Submit to Viruses Review for Viruses Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Pediatric Viral Infection Long-Term Consequences

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Viruses".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 September 2021) | Viewed by 19785

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Emma Mohr

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
Interests: prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of congenital viral infections

Dr. Regina Rowe

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
Interests: pediatric infectious diseases; respiratory virus infections; antiviral immune responses

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Viral infections in childhood can result in deleterious sequelae for months or years following resolution of acute infection. Post-viral sequelae include developmental deficits following congenital viral infections, asthma following respiratory virus infections, immune suppression due to measles virus and multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We have a poor understanding of the pathogenesis underlying post-viral sequelae. Both basic and clinical research are required to fill this knowledge gap.

In this Special Issue of Viruses, we want to explore advances in our understanding of the long-term consequences of pediatric viral infections: How do viral infections impact the functional outcomes of children? What viral and host-specific mechanisms underlie the development of these long-term sequelae? What interventions are being developed to ameliorate adverse long-term consequences?

We seek all types of manuscripts (e.g., reviews, research articles, and short communications) that further the discussion of pediatric viral infection long-term consequences.

Dr. Emma Mohr
Dr. Regina Rowe
Guest Editors

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

pediatric viral infection
long-term consequences
post-viral sequelae

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers

Editorial

Jump to: Research

2 pages, 169 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue “Pediatric Viral Infection Long-Term Consequences”

by Regina K. Rowe and Emma L. Mohr

Viruses 2022, 14(2), 343; https://doi.org/10.3390/v14020343 - 08 Feb 2022

Viewed by 1406

Abstract

This Special Issue was focused on advancing our understanding of the long-term consequences of pediatric viral infections [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Viral Infection Long-Term Consequences)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

12 pages, 1992 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Obesity and Metabolic Dysregulation in Children Provide Protective Influenza Vaccine Responses

by Mundeep K. Kainth, Joanna S. Fishbein, Teresa Aydillo, Alba Escalera, Rachael Odusanya, Kalliopi Grammatikopoulos, Tiffany Scotto, Christine B. Sethna, Adolfo García-Sastre and Clifford S. Deutschman

Viruses 2022, 14(1), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/v14010124 - 11 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3091

Abstract

The most effective intervention for influenza prevention is vaccination. However, there are conflicting data on influenza vaccine antibody responses in obese children. Cardio-metabolic parameters such as waist circumference, cholesterol, insulin sensitivity, and blood pressure are used to subdivide individuals with overweight or obese BMI into ‘healthy’ (MHOO) or ‘unhealthy’ (MUOO) metabolic phenotypes. The ever-evolving metabolic phenotypes in children may be elucidated by using vaccine stimulation to characterize cytokine responses. We conducted a prospective cohort study evaluating influenza vaccine responses in children. Participants were identified as either normal-weight children (NWC) or overweight/obese using BMI. Children with obesity were then characterized using metabolic health metrics. These metrics consisted of changes in serum cytokine and chemokine concentrations measured via multiplex assay at baseline and repeated at one month following vaccination. Changes in NWC, MHOO and MUOO were compared using Chi-square/Fisher’s exact test for antibody responses and Kruskal–Wallis test for cytokines. Differences in influenza antibody responses in normal, MHOO and MUOO children were statistically indistinguishable. IL-13 was decreased in MUOO children compared to NWC and MHOO children (p = 0.04). IL-10 approached a statistically significant decrease in MUOO compared to MHOO and NWC (p = 0.07). Influenza vaccination does not provoke different responses in NCW, MHOO, or MUOO children, suggesting that obesity, whether metabolically healthy or unhealthy, does not alter the efficacy of vaccination. IL-13 levels in MUO children were significantly different from levels in normal and MHOO children, indicating that the metabolically unhealthy phenotypes may be associated with an altered inflammatory response. A larger sample size with greater numbers of metabolically unhealthy children may lend more insight into the relationship of chronic inflammation secondary to obesity with vaccine immunity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Viral Infection Long-Term Consequences)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 2140 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Clinical, Virologic and Immunologic Correlates of Breast Milk Acquired Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infections in Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) Infants in a Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Setting

by Nelmary Hernandez-Alvarado, Ryan Shanley, Mark R. Schleiss, Jensina Ericksen, Jenna Wassenaar, Lulua Webo, Katherine Bodin, Katelyn Parsons and Erin A. Osterholm

Viruses 2021, 13(10), 1897; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13101897 - 22 Sep 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2113

