After a long journey, we've reached an important milestone with this publication. I'm grateful for the excellent collaboration between neurology, neuropathology, radiology and our team at the #CharitéVirology #DZIF #LaborBerlin [contains quote post or other embedded content]
The @WHO has appointed the Institute of Virology at #CharitéBerlin as a member of the new WHO #Coronavirus Network (CoViNet). The network of reference laboratories aims to detect and monitor #SARSCoV2, #MERS and other viruses at an early stage to support the development of #WHO public health strategies. The Institute is one of 33 laboratories worldwide to contribute their expertise.
#medicine #MedMastodon #CoViNet #PublicHealth #CharitéVirology #diagnostics
The #MERS coronavirus can be transmitted from dromedaries to humans and causes severe pneumonia in some people. A study by #CharitéBerlin & the University of Nairobi now shows that the probability of transmission in Kenya 🇰🇪 is highest during the two dry seasons.
@mamueller #CharitéPaper #science #research #ScienceMastodon #CharitéVirology #Africa
Researchers from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the University of Nairobi have new findings on the spread of MERS coronavirus in Kenya to report. In this section, study lead Prof. Marcel Müller answers questions about the research findings.
How do neurological symptoms arise in #COVID19? According to a study by #CharitéBerlin & @bih_charite the symptoms are apparently a side effect of inflammation in the rest of the body, not a result of direct infection of the brain.
👉 https://www.charite.de/en/service/press_reports/artikel/detail/how_covid_19_affects_the_brain/
BA.2.86 & its descendant, JN.1, of #SARSCoV2 dominate the winter wave. But why?
Using live virus neutralisation & sera taken in fall 2023 we found clear neutralisation escape against recent variants but no specific escape for BA.2.86/JN.1.
➡️ Neutralisation escape doesn't seem to explain the JN.1 increase. Further studies may find the driving force instead.
New publication out:
https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.2.2300740
Congrats to Lara and Barbara!
#CharitéVirology #Eurosurveillance @ChariteBerlin
Variant BA.2.86 and its descendant, JN.1, of SARS-CoV-2 are rising in incidence across Europe and globally. We isolated recent JN.1, BA.2.86, EG.5, XBB.1.5 and earlier variants. We tested live virus neutralisation of sera taken in September 2023 from vaccinated and exposed healthy persons (n = 39). We found clear neutralisation escape against recent variants but no specific pronounced escape for BA.2.86 or JN.1. Neutralisation escape corresponds to recent variant predominance but may not be causative of the recent upsurge in JN.1 incidence.
An international team headed by #CharitéBerlin is looking to #biodiversity 🐭 🦟 🦠 to better gauge whether pathogens could pass from animals to humans. The goal is to help prevent #epidemics. The EU 🇪🇺 has pledged 4 million euros to support the project.
@unihannover #ScienceMastodon #research #CharitéVirology #ZOE #zoonoses #HorizonEurope
Our first publication in 2024
"Deep RNA sequencing of muscle tissue reveals absence of viral signatures in dermatomyositis" is now out in #FreeNeuropathology #CharitéVirology
@ChariteBerlin
The result of fruitful joint work :
"...Establishment of West Nile virus in a large urban area in Europe (= #Berlin )".
https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.48.2300258
#WNV #Arbovirus #CharitéVirology #Eurosurveillance
@ChariteBerlin
Background West Nile virus (WNV), found in Berlin in birds since 2018 and humans since 2019, is a mosquito-borne virus that can manifest in humans as West Nile fever (WNF) or neuroinvasive disease (WNND). However, human WNV infections and associated disease are likely underdiagnosed. Aim We aimed to identify and genetically characterise WNV infections in humans and mosquitoes in Berlin. Methods We investigated acute WNV infection cases reported to the State Office for Health and Social Affairs Berlin in 2021 and analysed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with encephalitis of unknown aetiology (n = 489) for the presence of WNV. Mosquitoes were trapped at identified potential exposure sites of cases and examined for WNV infection. Results West Nile virus was isolated and sequenced from a blood donor with WNF, a symptomatic patient with WNND and a WNND case retrospectively identified from testing CSF. All cases occurred in 2021 and had no history of travel 14 days prior to symptom onset (incubation period of the disease). We detected WNV in Culex pipiens mosquitoes sampled at the exposure site of one case in 2021, and in 2022. Genome analyses revealed a monophyletic Berlin-specific virus clade in which two enzootic mosquito-associated variants can be delineated based on tree topology and presence of single nucleotide variants. Both variants have highly identical counterparts in human cases indicating local acquisition of infection. Conclusion Our study provides evidence that autochthonous WNV lineage 2 infections occurred in Berlin and the virus has established an endemic maintenance cycle.
Das DZIF trauert um Professor Gerd Sutter:
https://www.dzif.de/de/das-dzif-trauert-um-professor-gerd-sutter
WHO statement on reported clusters of respiratory illness in children in northern China.
WHO has made an official request to China for detailed information on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children. At a press conference on 13 November 2023, Chinese authorities from the National Health Commission reported an increase in incidence of respiratory diseases in China.
Charité Berlin
Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him)