The International Health Regulations(IHR)of the republic of South Africa confirmed 20 human monkeypox(mpox)cases including the death of 3 individuals to the World Health Organization(WHO)between 8 May and 2 July 2024....The International Health Regulations(IHR)of the republic of South Africa confirmed 20 human monkeypox(mpox)cases including the death of 3 individuals to the World Health Organization(WHO)between 8 May and 2 July 2024.All the cases were men aged between 17 and 43 years and 11 were men who have sex with men.Out of these cases,15 cases were living with un-managed or recently diagnosed HIV infection.All these cases were symptomatic with extensive skin lesions and required hospitalization.This sudden incidence of mpox cases without any prior history of international travel,high prevalence of HIV and high case fatality ratio,suggests that the community transmission is still prevalent.Rise of mpox cases in vulnerable groups in South Africa has the potential for increased health impact in people living in neighboring countries and has the risk of cross border and international spread.Due to this reason,national health authorities in South Africa have initiated various response measures with the support from the WHO to control this infection[1].展开更多
Chikungunya virus(CHIKV)infection in humans causing severe musculoskeletal pain,fever and rashes,is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes,primarily Aedes(Ae.)aegypti and Ae.albopictus.CHIKV has resulted in 18...Chikungunya virus(CHIKV)infection in humans causing severe musculoskeletal pain,fever and rashes,is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes,primarily Aedes(Ae.)aegypti and Ae.albopictus.CHIKV has resulted in 18.7 million cases worldwide till 2020 and after 2004 has spread to Europe,Middle East(Saudi Arabia,Pakistan,Yemen,Egypt,Oman,Iraq,Kuwait,and Iran)and Pacific regions.This rapid spread of CHIKV emphasizes the pivotal need of enforcing control measures and examining new diagnostic methods.As the mosquito vectors(Aedes)of CHIKV are evolving,vector control methods are losing its efficacy.Further,existing serological and molecular assays to detect CHIKV show variabilities in sensitivity and specificity,leading to mis-reporting or under-reporting of CHIKV cases in affected regions.In this review article,we start by discussing CHIKV infection,followed by an introduction to currently available control and detection methods.We further highlight the challenges these methods pose and how they can be conquered by employing various easy and sustainable strategies.This review may provide valuable information for the development of novel diagnostic strategies in resource limited settings for mitigating CHIKV disease.展开更多
BACKGROUND: Viral hepatitis is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in developing countries. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) among the major etiological agents is responsible for both sporadic and epidemic outbr...BACKGROUND: Viral hepatitis is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in developing countries. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) among the major etiological agents is responsible for both sporadic and epidemic outbreaks. The epidemic outbreak is water-borne whereas the sporadic outbreak is possibly through contact. Various diagnostic tools at times fail to pinpoint the cause of viral hepatitis. This study was carried out to evaluate the utility of ELISA and nRT-PCR (nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) for the diagnosis of sporadic and acute viral hepatitis (AVH) caused by HEV in an endemic situation in North India. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from all the affected and suspected persons and subjected to serological detection of HAV IgM, HBsAg, HCV antibody and HEV IgM. The samples that were positive for HEV IgM were further processed for the detection of HEV RNA by nRT-PCR. RESULTS: A total of 843 samples were collected from 685 patients with AVH, 70 patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), 53 patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), 11 patients with antituberculosis therapy (ATT)-induced jaundice, and 24 pregnant women. The percentage of positivity for anti-HEV IgM was 58.3% in the pregnant women, 41.4% in the paients with FHF, 38.6% in the patients with AVH, 9.4% in the patients with CLD and 18.2% in the patients with ATT induced jaundice. 9.4% of HBsAg carriers were positive for anti-HEV IgM. Males outnumbered females (62.8% vs. 37.1%). Furthermore, the rates of fulminant and acute outbreaks of hepatitis with HEV RNA positivity were 41.4% and 9.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Serological and molecular analysis should be combined for the diagnosis of viral infections, especially in endemic areas.展开更多
Cancer remains a leading global health burden.mRNA cancer vaccines,which are propelled by their rapid development,manufacturing flexibility,and proven efficacy against infectious diseases,have emerged as a transformat...Cancer remains a leading global health burden.mRNA cancer vaccines,which are propelled by their rapid development,manufacturing flexibility,and proven efficacy against infectious diseases,have emerged as a transformative approach in cancer immunotherapy.While offering significant advantages over traditional methods,challenges related to mRNA instability and in vivo delivery efficiency persist.However,technological advancements,particularly in nanoparticle formulations such as lipid nanoparticles(LNPs),have substantially mitigated these concerns.This review comprehensively examines the mechanism of action of mRNA vaccines,focusing on their ability to encode tumor-specific antigens(TSAs),particularly neoantigens,and tumor-associated antigens(TAAs)to elicit potent anti-tumor immune responses.We critically analyzed the promising application of mRNA vaccines as monotherapies and,more significantly,in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors,chemotherapy,adoptive cell therapies(e.g.,CAR-T),and radiation to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.The core of this review synthesizes compelling results from key clinical trials across various cancers(e.g.,melanoma,non-small cell lung cancer,and prostate cancer),highlighting significant outcomes such as induced neoantigen-specific T-cell responses,improved recurrence-free survival,and objective tumor regression.We also discuss the groundbreaking potential of personalized neoantigen mRNA vaccines.Current challenges,including tumor heterogeneity,optimal delivery strategies,biomarker identification,and enhancing therapeutic efficacy/safety profiles,are thoroughly evaluated alongside potential solutions.Finally,we explore future directions emphasizing next-generation approaches such as advanced nanovaccines and refined personalized platforms.This review aims to provide a timely and critical analysis of the rapidly evolving landscape of mRNA cancer vaccines,underscoring their immense potential to revolutionize cancer treatment paradigms.展开更多
文摘The International Health Regulations(IHR)of the republic of South Africa confirmed 20 human monkeypox(mpox)cases including the death of 3 individuals to the World Health Organization(WHO)between 8 May and 2 July 2024.All the cases were men aged between 17 and 43 years and 11 were men who have sex with men.Out of these cases,15 cases were living with un-managed or recently diagnosed HIV infection.All these cases were symptomatic with extensive skin lesions and required hospitalization.This sudden incidence of mpox cases without any prior history of international travel,high prevalence of HIV and high case fatality ratio,suggests that the community transmission is still prevalent.Rise of mpox cases in vulnerable groups in South Africa has the potential for increased health impact in people living in neighboring countries and has the risk of cross border and international spread.Due to this reason,national health authorities in South Africa have initiated various response measures with the support from the WHO to control this infection[1].
