A5007169418- Neonatal Respiratory Health Research
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Studies
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
- Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
- COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Pleural and Pulmonary Diseases
- Cerebrospinal fluid and hydrocephalus
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Mesenchymal stem cell research
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- interferon and immune responses
- Global Maternal and Child Health
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
University of Bern
2009-2024
Federal Department of Home Affairs
2018-2022
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office
2017
Institute of Virology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences
2016
University Hospital of Bern
2006
Abstract Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a main cause of severe viral in humans, has complex ecology, composed cycle involving primarily waterbirds and mosquitoes, as well pigs amplifying hosts. To date, JEV transmission been exclusively described being mosquito-mediated. Here we demonstrate that can be transmitted between the absence arthropod vectors. Pigs shed oronasal secretions are highly susceptible to infection. Clinical symptoms, tropism central nervous system histological lesions...
Abstract Variant of concern (VOC) Omicron-BA.1 has achieved global predominance in early 2022. Therefore, surveillance and comprehensive characterization advanced primary cell culture systems animal models are urgently needed. Here, we characterize recombinant spike gene mutants comparison with VOC Delta well-differentiated human nasal bronchial epithelial cells vitro, followed by vivo fitness hamsters, ferrets hACE2-expressing mice, immunized hACE2-mice. We demonstrate a spike-mediated...
Abstract Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)–related apoptosis-inducing ligand (Apo2L/TRAIL) belongs to the TNF family known transduce their death signals via cell membrane receptors. Because it has been shown that Apo2L/TRAIL induces apoptosis in tumor cells without or little toxicity normal cells, this cytokine became of special interest for cancer research. Unfortunately, are often resistant Apo2L/TRAIL-induced apoptosis; however, can be at least partially negotiated by parallel treatment with...
Pigs are considered to be the main amplifying host for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), and their infection can correlate with human cases of disease. Despite importance in ecology as it relates encephalitis, pathogenesis JEV pigs remains obscure. In present study, localization kinetics replication were investigated various tissues after experimental intravenous pigs. The data demonstrate a rapid broad spreading central nervous system (CNS) other organs. A particular tropism not only CNS...
The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic continues to lead high morbidity and mortality. During pregnancy, severe maternal neonatal outcomes placental pathological changes have been described. We evaluate infection at the maternal-fetal interface using precision-cut slices (PCSs) of human placenta. Remarkably, exposure placenta PCSs leads a full replication cycle with infectious virus release. Moreover, susceptibility tissue relates expression levels ACE2. Viral proteins and/or viral RNA are detected...
Abstract While Zika virus (ZIKV) circulated for decades (African lineage strains) without report of outbreaks and severe complications, its emergence in French Polynesia subsequently the Americas (Asian was associated with description neurological defects newborns/neonates adults. With aim to identify lineage-dependent factors, we compared cell susceptibility, replication, death innate immune responses following infection two African three contemporary Asian strains ZIKV. To this end, used...
Abstract Lacking immunogenicity, inactivated vaccines require potent adjuvants. To understand their effects, we used a system immunology-based analysis of ovine blood transcriptional modules (BTMs) to dissect innate immune responses relating either antibody or haptoglobin levels. Using foot-and-mouth disease virus as an antigen, compared non-adjuvanted liposomal-formulated complemented not with TLR4 and TLR7 ligands. Early after vaccination, BTM myeloid cells, responses, dendritic antigen...
This work was initiated by previous reports demonstrating that mismatched influenza A virus (IAV) vaccines can induce enhanced disease, probably mediated antibodies. Our aim therefore to investigate if a vaccine inducing opsonizing but not neutralizing antibodies against the hemagglutinin (HA) of selected heterologous challenge would enhance disease or protective immune responses in pig model. To this end, we immunized pigs with either whole inactivated (WIV)-vaccine HA-expressing replicon...
The human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe lower tract infections in infants, possibly due to the properties immature neonatal pulmonary immune system. Using newborn lamb, classical model lung development and translational RSV infection, we aimed explore role cell-mediated immunity disease during early life. Remarkably, healthy conditions, developing T cell compartment showed differences that seen mature adult lung. most striking observation being high baseline...
