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Bakacs T, Chumakov K, Safadi R, Kovesdi I. Editorial: Fighting fire with fire: Using non-pathogenic viruses to control unrelated infections. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1046851. [PMID: 36275648 PMCID: PMC9584805 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1046851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tibor Bakacs
- Department of Probability, Alfred Renyi Institute of Mathematics; The Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Budapest, Hungary
- *Correspondence: Tibor Bakacs, ; Rifaat Safadi, ; Imre Kovesdi,
| | - Konstantin Chumakov
- Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Rifaat Safadi
- Hadassah Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- *Correspondence: Tibor Bakacs, ; Rifaat Safadi, ; Imre Kovesdi,
| | - Imre Kovesdi
- Unleash Immuno Oncolytics, St. Louis, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: Tibor Bakacs, ; Rifaat Safadi, ; Imre Kovesdi,
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Bakacs T, Sandig V, Kovesdi I. An Orally Administered Nonpathogenic Attenuated Vaccine Virus Can Be Used to Control SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Complementary Plan B to COVID-19 Vaccination. Cureus 2022; 14:e28467. [PMID: 36176842 PMCID: PMC9511982 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.28467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination has substantially altered the course of the pandemic, saving tens of millions of lives globally. The problem is that despite such spectacular results, vaccination alone will not be able to control the COVID-19 pandemic because of the rapid evolution of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) even in vaccinated human populations. Therefore, the development of a post-infection, broad-based, orally administered antiviral therapy that would complement vaccination efforts is urgently needed. Methodology The so-called viral superinfection therapy (SIT) administers a nonpathogenic attenuated double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) vaccine virus drug candidate, the infectious bursal disease virus serotype R903/78 (IBDV-R903/78) that activates the interferon (IFN) genes, which are the natural, antiviral defense system of host cells. Results Here we present two cases of properly vaccinated (with BNT162b2-Pfizer) and booster-dosed COVID-19 patients with vaccine breakthrough infections whose disease duration was shortened to a few days by oral SIT. Conclusions SIT has already been demonstrated to be safe and effective against five different families of viruses, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, SARS-CoV-2, and herpes zoster virus. The R903/78 drug candidate is simple to manufacture and easy to administer in an outpatient setting. The expected cost of SIT will be affordable even in resource-limited countries.
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Early or Simultaneous Infection with Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus Inhibits Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus Replication and Induces a Stronger Antiviral Response during Co-infection in Rainbow Trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss). Viruses 2022; 14:v14081732. [PMID: 36016354 PMCID: PMC9414607 DOI: 10.3390/v14081732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious hematopoietic necrosis (IHN) and infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) are the most common viral diseases of salmon in aquaculture worldwide. The co-infection of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with IHN virus (IHNV) and IPN virus (IPNV) is known to occur. To determine the influence of IPNV on IHNV in co-infection, rainbow trout were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with IPNV at different time intervals prior to, simultaneously to, or after IHNV infection. The replication of IHNV in the brain, gill, heart, liver, spleen, and head kidney was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The results showed that when rainbow trout were i.p. injected with IPNV prior to, simultaneously to, or after IHNV on 2 day (d), IHNV replication was inhibited (p < 0.05) in all collected tissues. Nevertheless, when rainbow trout were i.p. injected with IPNV after IHNV on 7 d (H7P), IHNV replication was only inhibited (p < 0.05) in the liver 14 d post-IHNV infection. Moreover, stronger antiviral responses occurred in all challenge groups. Our results suggest that IPNV can inhibit IHNV replication before or simultaneously with IHNV infection, and induce a stronger antiviral response, and that this inhibition is most sensitive in the liver. Early i.p. injection of IPNV can significantly reduce the mortality of rainbow trout, compared with the group only injected with IHNV.
