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Currey J, Ellsworth C, Khatun MS, Wang C, Chen Z, Liu S, Midkiff C, Xiao M, Ren M, Liu F, Elgazzaz M, Fox S, Maness NJ, Rappaport J, Lazartigues E, Blair R, Kolls JK, Mauvais-Jarvis F, Qin X. Upregulation of inflammatory genes and pathways links obesity to severe COVID-19. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167322. [PMID: 38942338 PMCID: PMC11330358 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Obesity is a risk factor for developing severe COVID-19. However, the mechanism underlying obesity-accelerated COVID-19 remains unclear. Here, we report results from a study in which 2-3-month-old K18-hACE2 (K18) mice were fed a western high-fat diet (WD) or normal chow (NC) over 3 months before intranasal infection with a sublethal dose of SARS-CoV2 WA1 (a strain ancestral to the Wuhan variant). After infection, the WD-fed K18 mice lost significantly more body weight and had more severe lung inflammation than normal chow (NC)-fed mice. Bulk RNA-seq analysis of lungs and adipose tissue revealed a diverse landscape of various immune cells, inflammatory markers, and pathways upregulated in the infected WD-fed K18 mice when compared with the infected NC-fed control mice. The transcript levels of IL-6, an important marker of COVID-19 disease severity, were upregulated in the lung at 6-9 days post-infection in the WD-fed mice when compared to NC-fed mice. Transcriptome analysis of the lung and adipose tissue obtained from deceased COVID-19 patients found that the obese patients had an increase in the expression of genes and the activation of pathways associated with inflammation as compared to normal-weight patients (n = 2). The K18 mouse model and human COVID-19 patient data support a link between inflammation and an obesity-accelerated COVID-19 disease phenotype. These results also indicate that obesity-accelerated severe COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 WA1 infection in the K18 mouse model would be a suitable model for dissecting the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Currey
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Calder Ellsworth
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Mst Shamima Khatun
- Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; Department of Pulmonary Critical Care and Environmental Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Chenxiao Wang
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Zheng Chen
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Shumei Liu
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Cecily Midkiff
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA
| | - Mark Xiao
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Mi Ren
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Fengming Liu
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Mona Elgazzaz
- Southeast Louisiana VA Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70119, USA
| | - Sharon Fox
- Southeast Louisiana VA Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70119, USA
| | - Nicholas J Maness
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Jay Rappaport
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Eric Lazartigues
- Southeast Louisiana VA Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70119, USA
| | - Robert Blair
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA
| | - Jay K Kolls
- Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; Department of Pulmonary Critical Care and Environmental Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Franck Mauvais-Jarvis
- Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; Southeast Louisiana VA Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70119, USA
| | - Xuebin Qin
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
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Ranjbar M, Cusack RP, Whetstone CE, Brister DL, Wattie J, Wiltshire L, Alsaji N, Le Roux J, Cheng E, Srinathan T, Ho T, Sehmi R, O’Byrne PM, Snow-Smith M, Makiya M, Klion AD, Duong M, Gauvreau GM. Immune Response Dynamics and Biomarkers in COVID-19 Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6427. [PMID: 38928133 PMCID: PMC11204302 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The immune response dynamics in COVID-19 patients remain a subject of intense investigation due to their implications for disease severity and treatment outcomes. We examined changes in leukocyte levels, eosinophil activity, and cytokine profiles in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. METHODS Serum samples were collected within the first 10 days of hospitalization/confirmed infection and analyzed for eosinophil granule proteins (EGP) and cytokines. Information from medical records including comorbidities, clinical symptoms, medications, and complete blood counts were collected at the time of admission, during hospitalization and at follow up approximately 3 months later. RESULTS Serum levels of eotaxin, type 1 and type 2 cytokines, and alarmin cytokines were elevated in COVID-19 patients, highlighting the heightened immune response (p < 0.05). However, COVID-19 patients exhibited lower levels of eosinophils and eosinophil degranulation products compared to hospitalized controls (p < 0.05). Leukocyte counts increased consistently from admission to follow-up, indicative of recovery. CONCLUSION Attenuated eosinophil activity alongside elevated chemokine and cytokine levels during active infection, highlights the complex interplay of immune mediators in the pathogenesis COVID-19 and underscores the need for further investigation into immune biomarkers and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maral Ranjbar
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (M.R.); (R.P.C.); (C.E.W.); (D.L.B.); (J.W.); (L.W.); (N.A.); (T.H.); (R.S.); (P.M.O.); (M.D.)
| | - Ruth P. Cusack
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (M.R.); (R.P.C.); (C.E.W.); (D.L.B.); (J.W.); (L.W.); (N.A.); (T.H.); (R.S.); (P.M.O.); (M.D.)
| | - Christiane E. Whetstone
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (M.R.); (R.P.C.); (C.E.W.); (D.L.B.); (J.W.); (L.W.); (N.A.); (T.H.); (R.S.); (P.M.O.); (M.D.)
| | - Danica L. Brister
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (M.R.); (R.P.C.); (C.E.W.); (D.L.B.); (J.W.); (L.W.); (N.A.); (T.H.); (R.S.); (P.M.O.); (M.D.)