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections acquired by very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants are incompletely characterized. To examine CMV transmission in VLBW infants, we evaluated maternal DNAlactia, infant DNAemia, and presence of clinical disease in a blinded study in VLBW infants in our newborn intensive care unit (NICU). To examine these issues, 200 VLBW infants were enrolled in a surveillance study, with weekly breast milk and infant whole blood samples collected, as available. Virologic (breast milk and infant whole blood real time PCR) and immunologic (IgG, IgM, and IgG avidity) correlates were evaluated. A chart review examined whether infants had symptoms compatible with CMV disease. DNAlactia was identified in 65/150 (43%) of lactating mothers. Nine CMV infections were identified in 9/75 CMV-exposed infants (12% of exposed infants). A higher median breast milk viral load (DNAlactia) correlated with an increased likelihood of DNAemia (p = 0.05). Despite potential symptoms compatible with CMV infection, clinicians had not considered the diagnosis of CMV in 6/9 cases (66%). All of these infants had chronic lung disease at discharge. There was no correlation between IgG antibody titer or IgG avidity index and the likelihood of transmission or CMV disease. In conclusion, in VLBW infants receiving milk from seropositive mothers, CMV infections are commonly acquired, and are frequently unrecognized. Future studies are needed to determine whether routine surveillance for CMV of either breast milk or infant plasma is beneficial in preventing or recognizing infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Viral Infection Long-Term Consequences)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 2201 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neonatal Development in Prenatally Zika Virus-Exposed Infant Macaques with Dengue Immunity

by Karla Ausderau, Sabrina Kabakov, Elaina Razo, Ann M. Mitzey, Kathryn M. Bach, Chelsea M. Crooks, Natalie Dulaney, Logan Keding, Cristhian Salas-Quinchucua, Lex G. Medina-Magües, Andrea M. Weiler, Mason Bliss, Jens Eickhoff, Heather A. Simmons, Andres Mejia, Kathleen M. Antony, Terry Morgan, Saverio Capuano III, Mary L. Schneider, Matthew T. Aliota, Thomas C. Friedrich, David H. O’Connor, Thaddeus G. Golos and Emma L. Mohr Show full author list Hide full author list

Viruses 2021, 13(9), 1878; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13091878 - 20 Sep 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2379

Abstract

Infants exposed to Zika virus (ZIKV) prenatally may develop birth defects, developmental deficits, or remain asymptomatic. It is unclear why some infants are more affected than others, although enhancement of maternal ZIKV infection via immunity to an antigenically similar virus, dengue virus (DENV), may play a role. We hypothesized that DENV immunity may worsen prenatal ZIKV infection and developmental deficits in offspring. We utilized a translational macaque model to examine how maternal DENV immunity influences ZIKV-exposed infant macaque neurodevelopment in the first month of life. We inoculated eight macaques with prior DENV infection with ZIKV, five macaques with ZIKV, and four macaques with saline. DENV/ZIKV-exposed infants had significantly worse visual orientation skills than ZIKV-exposed infants whose mothers were DENV-naive, with no differences in motor, sensory or state control development. ZIKV infection characteristics and pregnancy outcomes did not individually differ between dams with and without DENV immunity, but when multiple factors were combined in a multivariate model, maternal DENV immunity combined with ZIKV infection characteristics and pregnancy parameters predicted select developmental outcomes. We demonstrate that maternal DENV immunity exacerbates visual orientation and tracking deficits in ZIKV-exposed infant macaques, suggesting that human studies should evaluate how maternal DENV immunity impacts long-term neurodevelopment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Viral Infection Long-Term Consequences)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 282 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neurodevelopment in Children Exposed to Zika Virus: What Are the Consequences for Children Who Do Not Present with Microcephaly at Birth?

by Paula Fabiana Sobral da Silva, Sophie Helena Eickmann, Ricardo Arraes de Alencar Ximenes, Celina Maria Turchi Martelli, Elizabeth B. Brickley, Marília C. Lima, Ulisses R. Montarroyos, Maria Durce Costa Gomes de Carvalho, Laura Cunha Rodrigues, Thalia Velho Barreto de Araújo, Liana O. Ventura, Danielle Maria da Silva Oliveira, Regina Coeli Ferreira Ramos, Demócrito de Barros Miranda-Filho and on behalf of the Microcephaly Epidemic Research Group (MERG)

Viruses 2021, 13(8), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13081427 - 22 Jul 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2515

