Adenoviral and mRNA vaccines encoding the viral spike (S) protein have been deployed globally to contain severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Older individuals are particularly vulnerable to severe infection, probably reflecting age-related changes in the immune system, which can also compromise vaccine efficacy. It is nonetheless unclear to what extent different vaccine platforms are impacted by immunosenescence. Here, we evaluated S protein-specific immune responses elicited by vaccination with two doses of BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1-S and subsequently boosted with a single dose of BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273, comparing age-stratified participants with no evidence of previous infection with SARS-CoV-2. We found that aging profoundly compromised S protein-specific IgG titers and further limited S protein-specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell immunity as a probable function of progressive erosion of the naive lymphocyte pool in individuals vaccinated initially with BNT162b2. Our results demonstrate that primary vaccination with ChAdOx1-S and subsequent boosting with BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 promotes sustained immunological memory in older adults and potentially confers optimal protection against coronavirus disease 2019.

Orf virus (ORFV) belongs to the genus Parapoxvirus (Poxviridae family). It is the causative agent of contagious ecthyma (CE) that is an economically detrimental disease affecting small ruminants globally. Contagious ecthyma outbreaks are usually reported in intensive breeding of sheep and goats but they have also been reported in wildlife species. Notably, ORFV can infect humans, leading to a zoonotic disease. This study aims to elucidate the global evolutionary history of ORFV genomes in sheep and goats, including the first genomes from Central America in the analyses. In comparison to the last study on ORFV whole genomes, the database now includes 11 more sheep and goat genomes, representing an increase of 42%. The analysis of such a broader database made it possible to obtain a fine molecular dating of the coalescent time for ORFV S and G genomes, further highlighting the genetic structuring between sheep and goat genomes and corroborating their emergence in the latter half of 20th century.

In the last 6 years, Italy accounted for 36 % of the total autochthonous European West Nile virus (WNV) cases reported to ECDC. Since 2001, the country put in place a multi-species national surveillance plan. The plan was enhanced in 2020 by adopting a fully integrated “One Health” approach, including human, wild bird, equine, and mosquito surveillance for the early detection of WNV. In this context, the systematic acquisition of whole viral genetic information from human patients and animals is fundamental to obtain an in-depth knowledge on the patterns of virus evolution and transmission and to gain insights on the role virus genetics in morbidity and mortality, The purpose of this pilot study was thus to design a One-Health surveillance framework based on the genomic surveillance of WNV circulating at the vector-human-animal interface, in the endemic territory of Romagna (North-Eastern Italy) during the 2023 transmission season. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analyses confirmed the circulation of WNV lineage 2 showing high nucleotide and amino acid identity of 99.82 % and 99.92 % respectively among viral sequences from human patients, vectors and birds. All the sequences clustered with other Italian strains in the Central and Southern European clade with robust bootstrap support and BLASTn identity exceeding 99.7 %. The highest nucleotide identity was observed with sequences from Emilia-Romagna and Veneto regions (Italy), confirming a local virus circulation and overwintering of WNV lineage 2 with a confined virus spread and no (or limited) external introduction of viral strains. Our results, support the adoption of a One Health approach to WNV surveillance, based on WGS and integrating the clinical diagnosis, epidemiology, and genomic characterisation, to create a suitable operational process for the characterisation of autochthonous and imported Arboviruses circulating in Romagna to effectively integrate the already established surveillance plan.

Developing low-cost vaccine production strategies is crucial to achieving global health equity and mitigating the spread and impact of disease outbreaks. High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) technology is a widely used technology employed in the food industry for long-term preservation. This project aims at validating HHP as a cost-effective method for the production of highly immunogenic thermal stable whole-virus SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Structural studies on HHP-inactivated viruses demonstrated pressure-dependent effects, with higher pressures (500–600 MPa) destabilizing viral morphology. Immunogenicity assessments, in animal models, revealed that 500 MPa treatment elicited the most robust humoral and cellular immune responses, outperforming heat inactivation. Additionally, HHP-inactivated viral preparation retained thermostability for 30 days at 4 °C, reducing cold-chain dependencies and enabling vaccine distribution also in low-resource settings. With its rapid, cost-effective, and scalable production process, HHP presents a transformative, equitable solution for global vaccine development, particularly for emerging pathogens.

Staphylococcus argenteus, identified in 2006, represents a challenging case of bacterial taxonomic identification because of its high similarity to Staphylococcus aureus. In this context, neither mass spectrometry (MS) nor 16S gene analysis cannot precisely reveal the difference between the two species. In our study, the sensitivity to antibiotics of S. argenteus isolated from blood culture was tested, and the investigation of the bacterial genome was performed by Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) and Whole-Genome Next-Generation Sequencing (WG-NGS). The pathogen was identified as ST2250 and presented perfectly matched resistance genes, namely aph(3′)-III, mgrA, and sepA, whereas the virulence gene detected was scn. Two plasmids were found: the pSAS plasmid, belonging to the family of Inc18, and plasmid pN315, belonging to the Rep3 group. The epidemiological distribution and the spread of S. argenteus infection are scarcely documented, particularly when associated with sepsis. Therefore, a correct taxonomy identification, antibiogram, and resistance gene analysis may help in acquiring knowledge about this bacterium and implement its detection and treatment.

Orf virus (ORFV), a member of the Parapoxvirus genus, is commonly associated with a highly infectious skin disease primarily affecting sheep and goats, with a reported zoonotic potential. Initially identified in the 18th century, ORFV has been sporadically reported in other species, including humans. The present study analyzed the genetic variability and phylodynamic patterns of ORFV using the highly variable VIR gene, focusing on global strains from multiple hosts, including various species of ruminants and humans. A dataset of 267 ORFV strains from around the world, including sequences from the understudied island of Cuba, was used for the analyses. Results revealed greater genetic variability for ORFV than previously reported. While the virus may be defined as a generalist pathogen, capable of infecting various ruminant species and less frequently humans, signs of host-specific specialization are emerging exclusively for sheep and goats. Other ruminant species and humans may be categorized as occasional hosts, with infections likely linked to habitat overlap with sheep and goats and sporadic transmission that appears influenced by specific risk factors. In conclusion, these findings contribute to a better understanding of the transmission risks posed by ORFV, highlighting the need for further investigations into its potential to infect a broader range of hosts, particularly humans.