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Human adenovirus (HAdV) infections can cause a range of symptoms but most commonly result in respiratory illnesses (1). Most HAdV infections are not clinically severe; however, more serious illness can [...]

The emergence of a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant B.1.1.7 (Alpha) in the United Kingdom in late 2020 raised alarm worldwide and prompted major reassessment of [...]

The recently emerged Omicron variant of severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (1) is highly transmissible and partially immune evasive (2). Omicron contributes to the recent surges in coronavirus disease [...]

Human adenovirus genome (HAdV) type 7d (HAdV-7d) was first detected in the United States in December 2013 in Oregon, in association with acute respiratory disease (ARD) requiring hospitalization (1). In [...]

Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) contain linear, double-stranded DNA with an average genomic length of 35 kbp. The 51 serotypes identified by seroneutralization and >70 genotypes that have been described by computational [...]

Powassan virus is a positive-sense RNA virus that belongs to the tick-borne encephalitis group of flaviviruses (1). The first recognized case of Powassan encephalitis in North America was from Canada [...]

During the 2009-2010 influenza pandemic, when pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus was the predominant circulating influenza virus (1), the prevalence of oseltamivir-resistant pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viruses in the United States was [...]

The emergence of novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants in late 2020 and early 2021 raised alarm worldwide because of their potential for increased transmissibility and immune evasion. Elucidating the evolutionary and epidemiologic dynamics among novel SARS-CoV-2 variants is essential for understanding the trajectory of the coronavirus disease pandemic. We describe the interplay between B.1.1.7 (Alpha) and B.1.526 (Iota) variants in New York State, USA, during December 2020-April 2021 through phylogeographic analyses, space-time scan statistics, and cartographic visualization. Our results indicate that B.1.526 probably evolved in New York City, where it was displaced as the dominant lineage by B.1.1.7 months after its initial appearance. In contrast, B.1.1.7 became dominant earlier in regions with fewer B.1.526 infections. These results suggest that B.1.526 might have delayed the initial spread of B.1.1.7 in New York City. Our combined spatiotemporal methodologies can help disentangle the complexities of shifting SARS-CoV-2 variant landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovative monitoring approaches are needed to track the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic and potentially assess the impact of community mitigation interventions. We present temporal data on influenza-like illness, influenza diagnosis, and COVID-19 cases for all 4 regions of New York State through the first 6 weeks of the outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The US' coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic has grown extensively since February 2020, with substantial associated hospitalizations and mortality; New York State has emerged as the national epicenter. We report on the extent of testing and test results during the month of March in New York State, along with risk factors, outcomes, and household prevalence among initial cases subject to in-depth investigations. Methods Specimen collection for COVID-19 testing was conducted in healthcare settings, community-based collection sites, and by home testing teams. Information on demographics, risk factors, and hospital outcomes of cases was obtained through epidemiological investigations and an electronic medical records match, and summarized descriptively. Active testing of initial case's households enabled estimation of household prevalence. Results During March in New York State, outside of New York City, a total of 47 326 persons tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, out of 141 495 tests (33% test-positive), with the highest number of cases located in the metropolitan region counties. Among 229 initial cases diagnosed through 12 March, by 30 March 13% were hospitalized and 2% died. Testing conducted among 498 members of these case's households found prevalent infection among 57%, excluding first-reported cases 38%. In these homes, we found a significant age gradient in prevalence, from 23% among those < 5 years to 68% among those ≥ 65 years (P  < .0001). Conclusions New York State faced a substantial and increasing COVID-19 outbreak during March 2020. The earliest cases had high levels of infection in their households and by the end of the month, the risks of hospitalization and death were high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human adenovirus type 4 (HAdV-4) is most commonly isolated in military settings. We conducted detailed molecular characterization on 36 HAdV-4 isolates recovered from civilian adults with acute respiratory disease (ARD) in the northeastern United States during 2011-2015. Specimens came from college students, residents of long-term care facilities or nursing homes, a cancer patient, and young adults without co-morbidities. HAdV-4 genome types 4a1 and 4a2, the variants most frequently detected among US military recruits in basic training before the restoration of vaccination protocols, were isolated in most cases. Two novel a-like variants were recovered from students enrolled at a college in Tompkins County, New York, USA, and a prototype-like variant distinguishable from the vaccine strain was isolated from an 18-year-old woman visiting a physician's office in Ulster County, New York, USA, with symptoms of influenza-like illness. Our data suggest that HAdV-4 might be an underestimated causative agent of ARD among civilian adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This overview describes microarray-based tests that combine solution-phase amplification chemistry and microarray hybridization within a single microfluidic chamber. The integrated biochemical approach improves microarray workflow for diagnostic applications by reducing the number of steps and minimizing the potential for sample or amplicon cross-contamination. Examples described herein illustrate a basic, integrated approach for DNA and RNA genomes, and a simple consumable architecture for incorporating wash steps while retaining an entirely closed system. It is anticipated that integrated microarray biochemistry will provide an opportunity to significantly reduce the complexity and cost of microarray consumables, equipment, and workflow, which in turn will enable a broader spectrum of users to exploit the intrinsic multiplexing power of microarrays for infectious disease diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]