West Nile virus (WNV) encephalitis is characterized by neuroinflammation, neuronal loss and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. However, the mechanisms associated with BBB disruption are unclear. Complex interactions between tight junction proteins (TJP) adherens (AJP) of brain microvascular endothelial cells responsible for maintaining integrity. Herein, we relationship expression kinetics key TJP, AJP matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in mice brain. A dramatic increase permeability...

The rising epidemic of obesity is associated with cognitive decline and considered as one the major risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroinflammation a critical component in progression several neurological Increased metabolic flux to brain during overnutrition can orchestrate stress response, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, recruitment inflammatory immune cells from peripheral blood microglial activation leading neuroinflammation. lack an effective treatment...

ABSTRACT West Nile virus (WNV) is a neurotropic flavivirus that has emerged globally as significant cause of viral encephalitis in humans. The WNV-induced innate immune response, including production antiviral cytokines, critical for controlling infection. adaptor protein ASC mediates step signaling by bridging the interaction between pathogen recognition receptors and caspase 1 inflammasome complexes, but its role WNV immunopathogenesis not defined. Here, we demonstrate essential...

Accurate diagnosis of malaria is important for effective disease management and control. In Cameroon, presumptive clinical diagnosis, thick-film microscopy (TFM), rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) are commonly used to diagnose cases Plasmodium falciparum malaria. However, these methods lack sensitivity detect low parasitaemia. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), on the other hand, enhances detection sub-microscopic parasitaemia making it a much-needed tool epidemiological surveys, mass screening,...

Background Monocytes and macrophages play a pivotal role in inflammation during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, their contribution to the development of post-acute sequelae infection (PASC) are not fully elucidated. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted comparing plasma cytokine monocyte levels among three groups: participants with pulmonary PASC (PPASC) reduced predicted diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide [DLCOc, <80%; (PG)]; recovered from no residual symptoms...

WNV-associated encephalitis (WNVE) is characterized by increased production of pro-inflammatory mediators, glial cells activation and eventual loss neurons. WNV infection neurons rapidly progressive destructive whereas non-neuronal brain limited. However, the role pathological consequences cytokines released as a result unclear. Therefore, objective this study was to examine key secreted WNV-infected in mediating neuroinflammatory markers neuronal death.A transformed human neuroblastoma cell...

It has been suggested that JC virus (JCV) might travel to the central nervous system in infected B cells. Moreover, recent data suggest presence of JCV bone marrow plasma However, evidence for infection and replication cells is unclear. To address this question, we Epstein-Barr virus-transformed with found viral genome decreased >1000-fold from days 0 20 after infection, which concurred absence early late messenger RNA transcripts proteins. immunofluorescent images fluorescein...

Phylogenetic analyses, based on partial medium- and large-segment sequences, support an ancient evolutionary origin of a genetically distinct hantavirus detected by reverse transcription-PCR in tissues northern short-tailed shrews (Blarina brevicauda) captured Minnesota August 1998. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence hantaviruses harbored Americas.

A limited search for hantaviruses in lung and liver tissues of Sorex shrews (family Soricidae, subfamily Soricinae) revealed phylogenetically distinct the masked shrew (Sorex cinereus) from Minnesota dusky monticolus) New Mexico Colorado. The discovery these shrew-borne hantaviruses, named Ash River virus Jemez Springs virus, respectively, challenges long-held dogma that rodents are sole reservoir hosts forces a re-examination their co-evolutionary history. Also, studies now underway aimed...

Escalating trends of obesity and associated type 2 diabetes (T2D) has prompted an increase in the use alternative complementary functional foods. Momordica charantia or bitter melon (BM) that is traditionally used to treat complications been demonstrated alleviate hyperglycemia as well reduce adiposity rodents. However, its effects on human adipocytes remain unknown. The objective our study was investigate BM juice (BMJ) lipid accumulation adipocyte differentiation transcription factors...