Studies in the mouse model indicate that nucleoprotein of influenza A virus represents an interesting vaccine antigen being well conserved across subtypes but still able to induce protective immune responses. Here we show immunizations pigs with vesicular stomatitis virus- and classical swine fever virus-derived replicon (VRP) particles expressing (NP) H1N1 A/swine/Belzig/2/01 induced potent antibody T-cell responses against virus. In contrast a conventional whole inactivated vaccine, VRP...
Species in the genus Naegleria are free-living amoebae of soil and warm fresh water. Although around 30 species have been recognized, fowleri is only one that causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) humans. PAM an acute fast progressing disease affecting central nervous system. Most patients die within 1-2 weeks exposure to infectious water source. The fact N. such highly lethal infections has opened many questions regarding relevant pathogenicity factors amoeba. In order...
Lung-resident (LR) mesenchymal stem and stromal cells (MSCs) are key elements of the alveolar niche fundamental regulators homeostasis regeneration. We interrogated their function during virus-induced lung injury using highly prevalent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) which causes severe outcomes in infants. applied complementary approaches with primary pediatric LR-MSCs a state-of-the-art model human RSV infection lamb. Remarkably, RSV-infection led to robust activation, characterized by...
Abstract Variant of concern (VOC) Omicron-BA1 has achieved global predominance in early 2022. Therefore, surveillance and comprehensive characterization Omicron-BA.1 advanced primary cell culture systems multiple animal models is urgently needed. Here, we characterized recombinant spike gene mutants comparison with VOC Delta well-differentiated human nasal bronchial epithelial cells vitro, followed by vivo fitness naïve hamsters, ferrets hACE2-expressing mice, immunized hACE2-mice. We...
Despite being first identified in 1947, Zika virus-related outbreaks were described starting from 2007 culminating with the 2015 Latin American outbreak. Hypotheses indicate that virus has been circulating Asia for decades, but reports are scarce.We performed serological analysis and screened placental samples isolated 2008 presence of pregnant women Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam).None was positive virus. Four serum out 176 (2.3%) specifically inhibited virus, variable degrees cross-reactivity...
Purpose: Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging mosquito-borne Flavivirus causing birth defects and severe neurological complications in adults. Dendritic cells (DCs) act as major initiators regulators of the immune response towards viral infections. There at present very limited data on interaction ZIKV with DCs possible evasion mechanisms. Here, we analyze replication their antiviral a particular focus comparison between African Asian strains ZIKV. Methods & Materials: Human monocyte-derived...
Here, we present a protocol to analyze the T cell profiles of neonatal ovine lung during respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. The delivers standardized multiparameter flow cytometry (FCM) analysis CD4+, CD8+, regulatory, and γδ cells isolated from lung, lymph nodes, bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs). We detail preparation RSV transtracheal inoculation newborn lambs. then describe tissue isolation suspensions, followed by FCM acquisition identify different subsets. For complete details...
ABSTRACT The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak revealed the susceptibility of elderly patients to respiratory virus infections, showing cell senescence or subclinical persistent inflammatory profiles and favouring development severe pneumonia. In our study, we evaluated potential influence lung aging on efficiency replication influenza A (IAV) acute syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2), as well determined pro-inflammatory antiviral responses distal tissue. Using precision-cut slices...
ABSTRACT In 2022-23 the world experienced largest recorded mpox virus (MPXV) outbreak outside of endemic regions. Remarkably, cases neurological manifestations were reported, some which fatal. MPXV DNA and MPXV-specific IgM antibodies detected in cerebrospinal fluid encephalitis-affected patients, suggesting neuroinvasive potential MPXV. We explored susceptibility neural tissue to infection using human cerebral organoids (hCOs) exposed a primary isolate belonging clade IIb lineage. The...
We present a protocol to generate an advanced ex vivo model of human placenta. use vibrating tissue slicer obtain precision-cut slices representative the entire thickness This approach delivers standardized cultures with preserved microstructure and cellular composition comparable native tissue. applied this system study SARS-CoV-2 infection at maternal-fetal interface. Moreover, can be used investigate basic functions placenta in health disease. For complete details on execution protocol,...
ABSTRACT Lung-resident (LR) mesenchymal stem and stromal cells (MSCs) are key elements of the alveolar niche fundamental regulators homeostasis regeneration. We interrogated their function during virus-induced lung injury using highly prevalent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) which causes severe outcomes in infants. applied complementary approaches with primary pediatric LR-MSCs a state-of-the-art model human RSV infection lamb. Remarkably, RSV-infection led to robust activation,...