文摘Chikungunya virus(CHIKV)infection in humans causing severe musculoskeletal pain,fever and rashes,is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes,primarily Aedes(Ae.)aegypti and Ae.albopictus.CHIKV has resulted in 18.7 million cases worldwide till 2020 and after 2004 has spread to Europe,Middle East(Saudi Arabia,Pakistan,Yemen,Egypt,Oman,Iraq,Kuwait,and Iran)and Pacific regions.This rapid spread of CHIKV emphasizes the pivotal need of enforcing control measures and examining new diagnostic methods.As the mosquito vectors(Aedes)of CHIKV are evolving,vector control methods are losing its efficacy.Further,existing serological and molecular assays to detect CHIKV show variabilities in sensitivity and specificity,leading to mis-reporting or under-reporting of CHIKV cases in affected regions.In this review article,we start by discussing CHIKV infection,followed by an introduction to currently available control and detection methods.We further highlight the challenges these methods pose and how they can be conquered by employing various easy and sustainable strategies.This review may provide valuable information for the development of novel diagnostic strategies in resource limited settings for mitigating CHIKV disease.
文摘BACKGROUND: Viral hepatitis is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in developing countries. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) among the major etiological agents is responsible for both sporadic and epidemic outbreaks. The epidemic outbreak is water-borne whereas the sporadic outbreak is possibly through contact. Various diagnostic tools at times fail to pinpoint the cause of viral hepatitis. This study was carried out to evaluate the utility of ELISA and nRT-PCR (nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) for the diagnosis of sporadic and acute viral hepatitis (AVH) caused by HEV in an endemic situation in North India. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from all the affected and suspected persons and subjected to serological detection of HAV IgM, HBsAg, HCV antibody and HEV IgM. The samples that were positive for HEV IgM were further processed for the detection of HEV RNA by nRT-PCR. RESULTS: A total of 843 samples were collected from 685 patients with AVH, 70 patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), 53 patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), 11 patients with antituberculosis therapy (ATT)-induced jaundice, and 24 pregnant women. The percentage of positivity for anti-HEV IgM was 58.3% in the pregnant women, 41.4% in the paients with FHF, 38.6% in the patients with AVH, 9.4% in the patients with CLD and 18.2% in the patients with ATT induced jaundice. 9.4% of HBsAg carriers were positive for anti-HEV IgM. Males outnumbered females (62.8% vs. 37.1%). Furthermore, the rates of fulminant and acute outbreaks of hepatitis with HEV RNA positivity were 41.4% and 9.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Serological and molecular analysis should be combined for the diagnosis of viral infections, especially in endemic areas.
文摘Cancer remains a leading global health burden.mRNA cancer vaccines,which are propelled by their rapid development,manufacturing flexibility,and proven efficacy against infectious diseases,have emerged as a transformative approach in cancer immunotherapy.While offering significant advantages over traditional methods,challenges related to mRNA instability and in vivo delivery efficiency persist.However,technological advancements,particularly in nanoparticle formulations such as lipid nanoparticles(LNPs),have substantially mitigated these concerns.This review comprehensively examines the mechanism of action of mRNA vaccines,focusing on their ability to encode tumor-specific antigens(TSAs),particularly neoantigens,and tumor-associated antigens(TAAs)to elicit potent anti-tumor immune responses.We critically analyzed the promising application of mRNA vaccines as monotherapies and,more significantly,in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors,chemotherapy,adoptive cell therapies(e.g.,CAR-T),and radiation to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.The core of this review synthesizes compelling results from key clinical trials across various cancers(e.g.,melanoma,non-small cell lung cancer,and prostate cancer),highlighting significant outcomes such as induced neoantigen-specific T-cell responses,improved recurrence-free survival,and objective tumor regression.We also discuss the groundbreaking potential of personalized neoantigen mRNA vaccines.Current challenges,including tumor heterogeneity,optimal delivery strategies,biomarker identification,and enhancing therapeutic efficacy/safety profiles,are thoroughly evaluated alongside potential solutions.Finally,we explore future directions emphasizing next-generation approaches such as advanced nanovaccines and refined personalized platforms.This review aims to provide a timely and critical analysis of the rapidly evolving landscape of mRNA cancer vaccines,underscoring their immense potential to revolutionize cancer treatment paradigms.