Recent Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreaks have been associated with an increased incidence of neonatal microcephaly. Subsequently, tropism for the brain was established in human fetal tissue. We present first congenital ZIKV infection United States, confirmed by high immunoglobulin M antibody titers serum and cerebrospinal fluid. The phenotypic characteristics patient fall within disruption sequence, suggesting impaired development second half gestation. Brain imaging revealed almost agyric diffuse...

Replication of flaviviruses (family Flaviviridae) occurs in specialized virus-induced membrane structures (IMS). The cellular composition these IMS varies for different implying organelle origins biogenesis. role flavivirus non-structural (NS) proteins the alteration remains controversial. In this report, we demonstrate that West Nile virus strain New York 99 (WNVNY99) remodels endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to generate IMS. Within structures, observed an element cis-Golgi, viral double-stranded...

Diabetes is a significant risk factor for developing West Nile virus (WNV)-associated encephalitis (WNVE) in humans, the leading cause of arboviral United States. Using diabetic mouse model (db/db), we recently demonstrated that diabetes enhanced WNV replication and susceptibility mice to WNVE. Herein, have examined immunological events brain wild type (WT) db/db after infection. We hypothesized WNV-induced migration protective leukocytes into attenuated presence diabetes, high viral load...

Animal models are critical to understand disease and develop countermeasures for the ongoing epidemic of Zika virus (ZIKV). Here we report that immunocompetent guinea pigs susceptible infection by a contemporary American strain ZIKV. Dunkin-Hartley were inoculated with 106 plaque-forming units ZIKV via subcutaneous route clinical signs observed. Viremia, viral load in tissues, anti-ZIKV neutralizing antibody titer, protein levels multiple cytokine chemokines analyzed using qRT-PCR, plaque...

Abstract COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the world, caused over 1.8 million deaths in first year, and severely affected global economy. Hawaii is not spared from transmission of SARS-CoV-2 local population, including high infection rates racial ethnic minorities. Early pandemic, we described this journal various technologies used for detection SARS-CoV-2. Herein characterize a 969-bp segment S gene downstream receptor-binding domain. At John A. Burns School Medicine Biocontainment Facility,...

The immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a recombinant subunit West Nile virus (WNV) vaccine was evaluated in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). consisted envelope (E) protein truncated at the C-terminal end, resulting polypeptide containing 80% N-terminal amino acids native WNV (WN-80E), mixed with an adjuvant (GPI-0100). WN-80E produced Drosophila melanogaster expression system high yield purified by immunoaffinity chromatography using monoclonal antibody specific for flavivirus E...

The recent outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in French Polynesia, the Caribbean, and Americas have highlighted severe neuropathological sequelae that such an may cause. development a safe, effective ZIKV vaccine is critical for several reasons: (i) difficulty diagnosing active due to common nonspecific symptoms, (ii) lack specific antiviral therapy, (iii) potentially devastating pathological effects utero infection. Moreover, with excellent safety profile, as nonreplicating,...

Zika virus (ZIKV) infections have caused a wide spectrum of neurological diseases, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, myelitis, meningoencephalitis, and congenital microcephaly. No effective therapies currently exist for treating patients infected with ZIKV. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are group small RNAs involved in the regulation variety cellular physiological processes. In this study, we analyzed digital miRNA mRNA profiles ZIKV-infected primary mouse neurons using nCounter technology. A total 599...

Although our understanding of the immunopathology and subsequent risk severity COVID-19 disease is evolving, a detailed account immune responses that contribute to long-term consequences pulmonary complications in infection remains unclear. Few studies have cytokine profiles associated with post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) persistent symptoms. The dysregulation system drives survivors PASC sufferers largely unknown.

From 2014-2019, the University of Hawai'i (UH) at Manoa offered a National Institutes Health funded Minority International Research Training (MHIRT) Program for undergraduate research experiences in infectious diseases. The goal program was to immerse students conducting global diseases train new generation scientists combat future pandemics. MHIRT trained educationally underrepresented groups unique Hawai'i: Native Hawai'ians and other Pacific Islanders, Asian Americans, e.g., Filipinos...