Muhammad Bashir Bello , Zainab BuAli , Nidia S. Trovao , Safia S. Aljedani , Abdullah Algaissi , Khalid J. Shrwani , Samer Zakari , Sharif Hala , Rfeef Alyami , Mohammad Bosaeed
{"title":"Molecular evolutionary insights into the repeated introductions and cryptic transmission of dengue virus in Saudi Arabia","authors":"Muhammad Bashir Bello , Zainab BuAli , Nidia S. Trovao , Safia S. Aljedani , Abdullah Algaissi , Khalid J. Shrwani , Samer Zakari , Sharif Hala , Rfeef Alyami , Mohammad Bosaeed","doi":"10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106608","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106608","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>To investigate the genetic diversity, evolutionary dynamics, and phylogeography of DENV strains circulating in Saudi Arabia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted serotyping, whole-genome sequencing, and phylogeographic analyses of DENV strains collected across Saudi Arabia between 2021 and 2023. A total of 20 full genomes were successfully obtained: DENV-1 (n = 2), DENV-2 (n = 10), and DENV-3 (n = 8).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Serotyping revealed co-circulation of DENV-1, DENV-2, and DENV-3, with DENV-2 emerging as the predominant serotype. Phylogeographic analysis of whole genomes identified at least five distinct introductions of DENV-2 genotype II into Saudi Arabia, primarily originating from India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The earliest introduction was estimated around 13 June 1985 (95% HPD: 5 June 1983 to 11 September 1986). DENV-1 genotype III, undetected for over two decades, re-emerged in Jazan and was likely introduced from Djibouti (TMRCA: 27 July 2018; 95% HPD: 9 December 2017 to 21 March 2019). Two independent introductions of DENV-3 genotype III were identified, originating from Malaysia and India, with TMRCA estimates ranging from 2007 to 2011—indicating at least a decade of undetected circulation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our findings highlight Saudi Arabia’s evolving role as a regional hub for DENV transmission, driven by mass gatherings and labor migration. Strengthening genomic surveillance, enhancing vector control, and fostering regional data sharing are critical to improving outbreak response and preparedness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50180,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection","volume":"91 3","pages":"Article 106608"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144988183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Norovirus genomes detected from the Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) cases in a community outbreak in Pune, India, 2025","authors":"Mallika Lavania , Vikas Sharma , Virendra Kumar Meena, Madhuri Joshi, Varsha Potdar, Veena Vipat, Atul Walimbe, Rishabh Waghchaure, Pooja Umare, Rajlakshmi Vishwanathan, Babasaheb Tandale, Pradeep M. Sawant, Basavaraj Mathapati, Naveen Kumar","doi":"10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106604","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106604","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In 2025, Pune, India, witnessed an unprecedented surge in Guillain–Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases, raising urgent public health concerns. GBS, a rare neurological condition often linked to infections, demanded immediate epidemiological and molecular scrutiny. Evidence from earlier studies points to infectious agents like <em>Campylobacter jejuni</em>, cytomegalovirus, and enteric viruses as common triggers. Environmental conditions and regional pathogen variations were considered potential contributors to the outbreak. To uncover the cause, a broad molecular screening was initiated to detect any known or emerging infectious agents.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A comprehensive molecular screening was conducted for 19 pathogens, including established GBS-linked and enteric pathogens. Advanced genomic techniques, including phylogenetic and mutation analysis, were employed to characterize the detected pathogens.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Two major pathogens, <em>Campylobacter jejuni</em> and Norovirus, were identified by using molecular methods. Whole-genome sequencing of 12 representative strains using a genotyping tool revealed their classification into genogroup II within three major genotypes: GII.16[P16] (n=9, GBS-associated), GII.17[P17] (n=2), and GII.4 Sydney[P16] (n=1). Phylogenetic analysis based on VP1 and RdRp genes confirmed genotyping and revealed that all norovirus strains from GBS patients clustered within a potential distinct Indian sub-lineage, closely related to strains reported from Russia, USA and Germany, suggesting possible global dissemination. The GII.17 strains belonged to the globally dominant Romania-2021-like lineage, while the GII.4 strain clustered with the pandemic Sydney[P16] variants. Mutation analysis revealed genotype-specific patterns. GII.17 strains had the highest number of non-synonymous mutations (>160), mostly in ORF1 (RdRp; RNA-dependent RNA polymerase), suggesting replication adaptation. In contrast, GBS-associated GII.16 strains showed increased mutations in ORF2 (VP1; major capsid protein), likely driven by immune selection pressures.