New tools for detecting latent tuberculosis infection: evaluation of RD1-specific long-term response

Abstract Background Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release assays (IGRAs) were designed to detect latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). However, discrepancies were found between the tuberculin skin test (TST) and IGRAs results that cannot be attributed to prior Bacille Calmètte Guerin vaccinations. The aim of this study was to evaluate tools for improving LTBI diagnosis by analyzing the IFN-γ response to RD1 proteins in prolonged (long-term response) whole blood tests in those subjects resulting negative to assays such as QuantiFERON-TB Gold In tube (QFT-IT). Methods The study population included 106 healthy TST+ individuals with suspected LTBI (recent contact of smear-positive TB and homeless) c…

Looking for pathways related to COVID-19 phenotypes: Confirmation of pathogenic mechanisms by SARS-CoV-2 - Host interactome

AbstractIn the last months, many studies have clearly described several mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection at cell and tissue level. Host conditions and comorbidities were identified as risk factors for severe and fatal disease courses, but the mechanisms of interaction between host and SARS-CoV-2 determining the grade of COVID- 19 severity, are still unknown.We provide a network analysis on protein–protein interactions (PPI) between viral and host proteins to better identify host biological responses, induced by both whole proteome of SARS-CoV-2 and specific viral proteins. A host-virus interactome was inferred on published PPI, using an explorative algorithm (Random Walk with Restart) tri…

COVID-19: viral–host interactome analyzed by network based-approach model to study pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection

AbstractBackgroundEpidemiological, virological and pathogenetic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection are under evaluation. A better understanding of the pathophysiology associated with COVID-19 is crucial to improve treatment modalities and to develop effective prevention strategies. Transcriptomic and proteomic data on the host response against SARS-CoV-2 still have anecdotic character; currently available data from other coronavirus infections are therefore a key source of information.MethodsWe investigated selected molecular aspects of three human coronavirus (HCoV) infections, namely SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and HCoV-229E, through a network based-approach. A functional analysis of HCoV-hos…

Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic—Unique Opportunities for Unifying, Revamping and Reshaping Epidemic Preparedness of Europe’s Public Health Systems

Additional file 2 of COVID-19: viral–host interactome analyzed by network based-approach model to study pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Additional file 2: Figure S1. Pairwise distances along 259 full length CoV genomes. In the bottom of picture, indicative gene positioning along CoVs genomes is reported. The list of all considered genomes is reported in Additional file 1: Table S1. Figure S2. 3D structure of S-glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 and comparison with the ortholog from HCoV-229E, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV. Lateral (a) and superior (b) representation of SARS-CoV-2 S-glycoprotein, deducted for the sequence of patient INMI1 (MT066156.1). Each subunit chain has a different color. Structure comparison of S-glycoprotein subunit between: HCoV-229E and SARS-CoV-2, in purple and blue respectively (c); SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, in r…

Additional file 1 of COVID-19: viral–host interactome analyzed by network based-approach model to study pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Additional file 1: Table S1. List of accession numbers of H-CoV. Table S2. List of genes selected by RWR algorithm for HCoV-229E, along with proximity score. Table S3. List of genes selected by RWR algorithm for SARS-CoV, along with proximity score. Table S4. List of genes selected by RWR algorithm for MERS-CoV, along with proximity score.