Van Gundy T et al. · Jun 18, 2026
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play key roles in regulating gene expression across all domains of life. However, relatively few RBPs have been discovered and characterized in Borrelia ( Borreliella ) burgdorferi , the causative agent of Lyme disease. We utilized gradient profiling to identify putative RBPs that co-sediment with small RNAs (sRNAs) and nascent mRNAs. The previously hypothetical proteins BB0749, BB0713 and BB0796, as well as the chemotaxis-related protein CheY2 and the flagella-associated protein FlgV demonstrated RNA unwinding (structural remodeling), RNA annealing, and strand displacement activity. Moreover, in vivo co-IP assays demonstrated BB0749 binds RNA in B. burgdorferi .
Immunology and Microbiology
White DL et al. · Jun 15, 2026
Background U.S. military veterans deployed to the Persian Gulf to serve in the 1990-1991 Gulf War (GWVs) have expressed concerns about potential increased risk of experiencing adverse COVID-related health outcomes given broad near-unique exposure to multiple diverse toxic agents during deployment and ongoing ~30% prevalence of Gulf War Illness (GWI+), a chronic, medically unexplained multi-symptom disorder associated with inflammation and immune dysregulation. Methods We conducted a retrospective study in the largest nationwide research cohort of 1990-1991Gulf War era veterans (GWEVs) enrolled in the VA's nationwide Million Veteran Program (MVP) to interrogate: 1) if deployed GWVs had increased risk for testing positive for novel SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID+), COVID-related hospitalization, ICU admission, or death in 2020 (pre-vaccine period); and 2) if deployed GWVs with GWI+ had particularly increased susceptibility. COVID outcomes ascertained using VA's COVID Data Resource; GWI+ determined using CDC severe criteria in surveyed GWV subcohort. Findings Our overall GWEV cohort (N = 136,868) had mean age 60.7 years, with 84% male, 27% African-American, and 22% deployed; n = 26,141 COVID-tested in 2020. COVID test-positivity (COVID+) was slightly higher in deployed GWVs (18.8% vs. 17.2% in non-deployed GWEVs, p = 0.005). In multivariable logistic models, there were neither strong nor significant associations between deployment and testing COVID+, COVID-related hospitalization or ICU admission (adjusted [adj] ORs ranged from 0.90-1.06, all p-values >0.05), nor significant differences in COVID-related mortality. Preliminary analysis in our pre-pandemic surveyed deployed GWV subcohort (N = 1,643 COVID-tested, 39% GWI+, 18.4% testing-COVID+, 10.6% COVID+ hospitalized) suggested GWI+ potentially associated with significantly increased COVID-hospitalization risk (adjOR=2.21, 95%CI: 1.02-4.81, p = 0.04); though no significant excess was observed for COVID-related ICU admission or mortality. Conclusions Our findings demonstrated that overall deployment to serve in the 1990-1991 Gulf War was not associated with increased COVID-related health risks among Gulf War era veterans using VA healthcare system in early pre-vaccine pandemic era. Preliminary findings suggesting association between Gulf War Illness and potential increased COVID-related hospitalization risk among deployed Gulf War veterans in the early pandemic era warrants replication and ongoing evaluation to assess if it persists in the era of COVID vaccination, oral anti-COVID medications and new viral variants.
Medicine
Hernandez-Romieu AC et al. · Jun 12, 2026
The representativeness and timeliness of sentinel surveillance for endemic and emerging arboviral and respiratory diseases in low-resource settings are understudied. We compared laboratory-confirmed epidemic dengue, non-epidemic dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and COVID-19 (pre-Omicron and Omicron periods) cases reported in Puerto Rico's Sentinel Enhanced Dengue Surveillance System (SEDSS) with island-wide trends reported by the Department of Health's passive disease surveillance system (PADSS). We plotted trends over time to assess representativeness and used lagged cross-correlations to determine whether SEDSS reporting preceded PADSS. SEDSS trends were representative of island-wide trends for all pathogens. SEDSS preceded reporting in PADSS by up to three, eight, and two weeks for epidemic dengue, Zika, and pre-Omicron COVID-19, respectively. Increasing case trends for chikungunya occurred at broadly similar times in both systems, while temporal concordance was lower for non-epidemic dengue. In Puerto Rico, sentinel surveillance was representative of island-wide trends and could provide early warning for dengue epidemics and emerging diseases, such as Zika and COVID-19.
Medicine
Jain S et al. · Jun 11, 2026
Orthonairoviruses are rapidly emerging, tick-borne viruses including Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), a highly pathogenic virus requiring biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) containment. Recently discovered nairoviruses such as Yezo virus (YEZV) cause febrile illness and are spreading across East Asia. No vaccines or therapeutics exist for these emerging nairoviruses. Recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) systems are promising vaccine candidates for CCHFV and enable neutralization studies in lower containment laboratories; however, efficient rescue of rVSV expressing CCHFV glycoproteins has been technically challenging. Nairovirus glycoprotein precursor (GPC) processing requires cleavage by host protease subtilisin kexin isozyme-1 (SKI-1/S1P) to generate mature Gn, with frequent adaptive mutations observed in the RRLL cleavage site during rVSV-CCHFV rescue. Here, we investigated the role of PreGn cleavage in generating replication-competent rVSV-CCHFV. Targeted mutation of the SKI-1 cleavage site, resulting in uncleaved PreGn and immature Gn expression, markedly improved rVSV-CCHFV rescue efficiency when combined with Gc cytoplasmic tail truncation. This approach enabled robust generation of replication-competent rVSV-CCHFV across two genetically distinct strains (IbAr10200 and Turkey). To assess generalizability, we extended analysis to Hazara virus (HAZV) and YEZV. Unexpectedly, we efficiently rescued both rVSV-HAZV and rVSV-YEZV with intact cleavage sites, while cleavage mutations reduced their replication efficiency, indicating virus-specific requirements. Using human convalescent and animal sera, rVSV-CCHFV provided reliable neutralization assays with results comparable to authentic CCHFV under BSL-4 conditions. Animal and human CCHF-positive sera exhibited low, yet occasionally measurable, cross-neutralizing activity against VSV-HAZV. These findings define strategies for generating replication-competent rVSV vectors displaying nairovirus GPC and provide opportunities for studying neutralization in lower containment facilities.
Medicine