| | - Jennifer Wattie
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (M.R.); (R.P.C.); (C.E.W.); (D.L.B.); (J.W.); (L.W.); (N.A.); (T.H.); (R.S.); (P.M.O.); (M.D.)
| | - Lesley Wiltshire
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (M.R.); (R.P.C.); (C.E.W.); (D.L.B.); (J.W.); (L.W.); (N.A.); (T.H.); (R.S.); (P.M.O.); (M.D.)
| | - Nadia Alsaji
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (M.R.); (R.P.C.); (C.E.W.); (D.L.B.); (J.W.); (L.W.); (N.A.); (T.H.); (R.S.); (P.M.O.); (M.D.)
| | | | - Eric Cheng
- St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada; (E.C.); (T.S.)
| | - Thivya Srinathan
- St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada; (E.C.); (T.S.)
| | - Terence Ho
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (M.R.); (R.P.C.); (C.E.W.); (D.L.B.); (J.W.); (L.W.); (N.A.); (T.H.); (R.S.); (P.M.O.); (M.D.)
- The Research Institute of St. Joe’s Hamilton, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada
| | - Roma Sehmi
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (M.R.); (R.P.C.); (C.E.W.); (D.L.B.); (J.W.); (L.W.); (N.A.); (T.H.); (R.S.); (P.M.O.); (M.D.)
- The Research Institute of St. Joe’s Hamilton, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada
| | - Paul M. O’Byrne
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (M.R.); (R.P.C.); (C.E.W.); (D.L.B.); (J.W.); (L.W.); (N.A.); (T.H.); (R.S.); (P.M.O.); (M.D.)
- Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada;
- St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada; (E.C.); (T.S.)
| | - Maryonne Snow-Smith
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (M.S.-S.); (M.M.); (A.D.K.)
| | - Michelle Makiya
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (M.S.-S.); (M.M.); (A.D.K.)
| | - Amy D. Klion
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (M.S.-S.); (M.M.); (A.D.K.)
| | - MyLinh Duong
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (M.R.); (R.P.C.); (C.E.W.); (D.L.B.); (J.W.); (L.W.); (N.A.); (T.H.); (R.S.); (P.M.O.); (M.D.)
- The Research Institute of St. Joe’s Hamilton, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada
- Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
| | - Gail M. Gauvreau
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada; (M.R.); (R.P.C.); (C.E.W.); (D.L.B.); (J.W.); (L.W.); (N.A.); (T.H.); (R.S.); (P.M.O.); (M.D.)
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Marques LS, Boschiero MN, Sansone NMS, Brienze LR, Marson FAL. Epidemiological Profile of Hospitalized Patients with Cystic Fibrosis in Brazil Due to Severe Acute Respiratory Infection during the COVID-19 Pandemic and a Systematic Review of Worldwide COVID-19 in Those with Cystic Fibrosis. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:1936. [PMID: 37444770 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11131936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the onset of the coronavirus disease, COVID-19 pandemic, concern arose for those who might be at higher risk of a worse COVID-19 prognosis, such as those with cystic fibrosis (CF). In this context, we evaluated the features of hospitalized patients with CF due to severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) in Brazil and we also performed a systematic review including all the studies published from the beginning of the first case of COVID-19 (17 November 2019) to the date of this search (23 May 2022) which included, concomitantly, patients with CF and COVID-19 in the worldwide population. In our Brazilian data, we evaluated the period from December 2019 to March 2022, and we included 33 demographical and clinical patients' features. We classified the patients into groups: (G1) SARI due to another viral infection than severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (23; 5.4%), (G2) SARI due to an unknown etiological agent (286; 67.1%), and (G3) SARI due to SARS-CoV-2 infection (117; 27.5%). The individuals in G3 tended to be older, especially over 50 years old, and presented a higher prevalence of dyspnea, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) <95%, and cardiopathy. The highest prevalence for intensive care unit (ICU) treatment (52; 44.4%) and invasive mechanical ventilation (29; 24.8%) was for patients in G3. Almost half of the patients in G3 died (51; 43.6%); in contrast, none in G1 died. However, we observed 43 (15.0%) deaths in G2. In addition, 12 (4.2%) and one (0.9%) death not associated with SARI occurred, respectively, in the G2 and G3. The patients who died due to SARS-CoV-2 infection had a higher frequency of SpO2 <95% (46; 90.2%), ICU treatment (34; 66.7%), and invasive mechanical ventilation (27; 52.9%) when compared to those who recovered. The systematic review comprised a total of 31 papers published as observational studies. These studies comprised 661,386 patients in total, including children, adults, and elderly age groups. However, only 19,150 (2.9%) patients were diagnosed with CF and, from these patients, 2523 (0.4%) were diagnosed with both CF and COVID-19. It was observed that the most common outcome was the need for hospitalization (n = 322 patients with CF), and the need for oxygen support (n = 139 patients with CF). One hundred patients with CF needed intensive care units, fifty patients needed non-invasive mechanical ventilation support, and only three patients were described as receiving invasive mechanical ventilation support. Deaths were described in 38 patients with CF. Importantly, lung-transplanted patients with CF represented an increased risk of death in one publication; in accordance, another study described that lung transplantation and moderate to severe lung disease were independent risk factors for severe outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 infection. In contrast with the literature, in conclusion, Brazilian patients in G3 presented a severe phenotype, even though most of the other studies did not observe worse outcomes in patients with CF and COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Souza Marques
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genetics, São Francisco University, Bragança Paulista 12916-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Matheus Negri Boschiero
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genetics, São Francisco University, Bragança Paulista 12916-900, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Letícia Rulli Brienze