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Doerksen T, Christensen T, Lu A, Noll L, Bai J, Henningson J, Palinski R. Assessment of Porcine Rotavirus-associated virome variations in pigs with enteric disease. Vet Microbiol 2022; 270:109447. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2022.109447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Bakacs T. Healing of Severe Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus Within a Few Days: An Autobiographical Case Report. Cureus 2021; 13:e20303. [PMID: 35024256 PMCID: PMC8742607 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.20303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Herpes zoster (shingles) is caused by the herpes zoster virus and is characterized by pain and unilateral vesicular rash that typically affects one dermatome. Symptoms tend to resolve over 10-15 days. This case report describes the 75-year-old author’s herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) accompanied by severe orbital edema. The upper eyelid and the proximal nasal area were also affected. The author felt an intermittent throbbing pain in more than three dermatomes including the frontal, orbital, temporal, and occipital/nuchal areas. Since the prodromal and erythematous phase started with atypical signs, conventional acyclovir treatment was administered only 96 hours after the appearance of the first symptoms. Acyclovir treatment was therefore complemented with the experimental viral superinfection therapy (SIT). Superinfection is a host-directed therapy, during which the non-pathogenic avian live-attenuated infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) vaccine delivers its double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) cargo to host cells and activates their natural antiviral interferon (IFN) gene defense system from within. Most symptoms resolved within five days. Given the author's advanced age of 75 years, such speedy recovery is unlikely to be explained by the belated acyclovir treatment alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tibor Bakacs
- Department of Probability, Alfred Renyi Institute of Mathematics; The Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, HUN
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Xiang TD, Zheng X. Interaction between hepatitis B virus and SARS-CoV-2 infections. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:782-793. [PMID: 33727770 PMCID: PMC7941862 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i9.782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic and garnered international attention. The causative pathogen of COVID-19 is severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel, highly contagious coronavirus. Numerous studies have reported that liver injury is quite common in patients with COVID-19. Hepatitis B has a worldwide distribution as well as in China. At present, hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a leading cause of cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Because both viruses challenge liver physiology, it raises questions as to how coinfection with HBV and SARS-CoV-2 affect disease progression and mortality. Is there an increased risk of COVID-19 in patients with HBV infection? In this review, we summarize the current reports of SARS-CoV-2 and HBV coinfection and elaborate the interaction of the two diseases. The emphasis was placed on evaluating the impact of HBV infection on disease severity and clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19 and discussing the potential mechanism behind this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Dan Xiang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xin Zheng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
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Ahmadi MH. Would the interference phenomenon be applied as an alternative option for prophylaxis against COVID-19? BIOIMPACTS : BI 2020; 11:169-172. [PMID: 34336604 PMCID: PMC8314034 DOI: 10.34172/bi.2021.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerged infectious disease characterized by a severe pneumonia leading to death in some cases. Currently, no licensed vaccines, drugs, or biologics have been confirmed to be absolutely effective in prophylaxis or treatment of this novel infection. Therefore, the treatment of this highly contagious disease remains a global concern and emergency. The viral interference is a competition phenomenon by which a primary virus infecting a cell prohibits the infection of the same cell by another (secondary) virus. The phenomenon has recently been indicated to be exploited for antiviral strategies. This strategy, particularly when there is no efficient drug against a viral infection, is of high importance. Some researchers have studied the application of the phenomenon among different viruses. In this paper, I discussed the possibility of the application of interference phenomenon in prophylaxis of the disease.
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Vu DL, Sabrià A, Aregall N, Michl K, Sabrià J, Rodriguez Garrido V, Goterris L, Bosch A, Pintó RM, Guix S. A Spanish case-control study in <5 year-old children reveals the lack of association between MLB and VA astrovirus and diarrhea. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1760. [PMID: 32020041 PMCID: PMC7000717 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58691-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Novel human astroviruses (HAstV) were discovered 10 years ago and have been associated with fatal cases of central nervous system infections. Their role in gastroenteritis is controversial, as they have been identified in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. The aim of the study was to investigate novel HAstV in a gastroenteritis case-control study including a pediatric population in Spain over a one-year period. We included stool samples from patients with gastroenteritis and negative results for viruses screened by routine diagnostics, and stool samples of control subjects who sought for a routine medical consultation. All samples were screened by real-time RT-PCR assays for novel HAstV. An additional screening for rotavirus, norovirus GI, GII, sapovirus, classic HAstV and adenovirus was also performed for the control group. Overall, 23/363 stool samples from case patients (6.3%) and 8/199 stool samples from control patients (4%) were positive for ≥1 novel HAstV. MLB1 was predominant (64.5% of positives). Seasonality was observed for the case group (p = 0.015), but not the control group (p = 0.95). No difference was observed in the prevalence of novel HAstV between the case and control groups (OR 1.78, 95% CI 0.68–5.45; p = 0.30). Nevertheless, MLB genome copy numbers/ml of fecal suspension was significantly higher in the control group than in the case group (p = 0.008). In our study, we identified a lack of association between novel HAstV and gastroenteritis in the studied population, which could indicate a potential role of reservoir for children, especially given the higher viral load observed in the asymptomatic group for some of them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diem-Lan Vu
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. .,Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA·UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. .,Department of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Aurora Sabrià
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA·UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Aregall
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kristina Michl
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Sabrià
- Primary Health Care Center El Serral, Generalitat de Catalunya, Sant Vicenç dels Horts, Spain
| | | | - Lidia Goterris
- Microbiology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Bosch
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA·UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosa Maria Pintó
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA·UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Guix
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. .,Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA·UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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