</div></div><div><h3>Interpretation</h3><div>These findings highlight the importance of genomic surveillance to identify emerging norovirus lineages and their potential clinical significance. Continued monitoring is vital to understand norovirus evolution and its possible connection to GBS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50180,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection","volume":"91 3","pages":"Article 106604"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144976937","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nannan Tian , Peng Li , Daichen Ju , Shengtao Lai , Jinxing Hu , Yaoju Tan , Jialou Zhu
{"title":"The real-world performance of a novel interferon gamma release assay based on fluorescence immunochromatography in detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in South China","authors":"Nannan Tian , Peng Li , Daichen Ju , Shengtao Lai , Jinxing Hu , Yaoju Tan , Jialou Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106605","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106605","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50180,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection","volume":"91 3","pages":"Article 106605"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144976898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xiaoyan Cai , Xu Wang , Haobo Ni , Jiayi Zhou , Ying Liang , Yunchong Yao , Xinyue Fang , Tingting Dai , Lingxi Wang , Ling Fang , Yi Chen , Yuyang Wu , Bo Wu , Wanna Zhang , Ruihe Zhang , Sen Pei , Xiaobo Liu , Yuantao Hao , Pi Guo
{"title":"Epidemiological characteristics and transmission dynamics of epidemic Japanese encephalitis in China: A modeling study","authors":"Xiaoyan Cai , Xu Wang , Haobo Ni , Jiayi Zhou , Ying Liang , Yunchong Yao , Xinyue Fang , Tingting Dai , Lingxi Wang , Ling Fang , Yi Chen , Yuyang Wu , Bo Wu , Wanna Zhang , Ruihe Zhang , Sen Pei , Xiaobo Liu , Yuantao Hao , Pi Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106609","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106609","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>In recent decades, China has experienced successive epidemics of seasonal Japanese encephalitis (JE), with the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) particularly spreading continuously in rural and suburban areas.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Nationwide data on 9061 JE cases, mosquito abundance from 89 surveillance sites, and population movement between 337 cities during 2013–19 were obtained. Seasonal multivariate linear regression models including time trends and reconciliation terms representing annual and semiannual cycles were fitted to the weekly time series of JE cases, and the amplitude and peak time of the cycles were estimated. A metapopulation network model of inter-city population mobility coupled with an iterative Bayesian inference algorithm was established to simulate the epidemic dynamics of JEV and estimate the time-varying transmission parameters.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The timing of the annual peak of JEV epidemics varied with latitude (<em>p</em>-value < 0.05), mainly characterized by earlier in southern cities and later in northern cities. There was no significant difference in the annual amplitude fluctuations of JEV epidemics in different latitudes (<em>p</em>-value > 0.05). Regions with higher values of effective reproduction number <em>R</em><sub><em>eff</em></sub> were mainly concentrated in central China, including Sichuan, Chongqing and Shaanxi provinces, with the annual activity peak typically occurring around August. Infections caused by population mobility mainly occurred in hub cities with high connectivity and radiated to surrounding cities.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Findings from this nationwide study can help enhance situational awareness of the spread of JE and inform appropriate intervention strategies to advance the goal of JE elimination.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50180,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection","volume":"91 3","pages":"Article 106609"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144996596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of InfectionPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-25DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106560