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genetics, São Francisco University, Bragança Paulista 12916-900, SP, Brazil
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Singh M, Pushpakumar S, Bard N, Zheng Y, Homme RP, Mokshagundam SPL, Tyagi SC. Simulation of COVID-19 symptoms in a genetically engineered mouse model: implications for the long haulers. Mol Cell Biochem 2023; 478:103-119. [PMID: 35731343 PMCID: PMC9214689 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-022-04487-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing pandemic (also known as coronavirus disease-19; COVID-19) by a constantly emerging viral agent commonly referred as the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 or SARS-CoV-2 has revealed unique pathological findings from infected human beings, and the postmortem observations. The list of disease symptoms, and postmortem observations is too long to mention; however, SARS-CoV-2 has brought with it a whole new clinical syndrome in "long haulers" including dyspnea, chest pain, tachycardia, brain fog, exercise intolerance, and extreme fatigue. We opine that further improvement in delivering effective treatment, and preventive strategies would be benefited from validated animal disease models. In this context, we designed a study, and show that a genetically engineered mouse expressing the human angiotensin converting enzyme 2; ACE-2 (the receptor used by SARS-CoV-2 agent to enter host cells) represents an excellent investigative resource in simulating important clinical features of the COVID-19. The ACE-2 mouse model (which is susceptible to SARS-CoV-2) when administered with a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (SP) intranasally exhibited a profound cytokine storm capable of altering the physiological parameters including significant changes in cardiac function along with multi-organ damage that was further confirmed via histological findings. More importantly, visceral organs from SP treated mice revealed thrombotic blood clots as seen during postmortem examination. Thus, the ACE-2 engineered mouse appears to be a suitable model for studying intimate viral pathogenesis thus paving the way for identification, and characterization of appropriate prophylactics as well as therapeutics for COVID-19 management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahavir Singh
- Department of Physiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Sathnur Pushpakumar
- Department of Physiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Nia Bard
- Department of Physiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Yuting Zheng
- Department of Physiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Rubens P Homme
- Department of Physiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Sri Prakash L Mokshagundam
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes and Robley Rex VA Medical Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Suresh C Tyagi
- Department of Physiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
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Bunprakob S, Hemachudha P, Ruchisrisarod C, Supharatpariyakorn T, Hemachudha T. IP-10 and complement activation as friend or foe in COVID-19. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2022; 36:3946320221096202. [PMID: 35531750 PMCID: PMC9092585 DOI: 10.1177/03946320221096202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The Innate immune system senses danger signals of COVID-19 infection and produce an orchestration of cellular, complement and cytokines cascades. These led to the approach using immunosuppressive agents. It is intriguing whether certain biomarkers can aid the proper administration of such drugs. Methods Plasma specimens of 58 COVID-19 patients with differing severity, from very mild illness (group A), mild (group B), moderate (group C), and severe/critical illness (group D) were assayed for cyto-chemokines and terminal complement complex (SC5b-9) during the course of diseases. None received anti-IL-6 therapy, there was no mortality in this cohort. Results IP-10 and RANTES levels were dominant cytokines. IP-10 levels increased significantly in all groups when compared between pre-nadir and nadir phases (group A, p =0.428; group B =0.034; group C =0.159; group D <0.001) and in groups B and D when compared between nadir and recovery phases ( p <0.001). RANTES levels were elevated in all groups across all phases with no significant differences. SC5b-9 levels increased significantly as compared to healthy controls [pre-nadir- group A versus healthy, p =0.122; group B-D versus healthy, p =0.021); nadir-group A versus healthy, p =0.003; group B-D versus healthy, p <0.001; recovery phase ( p <0.001)] but not between groups A and B-D at pre-nadir ( p=0.606). Conclusion The absence of significant pro-inflammatory responses and early elevation of IP-10 levels and complement activation may be favorable and necessary for viral elimination in COVID-19 patients. Expression of distinct cyto-chemokines during each clinical phase may be useful for guiding proper therapeutic interventions on alleviating thrombo-inflammation responses to COVID-19 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saowalak Bunprakob
- Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Diseases Health Science Centre, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training on Viral Zoonoses, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pasin Hemachudha
- Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Diseases Health Science Centre, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training on Viral Zoonoses, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chanida Ruchisrisarod
- Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Diseases Health Science Centre, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training on Viral Zoonoses, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thirawat Supharatpariyakorn
- Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Diseases Health Science Centre, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training on Viral Zoonoses, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thiravat Hemachudha
- Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Diseases Health Science Centre, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training on Viral Zoonoses, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
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