Aedes albopictus (Skuse) is a potential vector for many arboviruses, including La Crosse virus (LACV), the leading cause of pediatric encephalitis in North America. Bacteria isolated from the midgut and diverticula of field-caught female Ae. albopictus were cultured and identified using 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplification and sequencing. Members of seven and six bacterial families were identified from the midguts and diverticula, respectively, with nearly half of the isolates identified to the family Enterobacteriaceae. Many are related to bacteria identified in other invertebrates, and several may represent previously unknown species or genera. Of the 24 isolated bacteria, 12 (50%) showed a significant reduction in infectivity of LACV for Vero cells. Inhibition of infectivity ranged from 0 to 44% and was not dependent on bacterial classification. The antiviral activity of these bacteria warrants further investigation as an alternate means to interrupt the LACV transmission cycle.

Outbreaks of coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) in meat processing plants and media reports of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection on foods have raised concerns of a public health risk from contaminated foods. We used herpes simplex virus 1, a non-Biosafety Level 3 (non-BSL3) enveloped virus, as a surrogate to develop and validate methods before assessing the survival of infectious SARS-CoV-2 on foods. Several food types, including chicken, seafood, and produce, were held at 4 °C and assessed for infectious virus survival (herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and SARS-CoV-2) at 0 h, 1 h, and 24 h post-inoculation (hpi) by plaque assay. At all three time points, recovery of SARS-CoV-2 was similar from chicken, salmon, shrimp, and spinach, ranging from 3.4 to 4.3 log PFU/mL. However, initial (0 h) virus recovery from apples and mushrooms was significantly lower than that from poultry and seafood, and infectious virus decreased over time, with recovery from mushrooms becoming undetectable by 24 hpi. Comparing infectious virus titers with viral genome copies confirmed that PCR-based tests only indicate presence of viral nucleic acid, which does not necessarily correlate with the quantity of infectious virus. The survival and high recovery of SARS-CoV-2 on certain foods highlight the importance of safe food handling practices in mitigating any public health concerns related to potentially contaminated foods.

Due to the recent epidemic of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection and resulting sequelae, as well as concerns about both the sexual and vertical transmission of the virus, renewed attention has been paid to the pathogenesis of this unique arbovirus. Numerous small animal models have been used in various ZIKV pathogenicity studies, however, they are often performed using immunodeficient or immunosuppressed animals, which may impact disease progression in a manner not relevant to immunocompetent humans. The use of immunocompetent animal models, such as macaques, is constrained by small sample sizes and the need for specialized equipment/staff. Here we report the establishment of ZIKV infection in an immunocompetent small animal model, the guinea pig, using both subcutaneous and vaginal routes of infection to mimic mosquito-borne and sexual transmission. Guinea pigs developed clinical signs consistent with mostly asymptomatic and mild disease observed in humans. We demonstrate that the route of infection does not significantly alter viral tissue tropism but does impact mucosal shedding mechanics. We also demonstrate persistent infection in sensory and autonomic ganglia, identifying a previously unrecognized niche of viral persistence that could contribute to viral shedding in secretions. We conclude that the guinea pig represents a useful and relevant model for ZIKV pathogenesis.

Neurological symptoms are increasingly associated with COVID-19, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 is neuroinvasive. Although studies have focused on neuroinvasion through infection of olfactory neurons and supporting cells or hematogenous spread, little attention has been paid to the susceptibility of the peripheral nervous system to infection or to alternative routes of neural invasion. We show that neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems are susceptible to productive infection with SARS-CoV-2. Infection of K18-hACE2 mice, wild-type mice, and primary neuronal cultures demonstrates viral RNA, protein, and infectious virus in peripheral nervous system neurons, spinal cord, specific brain regions, and satellite glial cells. Moreover, we found that SARS-CoV-2 infects neurons at least in part via neuropilin-1. Our data show that SARS-CoV-2 rapidly invades and establishes productive infection in previously unassessed sites in the nervous system via direct invasion of neurons before viremia, which may underlie some cognitive and sensory symptoms associated with COVID-19.