Background The multifaceted non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) taken during the COVID-19 pandemic not only decrease the spreading of the SARS-CoV-2, but have impact on the prevalence of other viruses. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of common respiratory viruses among hospitalized children with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Respiratory specimens were obtained from children with LRTI at Children’s Hospital of Fudan University for detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (ADV), parainfluenza virus (PIV) 1 to 3, influenza virus A (FluA), influenza virus B (FluB), human metapneumovirus (MPV) and rhinovirus (RV). The data were analyzed and compared between the year of 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic) and 2019 (before COVID-19 pandemic). Results A total of 7107 patients were enrolled, including 4600 patients in 2019 and 2507 patients in 2020. Compared with 2019, we observed an unprecedented reduction of RSV, ADV, FluA, FluB, and MPV infections in 2020, despite of reopening of schools in June, 2020. However, the RV infection was significantly increased in 2020 and a sharp increase was observed especially after reopening of schools. Besides, the PIV infection showed resurgent characteristic after September of 2020. The mixed infections were significantly less frequent in 2020 compared with the year of 2019. Conclusions The NPIs during the COVID-19 pandemic have great impact on the prevalence of common respiratory viruses in China. Meanwhile, we do need to be cautious of a possible resurgence of some respiratory viruses as the COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed.

No abstract

Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) taken to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic have not only decreased the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 but also have had an impact on the prevalence of other common viruses. This study aimed to investigate the long‐term impact of NPIs on common respiratory and enteric viruses among children in Shanghai, China, as NPIs were relaxed after June 2020. The laboratory results and clinical data of outpatient children with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) and acute gastroenteritis (AGE) were analyzed and compared between the post‐COVID‐19 period (from June 2020 to January 2022) and pre‐COVID‐19 period (from June 2018 to January 2020). A total of 107 453 patients were enrolled from June 2018 to January 2022, including 43 190 patients with ARTI and 64 263 patients with AGE. The positive rates of most viruses decreased during the post‐COVID‐19 period, with the greatest decrease for influenza A (−0.94%), followed by adenoviruses (AdV) (−61.54%), rotaviruses (−48.17%), and influenza B (−40%). However, the positive rates of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and enteric AdV increased during the post‐COVID‐19 period as the NPIs were relaxed. Besides this, in the summer of 2021, an unexpected out‐of‐season resurgence of RSV activity was observed, and the resurgence was more prominent among children older than 5 years. The effectiveness of the current relaxed NPIs in control of common respiratory and enteric viruses was variable. Relaxation of NPIs might lead to the resurgence of common viruses.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a highly abundant mycotoxin that exerts many adverse effects on humans and animals. Much effort has been made to control DON in the past, and bio-transformation has emerged as the most promising method. However, useful and effective application of bacterial bio-transformation for the purpose of inhibiting DON remains urgently needed. The current study isolated a novel DON detoxifying bacterium, Slackia sp. D-G6 (D-G6), from chicken intestines. D-G6 is a Gram-positive, non-sporulating bacterium, which ranges in size from 0.2–0.4 μm × 0.6–1.0 μm. D-G6 de-epoxidizes DON into a non-toxic form called DOM-1. Optimum conditions required for degradation of DON are 37–47 °C and a pH of 6–10 in WCA medium containing 50% chicken intestinal extract. Besides DON detoxification, D-G6 also produces equol (EQL) from daidzein (DZN), which shows high estrogenic activity, and prevents estrogen-dependent and age-related diseases effectively. Furthermore, the genome of D-G6 was sequenced and characterized. Thirteen genes that show potential for DON de-epoxidation were identified via comparative genomics. In conclusion, a novel bacterium that exhibits the dual function of detoxifying DON and producing the beneficial natural estrogen analogue, EQL, was identified.