Guillaume Creuzet, Monique Boukobza, Emila Ilic Habensus, Benoit Lalloue, Marie Préau, Toni Alfaiate, Nathan Peiffer-Smadja, Mikael Mazighi, Sarah Tubiana, Jean-Pierre Laissy, Bernard Iung, Xavier Duval, Romain Sonneville
{"title":"Long-term evolution and functional impact of cerebral lesions detected by systematic brain magnetic resonance imaging in patients with infective endocarditis: the POST-IMAGE prospective cohort.","authors":"Guillaume Creuzet, Monique Boukobza, Emila Ilic Habensus, Benoit Lalloue, Marie Préau, Toni Alfaiate, Nathan Peiffer-Smadja, Mikael Mazighi, Sarah Tubiana, Jean-Pierre Laissy, Bernard Iung, Xavier Duval, Romain Sonneville","doi":"10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106560","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106560","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and purpose: </strong>Systematic brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reveals lesions in almost all patients with infective endocarditis (IE), but their long-term evolution and clinical impact have not been investigated. We aimed to describe the evolution of cerebral lesions detected by systematic MRI during acute IE and to assess their clinical consequences during follow-up.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a single-center observational prospective study nested into the ECHO-IMAGE cohort, comparing systematic brain MRIs performed during a follow-up visit with those performed during the IE episode. We analyzed cerebral lesions evolution and their association with patients' functional disability, cognitive impairment, depression and quality of life.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 100 included patients who underwent the follow-up visit after a median of 37 [21-74] months after the initial episode of IE, MRI neurological lesions were found in 80% of cases at follow-up, as compared to 84% during the IE episode. Most of these lesions were stable or decreased over time, except for the number of cerebral microbleeds, which increased significantly. At follow-up, functional disability, cognitive impairment, and depression were observed in 4%, 14%, and 59% of cases, respectively. Quality of life remained significantly altered in 3 dimensions, as compared to a control general French population. No association was found between the presence of cerebral lesions, the severity of IE episode and outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Cerebral lesions on systematic MRI are frequent during IE, and their evolution is stable over time, with the exception of cerebral microbleeds. We observed no association between cerebral lesions and long-term clinical consequences of IE.</p>","PeriodicalId":50180,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection","volume":" ","pages":"106560"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144735026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rad6 and Bre1 ubiquitin ligase negatively regulate biofilm formation and virulence in Candida glabrata","authors":"Yi-Hang Lee , Li-Hang Hsu , Zi-Heng Yu , Kai-Quan Leong , Hao-Sen Chiang , Ying-Lien Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106595","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106595","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>Candida glabrata</em> is an opportunistic human fungal pathogen causing infections due to its innate antifungal drug resistance and ability to adhere to mucocutaneous surfaces. Epigenetic pathways may be important factors in the development of drug resistance. Our previous studies showed that deubiquitination of H2B, regulated by a module comprised of Ubp8, Sgf11, Sgf73, and Sus1, plays important roles in oxidative stress tolerance and biofilm formation of <em>C. glabrata</em>. However, the roles of the Rad6 and Bre1 ligase in regulating the ubiquitination of H2B in <em>C. glabrata</em> remain unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We characterized the functions of Rad6 and Bre1 in <em>C. glabrata</em> by generating deletion mutants (<em>rad6</em>, <em>bre1</em>, and <em>rad6 bre1</em>). We analyzed biofilm formation, gene expression of key adhesins (<em>EPA1</em>, <em>EPA6</em>, <em>EPA20</em>) and protease (<em>YPS4</em>), antifungal drug susceptibility, stress responses, and virulence in a murine model of systemic candidiasis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Deletion of <em>RAD6</em> and <em>BRE1</em> resulted in enhanced biofilm formation, correlating with upregulation of key adhesin genes and the protease gene <em>YPS4</em>. The mutants showed distinct patterns of antifungal drug susceptibility: <em>rad6</em> and <em>rad6 bre1</em> mutants exhibited