva
- 1Central Reference Laboratory, National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Ravilya Yegemberdiyeva
- 2Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Andrey Kuznetsov
- 3National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Andrey Dmitrovskiy
- 3National Scientific Center for Especially Dangerous Infections, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Lyazzat Yeraliyeva
- 4Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Zhanna Shapiyeva
- 5Scientific Practical Center of Sanitary Epidemiological Expertise and Monitoring, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Dinara Batyrbayeva
- 6Scientific Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory, Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Nur Tukhanova
- 7Center for International Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Shin
- 7Center for International Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Lyazzat Musralina
- 8Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan.,9Institute of General Genetics and Cytology, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Michael Hoelscher
- 10Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, German Center for Infection Research, Munich Partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Guenter Froeschl
- 7Center for International Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany.,10Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, German Center for Infection Research, Munich Partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- 11Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Department Virology & Rickettsiology, German Center for Infection Research, Munich Partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Klaus Freimueller
- 11Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Department Virology & Rickettsiology, German Center for Infection Research, Munich Partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Edith Wagner
- 11Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Department Virology & Rickettsiology, German Center for Infection Research, Munich Partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Frey
- 11Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Department Virology & Rickettsiology, German Center for Infection Research, Munich Partner site, Munich, Germany.,12Bundeswehr Research Institute for Protective Technologies and CBRN Protection, Munster, Germany
| | - Sandra Essbauer
- 11Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Department Virology & Rickettsiology, German Center for Infection Research, Munich Partner site, Munich, Germany
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