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Viruses
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Viral Infections in Special Populations
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Viral Infections in Special Populations

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Virology and Viral Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 8423

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Karolina Akinosoglou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medicine, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece
Interests: sepsis; COVID-19; HIV; infections in obstetrics and gynecology; antimicrobial resistance; hospital-acquired infections
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, "Viral Infections in Special Populations", delves into the nuanced landscape of viral afflictions within distinctive patient groups, spanning a myriad of demographics and medical conditions. This comprehensive compilation aims to unravel the intricate intersections between viral infections and vulnerable populations, including but not limited to individuals grappling with HIV, pregnancy or lactation, compromised immunity, advanced age, hematologic disorders, renal replacement therapy, liver cirrhosis, obesity, critical disease requiring ICU, pediatrics, adolescence, etc. Through a multidisciplinary lens, this Special Issue aspires to elucidate the unique challenges, pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnostic intricacies, therapeutic approaches, and preventive strategies pertinent to each specialized cohort. By amalgamating diverse research paradigms, clinical insights, and evidence-based practices, the primary goal is to furnish clinicians, researchers, and healthcare providers with a holistic understanding of viral infections within these distinct populations. Ultimately, this specialized compendium endeavors to catalyze advances in tailored interventions, optimize patient care, and foster pivotal breakthroughs in mitigating the impact of viral illnesses across diverse and vulnerable patient subsets.

Dr. Karolina Akinosoglou
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Viruses is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • viral infections
  • HIV
  • pregnancy and lactation
  • immunocompromised population
  • elderly
  • hematological patients
  • patients on renal replacement therapy
  • liver cirrhosis
  • obesity
  • pediatric population and adolescents
  • critically ill patients
  • moving populations

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 3446 KiB  
Article
SARS-CoV-2 Variants from Long-Term, Persistently Infected Immunocompromised Patients Have Altered Syncytia Formation, Temperature-Dependent Replication, and Serum Neutralizing Antibody Escape
by Camille Wouters, Jaiprasath Sachithanandham, Elgin Akin, Lisa Pieterse, Amary Fall, Thao T. Truong, Jennifer Dien Bard, Rebecca Yee, David J. Sullivan, Heba H. Mostafa and Andrew Pekosz
Viruses 2024, 16(9), 1436; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16091436 - 9 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1818
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection of immunocompromised individuals often leads to prolonged detection of viral RNA and infectious virus in nasal specimens, presumably due to the lack of induction of an appropriate adaptive immune response. Mutations identified in virus sequences obtained from persistently infected patients bear [...] Read more.
SARS-CoV-2 infection of immunocompromised individuals often leads to prolonged detection of viral RNA and infectious virus in nasal specimens, presumably due to the lack of induction of an appropriate adaptive immune response. Mutations identified in virus sequences obtained from persistently infected patients bear signatures of immune evasion and have some overlap with sequences present in variants of concern. We characterized virus isolates obtained greater than 100 days after the initial COVID-19 diagnosis from two COVID-19 patients undergoing immunosuppressive cancer therapy, wand compared them to an isolate from the start of the infection. Isolates from an individual who never mounted an antibody response specific to SARS-CoV-2 despite the administration of convalescent plasma showed slight reductions in plaque size and some showed temperature-dependent replication attenuation on human nasal epithelial cell culture compared to the virus that initiated infection. An isolate from another patient—who did mount a SARS-CoV-2 IgM response—showed temperature-dependent changes in plaque size as well as increased syncytia formation and escape from serum-neutralizing antibodies. Our results indicate that not all virus isolates from immunocompromised COVID-19 patients display clear signs of phenotypic change, but increased attention should be paid to monitoring virus evolution in this patient population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Infections in Special Populations)
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9 pages, 234 KiB  
Article
Prevalence of Hepatitis D in People Living with HIV: A National Cross-Sectional Pilot Study
by Georgios Schinas, Nikolina Antonopoulou, Sofia Vamvakopoulou, Olga Tsachouridou, Konstantinos Protopapas, Vasileios Petrakis, Emmanouil C. Petrakis, Despoina Papageorgiou, Simeon Metallidis, Antonios Papadopoulos, Emmanouil Barbounakis, Diamantis Kofteridis, Periklis Panagopoulos, Alexandra Lekkou, Fotini Paliogianni and Karolina Akinosoglou
Viruses 2024, 16(7), 1044; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16071044 - 28 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1328
Abstract
This study assesses the prevalence of hepatitis D virus (HDV) in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in Greece. Given the compounding effects of HDV and hepatitis B (HBV) on liver disease progression, as well as the emergence of new therapeutic options such as [...] Read more.
This study assesses the prevalence of hepatitis D virus (HDV) in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in Greece. Given the compounding effects of HDV and hepatitis B (HBV) on liver disease progression, as well as the emergence of new therapeutic options such as bulevirtide, understanding regional disparities and the epidemiological impact of such co-infections is vital. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted utilizing 696 serum samples from PLWHIV attending five major university hospitals. The methodology included HDV antibody detection by ELISA and HDV RNA confirmation. Of the 30 HBsAg-positive samples analyzed, the study population was primarily male (93%), with a median age of 54 years. Participants had been on antiretroviral therapy for a median of 10 years, and the median CD4 count was 738 (539–1006) copies/mL. Additional serological findings revealed a 7% prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) IgG antibodies and a 55% prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) IgG antibodies. Seroreactivity for syphilis (RPR/VDRL/TPHA positive) was identified in 33% of the participants. The results indicated a low HDV prevalence, with only one individual (3%) testing positive for anti-HDV IgG antibodies and none for HDV RNA. This indicates a lower prevalence of HDV among PLWHIV with chronic HBV in Greece compared to global data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Infections in Special Populations)

