Virus Diseases Commons^™

Laboratory Study Of A Waste Anesthetic Gas Mask Scavenging System To Reduce Airborne Pathogen Exposure For Health Care Workers In Post Anesthesia Care Units, Josh Horton, Trevor Lim, Andrew Kanach, John Moenning, James Mcglothlin, Bruce M. Applegate Sr.

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

A scavenging oxygen mask system (SOMS) utilizing house vacuum has been demonstrated to significantly reduce exposure of post anesthesia care unit (PACU) health care workers (HCWs) to waste anesthetic gases (WAGs). Therefore, it was proposed that the same system could also be used to protect HCWs in the PACU by reducing Infectious Respiratory Particles (IRPs) spread from patients who may harbor airborne infective pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, certain strains of influenza, and SARS-CoV-2.

Methods

A life-like adult manikin head equipped with a bio-aerosol Collison nebulizer was set up to simulate patients exhausting pathogenic droplets. Further evaluation of …

Implementation Of A Modified Trigger Tool For Adverse Drug Reaction Detection In Pediatric With Covid-19 In Indonesia, Nisa Maria, Avini Risda Khaerani, Indri Yuliani Hamdani, Annisa Lazuardi Larasati, Larasati Arrum Kusumawardani

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Pediatric patients are vulnerable to adverse drug reactions (ADRs), necessitating prompt monitoring of treatment-related adverse events (AEs). This study analyzed ADRs in pediatric COVID-19 patients using a modified trigger tool to identify AEs, followed by causality analysis with the Naranjo Algorithm, and evaluated the tool’s performance. A cross-sectional, single-center retrospective study was conducted at a hospital in Indonesia from August 2020 to July 2021, using total sampling of pediatric patients aged one to≥24 hours with COVID-19. AEs were identified using 23 triggers (15 laboratory result, eight drug-administration). A total of 242 positive triggers were detected among 120 patients (mean two …

Modelling Acute Haemorrhagic Conjunctivitis In East Africa: An Integrated Approach To Transmission Dynamics And Outbreak Response Strategies, Geofrey Wingi Sikazwe

Tanzania Journal of Science

Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) poses a significant global health risk, with the potential for rapid spread during outbreaks. For instance, a localized outbreak in Yunnan Province, China, recorded infection rates of up to 48%, illustrating how transmission can intensify under favourable epidemiological and environmental conditions. Existing mathematical models of AHC transmission overlook seasonal variations, a critical factor in epidemic spread. This study combines species distribution models (SDMs) and epidemiological modelling to analyse key drivers of AHC in East Africa. We use the SEIR type (Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered - incorporating waning immunity) framework with temperature-dependent infectivity rate as the key driver of an …

Heartland Virus Preclinical Research Project, Brian B. Gowen

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Nuclear Activities And Interactome Of The Ns5 Protein Of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus, Maxime Chazal, Aïssatou Aïcha Sow, Elodie Le Seac'h, Dana Hawasheen, Margarida Bonifacio, Mikael Feracci, Ségolène Gracias, Adrià Sogues, Melissa Molho, Heng Pan, Boris Bonaventure, Jean-Pierre Quivy, Geneviève Almouzni, Etienne Decroly, Holly Ramage, Jeffrey R. Johnson, Vincent Caval, Nolwenn Jouvenet

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

Orthoflaviviruses are RNA viruses responsible for significant diseases in humans, domesticated animals, and wildlife. Their NS5 protein is central in viral replication, functioning both as an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and a methyltransferase, while also modulating cellular processes, including the interferon response. Although viral replication is cytoplasmic, the NS5 protein of several mosquito-borne orthoflaviviruses cycles between the cytoplasm and the nucleus of infected human cells. However, the nuclear localization and function of NS5 of tick-borne orthoflaviviruses, such as tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), remain poorly understood. Microscopy analysis and cell fractionation revealed that the NS5 protein of TBEV localized to both the …

The Impact Of Age, Health, And Education On Public Attitudes Towards Covid-19 Vaccines In Ireland, Kate Buckley, Aisling Burke, Chloe Holland, Clodagh O'Flynn

International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences

Abstract:

Introduction: Studies have revealed that age, health status and 3^rd level education influence public attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccination during the pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that influence the public’s attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine two years post-pandemic.

Methods: Ethical approval was obtained for the study. A total of 241 participants who provided informed consent were surveyed anonymously using closed-ended, open-ended and Likert Scale questions. Associations between specific demographics and vaccination attitudes were established using SPSS software.