increased sensitivity to azoles, while <em>bre1</em> mutant showed enhanced resistance to azoles in solid YPD agar plates but no significant difference in liquid RPMI medium. All mutants demonstrated decreased resistance to echinocandins and amphotericin B, associated with altered expression of ergosterol biosynthesis genes (<em>ERG11</em>) and glucan synthase genes (<em>FKS1</em>, <em>FKS2</em>). The mutants also displayed decreased resistance to oxidative and cell wall stresses despite elevated basal expression of antioxidant genes (<em>SOD1</em>, <em>GPX2</em>, <em>CTA1</em>). In a murine model of systemic candidiasis, both <em>rad6</em> and <em>bre1</em> mutants exhibited enhanced virulence compared to the wild type.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Rad6 and Bre1 in <em>C. glabrata</em> function as negative regulators of biofilm formation and adhesion, and their related-genes expression, while <em>RAD6</em> deletion also suppresses macrophage ROS production and enhances fungal survival. The enhanced virulence observed in the <em>rad6</em> and <em>bre1</em> mutants is primarily attributed to these combined effects of increased biofilm formation, enhanced adhesion capability, and macrophage immune evasion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50180,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection","volume":"91 3","pages":"Article 106595"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144916624","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gift Ahimbisibwe , David Greenwood , Katalin Andrea Wilkinson , Joshua Gahir , Hermaleigh Townsley , Murad Miah , Philip Bawumia , Charlotte Chaloner , Dina Levi , Philip Hobson , Andy Riddell , Agnieszka Hobbs , Giulia Dowgier , Rebecca Penn , Theo Sanderson , Phoebe Stevenson-Leggett , Odiesia Daley , James Bazire , Ruth Harvey , Ashley S. Fowler , Emma C. Wall
{"title":"Third exposure to COVID-19 infection or vaccination differentially impacts T cell responses","authors":"Gift Ahimbisibwe , David Greenwood , Katalin Andrea Wilkinson , Joshua Gahir , Hermaleigh Townsley , Murad Miah , Philip Bawumia , Charlotte Chaloner , Dina Levi , Philip Hobson , Andy Riddell , Agnieszka Hobbs , Giulia Dowgier , Rebecca Penn , Theo Sanderson , Phoebe Stevenson-Leggett , Odiesia Daley , James Bazire , Ruth Harvey , Ashley S. Fowler , Emma C. Wall","doi":"10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106598","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106598","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In 2021, the rapid rollout of two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines reduced COVID-19 severity and mortality. However, further vaccine doses as a prime-boost schedule were limited, and lifting of public health restrictions by late 2021 frequently led to infection, rather than vaccine, as a third exposure.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To compare how the third exposure through mRNA booster or SARS-CoV-2 infection shapes humoral and cellular immunity following two vaccine doses.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We compared immune responses after the third exposure in healthy adults enrolled in the UCLH-Crick Legacy cohort study (NCT04750356) between those receiving ancestral spike-encoded mRNA booster (vaccine immunity, n = 38) or COVID-19 infection (hybrid immunity, n = 13) following two vaccine doses. Immune profiles were evaluated using live virus neutralization assays, IFN-γ ELISpot, Luminex assay, flow cytometry and mass cytometry.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Both total anti-Spike IgG and variant-specific neutralising antibodies were comparable following infection or vaccine as a third exposure. Overall, T cell populations were similar but functionally different. CD8⁺ Effector Memory (TEM) cells in the vaccine group showed higher expression of CD69 and Granzyme B following stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 Spike peptides. In contrast, the hybrid group produced higher levels of innate immune associated cytokines IL-10 and IL-34, as well as the T cell homing chemokine CCL25, after stimulation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>While both exposures generated comparable breadth of protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants, our findings suggest that the route of third exposure influences different aspects of the immune response, warranting further investigation into long-term immunity at both systemic and mucosal sites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50180,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection","volume":"91 3","pages":"Article 106598"},"PeriodicalIF":11.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144911812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}