HIV-1 infection in the absence of treatment results in progression toward AIDS. Host genetic factors play a role in HIV-1 pathogenesis, but complete knowledge is not yet available. Since less-expressed HLA-C variants are associated with poor HIV-1 control and unstable HLA-C variants are associated with higher HIV-1 infectivity, we investigated whether there was a correlation between the different stages of HIV-1 progression and the presence of specific HLA-C allotypes. HLA-C genotyping was performed using allele-specific PCR by analyzing a treatment-naïve cohort of 96 HIV-1-infected patients from multicentric cohorts in the USA, Canada, and Brazil. HIV-1-positive subjects were classified according to their different disease progression status as progressors (Ps, n = 48), long-term non-progressors (LTNPs, n = 37), and elite controllers (ECs, n = 11). HLA-C variants were classified as stable or unstable according to their binding stability to β2-microglobulin/peptide complex. Our results showed a significant correlation between rapid progression to AIDS and the presence of two or one unstable HLA-C variants (p-value: 0.0078, p-value: 0.0143, respectively). These findings strongly suggest a link between unstable HLA-C variants both at genotype and at allele levels and rapid progression to AIDS. This work provides further insights into the impact of host genetic factors on AIDS progression.

The 2022 global mpox outbreak represented a turning point in the Monkeypox virus (MPXV) epidemiology, highlighting the incredible capability of this virus to adapt to different conditions, also in a non-endemic context. To investigate the genomic dynamics of MPXV 2022 strains, we performed whole-genome sequencing of 40 clinical samples from 16 Italian patients across multiple anatomical sites and timepoints between May and December 2022. Combining single-nucleotide analysis with detailed investigation of short tandem repeats (STRs), we explored inter- and intra-host viral dynamics. We identified 19 STR loci located near or within genes involved in immune modulation and virion morphogenesis. While most STRs remained stable across patients, a subset displayed locus- or matrix-specific variation. Among these, STR-VII—embedded within the coding sequence of OPG153, an envelope-associated protein implicated in viral attachment—showed a 12-nucleotide in-frame deletion, resulting in the loss of four aspartic acid residues (Δ4D variant). Structural modeling indicated that this deletion slightly alters a disordered acidic loop without affecting the global fold, potentially modulating surface charge and immune recognition. Integrating STR profiling into genomic surveillance may enhance resolution in outbreak reconstruction and reveal subtle adaptive processes underlying poxvirus–host interaction and immune escape.

Background: The potential of schistosomiasis to spread across borders, coupled with the considerable delay by which infected travellers and migrants are diagnosed in Europe, calls for better surveillance of the distribution of this disease. This study explored the geographical origin and genetic profiles of Schistosoma infections imported into Europe and diagnosed in a network of 11 European centres specialized in traveller and migrant health. Methods: Genetic profiles were obtained from DNA extracted from concentrated Schistosoma eggs or Schistosoma -positive samples (faeces, urine, biopsy) collected during routine diagnostic procedures. The species-specific cytochrome oxidase sub-unit 1 ( cox1 ) diagnostic region and the standard complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 + ITS2 (ITS1 + 2) ribosomal DNA region were amplified and sequenced, together with a partial region of 18S ribosomal DNA in selected cases. Prevalences of the different genetic profiles within the whole patient cohort and by country/geographical area of possible infection were analysed. A phylogenetic analysis was performed using the larger cox1 (~ 956 base pairs) sequences dataset. Results: A total of 94 samples were available for analysis, 36 from patients with a diagnosis of intestinal schistosomiasis and 58 with urinary schistosomiasis, all acquired in a sub-Saharan African country. Mitochondrial (mt) cox1 , nuclear ITS1 + 2 and/or 18S (mt/nuclear) genotypes were successfully obtained from 51/94 (54%) samples; while for 43/94 (46%) samples, only a partial mt genotype was obtained. Infections with Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni were identified in the majority of cases (66/94; 70%), while mixed Schistosoma spp. genetic profiles, which were identified in 30% (28/94) of the samples, were almost exclusively (27/28; 96%) associated with cases of urinary schistosomiasis. Among the urinary infections, almost half (27/58; 47%) could be identified as having a mixed genetic profile. These mostly (26/28; 93%) included genetic traits of S. haematobium and Schistosoma bovis , and all were from patients probably infected in West Africa. Conclusions: Infections with S. haematobium and S. mansoni represent the majority of cases of schistosomiasis currently being diagnosed in Europe; however, mixed Schistosoma genetic profiles (mostly S. haematobium/S. bovis ) were identified in at least 30% of samples. Our results call for a coordinated effort encompassing prompt diagnosis and treatment of Schistosoma infections, together with monitoring of the possible introduction of species of Schistosoma and establishment of their autochthonous transmission under suitable conditions in Europe.

In this exploratory pilot study, quantitative analyses were performed on seven leather wheelchairs and the protective barrier was evaluated on three leather wheelchairs, while shotgun metagenomic sequencing (Illumina and Oxford Nanopore) was conducted on pooled samples obtained from seven leather and three fabric wheelchairs to characterize microbial DNA recovered from wheelchair surfaces under routine clinical conditions. Microbial DNA and biomass were detected on all sampled surfaces, with median DNA concentrations of approximately 0.015 ng/µL, median cell counts of approximately 4.8 × 10⁵ cells/mL, and median OD600 values of approximately 0.038, although variability among wheelchairs was observed. NGS analysis revealed heterogeneous microbial communities composed mainly of taxa associated with human skin microbiota and environmental sources. Opportunistic taxa including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, and Clostridioides difficile DNA were detected. Differences in microbial composition were observed between the pooled fabric and leather samples, with fabric samples characterized by the dominance of specific taxa and leather samples exhibiting a more heterogeneous microbial profile. In addition, median DNA concentration, cell counts, and OD600 values were reduced by approximately 98–100% on the protective barrier compared with uncovered wheelchair surfaces, with statistically significant differences between conditions. Overall, these findings suggest that hospital wheelchairs may harbor measurable levels of microbial biomass and microbial DNA despite routine sanitation procedures. Lower contamination levels were observed on the protective barrier under the conditions tested. Due to the exploratory nature of the study, the small sample size, and the use of pooled samples for metagenomic analyses, these observations should be interpreted with caution and require confirmation in larger studies.

The 2022 global mpox outbreak represented a turning point in the Monkeypox virus (MPXV) epidemiology, highlighting the incredible capability of this virus to adapt to different conditions also in a non-endemic context. To investigate the genomic dynamics of MPXV 2022 strains, we performed whole-genome sequencing of 40 clinical samples from 16 Italian patients across multiple anatomical sites and timepoints between May and December 2022. Combining single-nucleotide analysis with detailed investigation of short tandem repeats (STRs), we explored inter- and intra-host viral dynamics. We identified 19 STR loci located near or within genes involved in immune modulation and virion morphogenesis. While most STRs remained stable across patients, a subset displayed locus- or matrix-specific variation. Among these, STR-VII—embedded within the coding sequence of OPG153, an envelope-associated protein implicated in viral attachment—showed a 12-nucleotide in-frame deletion, resulting in the loss of four aspartic acid residues (Δ4D variant). Structural modeling indicated that this deletion slightly alters a disordered acidic loop without affecting the global fold, potentially modulating surface charge and immune recognition. Integrating STR profiling into genomic surveillance may enhance resolution in outbreak reconstruction and reveal subtle adaptive processes underlying poxvirus host interaction and immune escape.