Results: A higher percentage of 25–34-year-olds and 35–44-year-olds regretted receiving COVID-19 vaccines (46.6% and 37.5% …

Full Issue: The International Undergraduate Journal Of Health Sciences, Volume 6, Issue 1, July 2026

International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences

Full Issue: The International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences, Volume 6, Issue 1, July 2026.

Inhibiting Chikungunya Virus Protease Using Mtase-Like Domain Interactions For Novel Antiviral Therapies, Justin G. Julander

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Testing Elicitors Of Homologous Jadr2 Proteins To Regulate Natural Product Production, Carzon J. Williams, Emilee A. Patterson, Allison S. Walker

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has and will contribute to global economic and public health concerns in the foreseeable future leading into 2050. As mortality rates derived from AMR are projected to reach 10 million if no viable solution is found to combat it through hastened drug discovery. The use of natural products to mitigate AMRs effects is viable as more than 50% of FDA approved drugs are natural products. These natural products are synthesized by biosynthetic gene clusters (BGC), found in bacteria with a regulatory protein not allowing transcription until unbound . Current methods of eliciting the …

Hemidiaphragmatic Segmental Zoster Paresis, Terrence Sanvictores, Johnson Ukken

School of Medicine Faculty Research

The reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus within infected neurons can lead to common clinical manifestations, including rash, acute neuritis, post-herpetic neuralgia, herpes zoster ophthalmicus, and Ramsay–Hunt syndrome. Segmental zoster paresis is an unusual neurologic complication of shingles that is defined by focal asymmetric motor weakness in the myotome corresponding to skin lesions of the dermatome. This case is a presentation of a patient who developed chronic hypoxia and severe atelectasis attributed to right-sided phrenic nerve paralysis secondary to herpes zoster infection.

Assessing Hpv And Hpv Vaccine Awareness And Perception Amongst Undergraduate Students, Maura Hawkins

Honors Theses

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the United States. Vaccination rates remain low among college-aged students despite an effective vaccine being available. This study investigates HPV and HPV vaccination-related knowledge, beliefs, and perceptions among undergraduate students to inform targeted intervention strategies. Participants included undergraduate students (n = 19) who attended one of three focus groups conducted in April 2025 at the University of South Alabama. Structured interview guides explored HPV knowledge, perceived risk and severity, attitudes towards vaccination, autonomy in health decision-making, trust in health information sources, and preferred educational strategies. Discussions were …

Sirt1 And Ifi16 Cooperatively Regulate Hbv Replication Via Epigenetic Modulation And Innate Immune Activation, Zahra Zahid Piracha, Umar Saeed, Neelam Abid, Syed Shahan Gilani, Hafiz Ahmad Bilal Akhtar Chughtai, Areesha Wasti, Muhammad Waseem, Dilber Uzun Ozsahin, Andromeda M. Nauli, Surya M. Nauli

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) establishes persistent infection through the formation of a covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) minichromosome, which enables immune evasion and sustained viral replication. While SIRT1, IFI16, and STING are known to modulate antiviral pathways, their cooperative role in regulating HBV transcription and host immunity remains poorly defined.

Methods

We investigated the functional interplay between SIRT1, IFI16, and STING using confocal microscopy, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), gene silencing, and quantitative PCR in HBV-replicating cell models. Interactions with HBV cccDNA and effects on viral transcription and interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression were analyzed. Northern blotting and RT-qPCR were used to …

Epstein–Barr Virus Common And Rare Complications In Iraq: Review Paper, Ameer Mohammed Kadhim, M. Jafar Zainaldeen, Zainab Haider Abdulmajeed

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) is a highly ubiquitous herpesvirus found globally, it is associated to both a wide range of condition including common, pervasive infections and severe, rare diseases. In Iraq, despite a significant increased incident of chronic illnesses and viral- related malignancies, the local overview of EBV-associated complications remains fragmented. Aim: This review synthesizes the current available Iraqi literature to delineate the dual nature of EBV’s impact, distinguishing between common epidemiological manifestations and its role in severe clinical complications in local cohorts. Key Findings: high seroprevalence (~80%) of EBV in healthy Iraqi population, with noteworthy association observed in autoimmune …

Expert Recommendations To Strengthen Chikungunya Outbreak Surveillance And Reporting For Traveler Health Protection, Daniel C. Payne, Karoun H. Bagamian, Jeffery Goad, Nathan D. Grubaugh, Michael A. Johansson, Moritz U. G. Kraemer, Eyal Leshem, Francesca F. Norman, Alfonso J. Rodríguez-Morales, Henrik Salje, Stephen Thomas, Scott C. Weaver, Lindsey A. Laytner, Rebecca Sturgis, Suzanne K. Scheele, Davidson H. Hamer

