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Tag: Pathogens

  • Potential Pathogens That Could Trigger the Next Pandemic

    Potential Pathogens That Could Trigger the Next Pandemic

    According to a newly updated list from the World Health Organization (WHO) this week, the number of pathogens capable of igniting the next pandemic has expanded to over 30, now including the influenza A virus, dengue virus, and monkeypox virus.
    The monkeypox virus has been added to the WHO’s list of priority pathogens. Credit: Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Library/Getty

    According to a newly updated list from the World Health Organization (WHO) this week, the number of pathogens capable of igniting the next pandemic has expanded to over 30, now including the influenza A virus, dengue virus, and monkeypox virus.

    Researchers assert that this list of ‘priority pathogens’ will guide organizations in prioritizing efforts for developing treatments, vaccines, and diagnostics. The monkeypox virus has been added to the WHO’s list of priority pathogens.

    “This list is very thorough,” notes Neelika Malavige, an immunologist from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in Colombo, Sri Lanka, who contributed to the list. Her research focuses on the Flaviviridae family of viruses, which includes the dengue fever virus.

    Criteria for Priority Pathogens

    The priority pathogens, detailed in a July 30 report, were chosen for their potential to cause global public health emergencies, such as pandemics. The selection was based on their high transmissibility, virulence, and the limited availability of vaccines and treatments. The WHO’s previous lists in 2017 and 2018 identified around a dozen priority pathogens.

    Addressing Critical Knowledge Gaps

    Ana Maria Henao Restrepo, leader of the WHO’s R&D Blueprint for Epidemics team, explains that the prioritization process identifies urgent knowledge gaps and ensures efficient resource allocation.

    Malavige stresses the need to update these lists regularly to reflect changes like climate change, deforestation, urbanization, and increased travel.

    The latest effort broadened its scope by identifying risky pathogens within entire families of viruses and bacteria.

    Inclusion of Mpox and Smallpox

    Over 200 scientists spent approximately two years evaluating evidence on 1,652 pathogen species — mostly viruses and some bacteria — to decide which to include on the list.

    The list of over 30 priority pathogens includes Sarbecovirus, which contains SARS-CoV-2 (the COVID-19 virus), and Merbecovirus, which causes MERS. Previous lists covered SARS and MERS individually but not the full subgenera.

    The list now includes the monkeypox virus, which caused a global outbreak in 2022 and continues to spread in parts of Central Africa. The variola virus, causing smallpox, remains a priority despite its eradication in 1980 due to the risk of an unplanned release, which could lead to a pandemic.

    This is especially concerning because people are no longer routinely vaccinated against it, leading to a lack of immunity. Malavige also mentions the potential use of the virus as a biological weapon by terrorists.

    Influenza A Viruses and Other Pathogens

    Several influenza A viruses, including subtype H5, which caused an outbreak in cattle in the U.S., are now on the list. The five newly added bacteria cause cholera, plague, dysentery, diarrhea, and pneumonia.

    Rodent Viruses

    Two rodent viruses have been added due to their ability to jump to humans, with occasional human-to-human transmission. Climate change and urbanization could increase the risk of these viruses spreading to humans. The bat-borne Nipah virus remains on the list because of its high lethality and transmissibility in animals and the current lack of protective therapies.

    Many priority pathogens are currently confined to specific regions but have the potential to spread globally, says Naomi Forrester-Soto, a virologist at the Pirbright Institute near Woking, UK, who also contributed to the analysis. She studies the Togaviridae family, which includes the Chikungunya virus. “There isn’t a single place that is most at risk,” she notes.

    In addition to the priority pathogens, researchers also compiled a list of ‘prototype pathogens’ to serve as model species for basic scientific studies and the development of therapies and vaccines. Forrester-Soto believes this could stimulate more research into lesser-known viruses and bacteria.

    Advancements in Vaccine Development

    Before COVID-19, no human vaccines existed for coronaviruses, says Malik Peiris, a virologist at the University of Hong Kong. Developing a vaccine for one member of this virus family boosts confidence in managing future public health emergencies.

    This applies to treatments as well since “many antivirals work across a whole group of viruses,” Peiris adds.

    Forrester-Soto finds the pathogen list reasonable but notes that some listed pathogens might not cause epidemics, and new, unforeseen pathogens could become significant.We have almost never predicted the next pathogen to emerge, she remarks.

    Read the original article on: Nature

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  • Bloodborne Pathogens Swiftly Identified by Melting their DNA

    Bloodborne Pathogens Swiftly Identified by Melting their DNA

    A new technique that melts bacterial DNA in blood samples could diagnose life-threatening infections faster than before.
    Lead scientist Stephanie Fraley works with one of the possibly infected blood samples used in the study
    David Baillot/UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering

    A new technique that melts bacterial DNA in blood samples could diagnose life-threatening infections faster than before.

    Typically, to detect harmful bacteria in a person’s bloodstream, a blood sample is cultured in a Petri dish containing a growth medium. If bacteria are present, they will proliferate. However, it may take anywhere from 15 hours to several days for them to reach detectable levels.

    Innovative Microfluidic Chip Design for Rapid Bacterial Detection

    However, Under the guidance of Prof. Stephanie Fraley, researchers at the University of California San Diego have been investigating a faster and more precise solution. Moreover, They devised a microfluidic chip where a small blood sample is placed and heated to temperatures ranging from 50 to 90 ºC (122 to 194 ºF). If bacteria are present in the sample, the heat prompts their DNA molecules to melt. This melting leads to the unwinding of the double-helix strands in a distinct pattern unique to their nucleotide sequence.

    In fact, “To identify this pattern, a specialized dye is introduced into the sample, causing the unwinding to emit fluorescent light. Analyzing the properties of this light yields a signature called a melting curve. This curve is then compared to known curves associated with specific bacteria. Upon finding a match, the bacteria in the blood sample are identified. The entire process is completed in under six hours.Custom machine-learning algorithms enable this speed by identifying and removing the patient’s DNA melting curve and other background noise.

    A closer look at the microfluidic chip
    David Baillot/UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering

    Comparative Evaluation of the New Technology on Suspected Sepsis Patients

    To conclude, in an evaluation of the technology, blood samples from 17 children, suspected of having severe sepsis infections, were examined. However, the new technique yielded results identical to those obtained through conventional methods and did not yield any false positives. This contrasts with nucleic acid amplification methods, which amplify all DNA signatures indiscriminately, often leading to false positives. However, “this study marks the first application of this method to whole blood samples from suspected sepsis patients,” noted Fraley, emphasizing the study’s significance in simulating real clinical scenarios.

    Read the original article on: New Atlas

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