Abstract

The relation of Zika virus (ZIKV) with microcephaly is well established. However, knowledge is lacking on later developmental outcomes in children with evidence of maternal ZIKV infection during pregnancy born without microcephaly. The objective of this analysis is to investigate the impact of prenatal exposure to ZIKV on neuropsychomotor development in children without microcephaly. We evaluated 274 children including 235 ZIKV exposed and 39 controls using the Bayley-III Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSIDIII) and neurological examination. We observed a difference in cognition with a borderline p-value (p = 0.052): 9.4% of exposed children and none of the unexposed control group had mild to moderate delays. The prevalence of delays in the language and motor domains did not differ significantly between ZIKV-exposed and unexposed children (language: 12.3% versus 12.8%; motor: 4.7% versus 2.6%). Notably, neurological examination results were predictive of neurodevelopmental delays in the BSIDIII assessments for exposed children: 46.7% of children with abnormalities on clinical neurological examination presented with delay in contrast to 17.8% among exposed children without apparent neurological abnormalities (p = 0.001). Overall, our findings suggest that relative to their unexposed peers, ZIKV-exposed children without microcephaly are not at considerably increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairment in the first 42 months of life, although a small group of children demonstrated higher frequencies of cognitive delay. It is important to highlight that in the group of exposed children, an abnormal neuroclinical examination may be a predictor of developmental delay. The article contributes to practical guidance and advances our knowledge about congenital Zika. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Viral Infection Long-Term Consequences)

24 pages, 3308 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Examination of the Long-Term Neurodevelopmental Impact of Prenatal Zika Virus Infection in a Rat Model Using a High Resolution, Longitudinal MRI Approach

by Rita T. Patel, Brennan M. Gallamoza, Praveen Kulkarni, Morgan L. Sherer, Nicole A. Haas, Elise Lemanski, Ibrahim Malik, Khan Hekmatyar, Mark S. Parcells and Jaclyn M. Schwarz

Viruses 2021, 13(6), 1123; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13061123 - 11 Jun 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2620

Abstract

Since Zika virus (ZIKV) first emerged as a public health concern in 2015, our ability to identify and track the long-term neurological sequelae of prenatal Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in humans has been limited. Our lab has developed a rat model of maternal ZIKV infection with associated vertical transmission to the fetus that results in significant brain malformations in the neonatal offspring. Here, we use this model in conjunction with longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to expand our understanding of the long-term neurological consequences of prenatal ZIKV infection in order to identify characteristic neurodevelopmental changes and track them across time. We exploited both manual and automated atlas-based segmentation of MR images in order to identify long-term structural changes within the developing rat brain following inoculation. The paradigm involved scanning three cohorts of male and female rats that were prenatally inoculated with 10⁷ PFU ZIKV, 10⁷ UV-inactivated ZIKV (iZIKV), or diluent medium (mock), at 4 different postnatal day (P) age points: P2, P16, P24, and P60. Analysis of tracked brain structures revealed significantly altered development in both the ZIKV and iZIKV rats. Moreover, we demonstrate that prenatal ZIKV infection alters the growth of brain regions throughout the neonatal and juvenile ages. Our findings also suggest that maternal immune activation caused by inactive viral proteins may play a role in altered brain growth throughout development. For the very first time, we introduce manual and automated atlas-based segmentation of neonatal and juvenile rat brains longitudinally. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our novel approach for detecting significant changes in neurodevelopment in models of early-life infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Viral Infection Long-Term Consequences)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 477 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Detection of Human Papillomaviruses in the Nasopharynx of Breastfed Infants: New Findings and Meta-Analysis

by Luisa Dassi, Clorinda Annunziata, Chiara Botti, Alberto Micillo, Andrea Cerasuolo, Noemy Starita, Franco M. Buonaguro and Maria Lina Tornesello

Viruses 2020, 12(10), 1119; https://doi.org/10.3390/v12101119 - 01 Oct 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2571

Abstract

Vertical transmission of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) from mother to infant is known to occur during labor, delivery or breastfeeding. Infection with mucosal HPV 6 and 11 may cause recurrent respiratory papillomatosis in children, which is a rare and severe respiratory disease. The cutaneous HPV genotypes have also been described to be transmitted from mother to newborn through skin-to-skin contacts and during breastfeeding. To investigate the perinatal transmission of alpha and beta HPVs we collected nasopharyngeal specimens from 0–12-months-old infants born by vaginal delivery and breastfed at the time of sample collection. The mucosal and cutaneous HPVs were searched by nested PCR using the MY09/11-MGPs and CP65/70-CP66/69 primer sets, respectively, and genotypes identified by direct sequencing analysis. Fourteen out of 113 (12.4%) samples tested positive for HPV and sequence analysis allowed us to identify eight beta genotypes (HPV 5b, 20, 25, 100, 107, 124, 152 and RTRX7). Moreover, we performed a comprehensive review of published studies on the prevalence of mucosal and cutaneous HPVs among 5126 newborns and observed that 10% and 53% were positive for alpha and beta HPVs, respectively. In all studies there was an inverse correlation between the rate of alpha HPV positivity and age, while a significant positive trend was observed in beta HPV detection and age with the highest rate among children older than 12 months (Χ² test for trend of 10.6, p < 0.001). Further studies are needed to confirm the hypothesis that beta HPVs are transmitted to breastfeeding infants through shedding of viruses in the breast milk or on the external breast epithelium. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Viral Infection Long-Term Consequences)

► Show Figures