Latent infections with periodic reactivation are a common outcome after acute infection with many viruses. The latency-associated transcript ( LAT ) gene is required for wild-type reactivation of herpes simplex virus (HSV). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In rabbit trigeminal ganglia, extensive apoptosis occurred with LAT − virus but not with LAT + viruses. In addition, a plasmid expressing LAT blocked apoptosis in cultured cells. Thus, LAT promotes neuronal survival after HSV-1 infection by reducing apoptosis.

Pigs and humans have shared influenza A viruses (IAV) since at least 1918, and many interspecies transmission events have been documented since that time. However, despite this interplay, relatively little is known regarding IAV circulating in swine around the world compared with the avian and human knowledge base. This gap in knowledge impedes our understanding of how viruses adapted to swine or man impacts the ecology and evolution of IAV as a whole and the true impact of swine IAV on human health. The pandemic H1N1 that emerged in 2009 underscored the need for greater surveillance and sharing of data on IAV in swine. In this paper, we review the current state of IAV in swine around the world, highlight the collaboration between international organizations and a network of laboratories engaged in human and animal IAV surveillance and research, and emphasize the need to increase information in high-priority regions. The need for global integration and rapid sharing of data and resources to fight IAV in swine and other animal species is apparent, but this effort requires grassroots support from governments, practicing veterinarians and the swine industry and, ultimately, requires significant increases in funding and infrastructure.

A fundamental goal in the biological sciences is the definition of groups of organisms based on evolutionary history and the naming of those groups. For influenza A viruses (IAVs) in swine, understanding the hemagglutinin (HA) genetic lineage of a circulating strain aids in vaccine antigen selection and allows for inferences about vaccine efficacy. Previous reporting of H1 virus HA in swine relied on colloquial names, frequently with incriminating and stigmatizing geographic toponyms, making comparisons between studies challenging. To overcome this, we developed an adaptable nomenclature using measurable criteria for historical and contemporary evolutionary patterns of H1 global swine IAVs. We also developed a web-accessible tool that classifies viruses according to this nomenclature. This classification system will aid agricultural production and pandemic preparedness through the identification of important changes in swine IAVs and provides terminology enabling discussion of swine IAVs in a common context among animal and human health initiatives.

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Fusarium moniliforme toxins (fumonisins) and Alternaria alternata lycopersici (AAL)

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Influenza virus causes acute respiratory disease in pigs and is of concern for its potential public health significance. Many subtypes of influenza virus have been isolated from pigs, and the virus continues to evolve in swine populations. Current antibody assays have limited antigenic recognition, and accurate, broad-spectrum, high through-put screening tests are needed to detect infections in swine herds and to aid in the implementation of control measures. In the current study, a commercial blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed for the detection of Influenza A virus nucleoprotein antibodies in avian species was evaluated for the detection of anti-influenza serum antibodies in swine. Serum samples used to evaluate the test were archived samples from influenza research conducted at the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service-National Animal Disease Center and included samples from influenza-inoculated pigs (H1N1, H1N2, H2N3, and H3N2), contact-infected pigs, vaccinated pigs, and negative controls. Based on samples of known status (n = 453), a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of the ELISA results estimated the optimized diagnostic sensitivity and specificity at 96.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 92.3, 98.9) and 99.3% (95% CI: 97.6, 99.9), respectively. By using the cutoff established in the ROC analysis, the assay was evaluated in pigs infected with 2 isolates of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus. Overall, the assay showed excellent diagnostic performance against the range of influenza subtypes investigated and could serve as a useful screening assay for swine.

Multiple divergent lineages challenge the design of cross-protective vaccines and highlight the need for additional surveillance.