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Chikungunya, a debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused by chikungunya virus, has surged dramatically in the past two decades. Chikungunya outbreaks can intensify rapidly, with infections posing a significant endemic health burden in tropical/subtropical areas and for travelers. Health professionals require timely and accurate outbreak information to adequately protect travelers and assess chikungunya risk. However, detection is often insufficient in the areas most susceptible to outbreaks, leading to diagnostic and reporting delays. Consequently, travelers are often unaware of increased chikungunya infection risk at their destination. We assessed chikungunya surveillance and reporting resources, and we developed expert recommendations for traveler health protection. Because …

Global Health Financing Of Diagonal Interventions: Building Resilient And Sustainable Health Systems In Sub-Saharan Africa, Lucy Kim

Master in Public Policy Theses

Background: Global health financing has historically prioritized disease-specific “vertical” programs over broader “horizontal” strengthening of general health systems. Vertical programs in HIV have led to unprecedented reductions in mortality worldwide, but HIV remains a significant public health threat in sub-Saharan Africa, where vertical strategies have long been criticized for creating fragmented health systems. In response, global health strategies have shifted towards combining vertical investments with broader horizontal activities, commonly referred to as “diagonal” programming. While evidence suggests that diagonal programming has the potential to create more resilient and sustainable health systems, evaluating its value for money is challenging due to …

Case Study Of Influenza-Associated Acute Necrotizing Encephalitis Complicated By Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, Hasnain Bherwani, Abhijeet Pal

St. Chris Research Day

No abstract provided.

Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy With Patient Education, Belle Grady, Victor Huber

Scholarship Pathways Program

Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy with Patient Education

Belle Grady, MD | Mentor: Victor Huber, PhD

Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a complex global issue, exacerbated by pandemics and social media. In addition to hesitancy, state policies loosening childhood vaccine requirements and alternative vaccination schedules may contribute to recent vaccine-preventable illness outbreaks in the United States. In South Dakota alone, kindergarten vaccination rates have gradually declined over the past decade. Such vaccine hesitancy and decreasing vaccination rates is a public health concern and must be addressed. Accessible patient education resources on the topic are necessary to increase vaccination rates.

Project Description: This project …

Determining The Relatedness Of Simian Varicella Virus Strains Using Polymerase Chain Reactions And Delta Herpesvirus-Dervied Primers, Ellyn M. Waits

Honors Theses

This study examines genetic variation among strains of Simian Varicella Virus (SVV) using genomic analysis. The primary goal of this experiment was to observe potential genomic differences among the Liverpool vervet virus (LVV), the Tsukuba herpesvirus, and the Delta herpesvirus (DHV) strains using primer sets developed from the fully sequenced DHV strain. SVV strains were initially cultivated in Vero cell cultures to begin viral propagation. Viral proliferation in these cell cultures enables DNA isolation via standard purification methods. The extracted viral DNA is subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification targeting specific regions of open reading frames (ORFs) in the …

Unusual Etiology Of Cauda Equina Syndrome In An Aids Patient: A Case Report, Wesley Augustus Kim, Brandon Velazquez

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Patients with advanced HIV/AIDS are at high risk for primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma due to impaired immune surveillance and HIV-driven B-cell proliferation. While intracranial lesions are well recognized, spinal involvement remains underrecognized due to the scarcity of well documented report cases in current literature. In this patient,we describe the case of a 35-year-old male with a new HIV diagnosis who experienced acute bilateral lower extremity weakness and urinary retention during hospitalization for fever, perianal abscess, and urinary tract infection. Initial CD4 count revealed profound immunosuppression with a CD4 count less than 20 cells/μL and a viral load of …

Case Report: Acute Encephalopathy Revealing Severe Babesiosis With Lyme Co-Infection, Czarina Gebrelle K. Soriano, James Espinosa, Alan Lucer

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Acute confusion in older adults is a common emergency department presentation with a broad differential diagnosis. Tick-borne illnesses can cause significant systemic disease and may present with nonspecific neurologic or constitutional symptoms, making early recognition challenging. Babesiosis is a tick-borne parasitic infection transmitted by Ixodes ticks and may occur concurrently with other infections such as Lyme disease, further complicating diagnosis. We present a case of a 67-year-old male who presented with acute confusion and was found to have concurrent babesiosis and Lyme disease. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for tick-borne co-infections in patients …