Review

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16 pages, 462 KiB  
Review
SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Clinical Outcomes of Special Populations: A Scoping Review of the Literature
by Achilleas Livieratos, Charalambos Gogos and Karolina Akinosoglou
Viruses 2024, 16(8), 1222; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16081222 - 30 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1480
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted special populations, including immunocompromised individuals, people living with HIV (PLWHIV), pediatric patients, and those with chronic liver disease (CLD). This scoping review aims to map the clinical outcomes of these vulnerable groups when infected with various [...] Read more.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted special populations, including immunocompromised individuals, people living with HIV (PLWHIV), pediatric patients, and those with chronic liver disease (CLD). This scoping review aims to map the clinical outcomes of these vulnerable groups when infected with various SARS-CoV-2 variants. The review identifies trends and patterns, noting that early variants, such as Alpha and Delta, are associated with more severe outcomes, including higher hospitalization and mortality rates. In contrast, the Omicron variant, despite its increased transmissibility, tends to cause milder clinical manifestations. The review highlights the necessity for ongoing surveillance and tailored healthcare interventions due to the heterogeneity of patient populations and the evolving nature of the virus. Continuous monitoring and adaptive healthcare strategies are essential to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on these high-risk groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Infections in Special Populations)
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Other

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16 pages, 883 KiB  
Systematic Review
The Global Prevalence of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 Infections among Immigrants and Refugees—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Thaís Augusto Marinho, Michele Tiemi Okita, Rafael Alves Guimarães, Ana Laura de Sene Amâncio Zara, Karlla Antonieta Amorim Caetano, Sheila Araújo Teles, Márcia Alves Dias de Matos, Megmar Aparecida dos Santos Carneiro and Regina Maria Bringel Martins
Viruses 2024, 16(10), 1526; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16101526 - 27 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1684
Abstract
This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of human T-lymphotropic virus 1 and 2 (HTLV-1 and 2) infections among immigrants and refugees worldwide. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases were searched for [...] Read more.
This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of human T-lymphotropic virus 1 and 2 (HTLV-1 and 2) infections among immigrants and refugees worldwide. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases were searched for studies published from their inception to 6 January 2023. A meta-analysis using a generalized linear mixed model with a random effect was performed for HTLV-1 and HTLV-2. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the decade of study, sample size, confirmatory methods, region of study, risk group, and region of origin. Of the 381 studies initially identified, 21 were included. The pooled prevalence of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 was 1.28% (95% CI: 0.58, 2.81) and 0.11% (95% CI: 0.04, 0.33), respectively. HTLV-1 prevalence differed significantly by region of origin, with the highest prevalence among those from the Western Pacific Region (7.27%; 95% CI: 2.94, 16.83). The subgroup analysis also showed significant differences between the estimates of HTLV-1 considering the decade of study, sample size, and region of study. For HTLV-2, significant differences were shown in relation to sample size, confirmatory methods, and risk group. The higher HTLV-1 prevalence found deserves public health attention in immigrant and refugee-receiving non-endemic countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Infections in Special Populations)
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7 pages, 197 KiB  
Brief Report
Hereditary Connective Tissue Diseases and Risk of Post-Acute SARS-CoV-2
by Maggie L. Bartlett, Daniel Sova and Mahim Jain
Viruses 2024, 16(3), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16030461 - 17 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1476
Abstract
We completed a retrospective review of data collected by the JH-CROWN consortium based on ICD10 codes for a hospitalized cohort. The severity and prevalence of COVID-19 and development of PASC within heritable connective tissue diseases were unknown; however, clinical observation suggested a thorough [...] Read more.
We completed a retrospective review of data collected by the JH-CROWN consortium based on ICD10 codes for a hospitalized cohort. The severity and prevalence of COVID-19 and development of PASC within heritable connective tissue diseases were unknown; however, clinical observation suggested a thorough examination was necessary. We compared rates of disease severity, death, and PASC in connective tissue diseases versus the entire cohort as well as in diabetes and hypertension to determine if connective tissue disease was a risk factor. Of the 15,676 patients in the database, 63 (0.40%) had a connective tissue disease, which is elevated relative to the distribution in the population, suggesting a higher risk of severe disease. Within these 63 patients, 9.52% developed PASC compared to 2.54% in the entire cohort (p < 0.005). Elucidation of populations at high risk for severe disease and development of PASC is integral to improving treatment approaches. Further, no other study to date has examined the risk in those with connective tissue diseases and these data support a need for enhanced awareness among physicians, patients, and the community. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Infections in Special Populations)
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