M. Beer

Red knots in Europe - a dead end host species or a new niche for highly pathogenic avian influenza?

A unique HPAIV H5N3 genotype caused mass mortality in red knots in 2020, suggesting red knots may act as a reservoir for the virus.

Dynamical Responses Predict a Distal Site that Modulates Activity in an Antibiotic Resistance Enzyme

The paper uses dynamical simulations and experiments to identify a distal site in an antibiotic resistance enzyme that modulates activity when mutated.

The absence of superinfection exclusion of Borna disease virus 2 maintains genomic polymorphisms in persistently infected cells

This study identifies genetic variations in BoDV-2 that enhance its growth and reveals its ability to maintain genomic polymorphisms in infected cells by lacking superinfection exclusion.

Emergence of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in western Germany, October 2023, and ad-hoc monitoring in Culicoides biting midges

Bluetongue virus serotype 3 was detected in Culicoides biting midges in Germany in October 2023, coinciding with its emergence in ruminants and the presence of Schmallenberg virus in midge pools.

SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses in rats, Berlin, Germany, 2023

The study tested rats in Berlin for coronaviruses and found SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in one rat but no evidence of circulation, while detecting rodent-associated alphacoronaviruses.

Pathogen-prey-predator relations of avian raptors during epizootics of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus HPAIV H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) in Germany

The paper investigates the impact of HPAIV H5N1 on avian raptors during epizootics in Germany, finding they act as both indicators of the virus and victims, with mixed outcomes for their population stability.

Small in size but huge as reservoir -- insights into the virome of European white-toothed shrews

The paper identifies a diverse virome in European white-toothed shrews, including novel viral species related to WHO priority pathogens, and highlights their potential role in zoonotic spillover.

Electric fields determine carbapenemase activity in class A β-lactamases

The paper investigates how electric fields in class A β-lactamases influence carbapenemase activity using molecular dynamics simulations and identifies key positions that correlate with enzyme efficiency.

Diving Deep into Fish Bornaviruses: Uncovering Hidden Diversity and Transcriptional Strategies through Comprehensive Data Mining

The paper screens fish sequence data to discover new bornaviruses, identifies novel species and genomic structures, and reveals transcriptional features.

Growth media affects susceptibility of air-lifted human nasal epithelial cell cultures to SARS-CoV2, but not Influenza A, virus infection.

This study shows that different growth media affect SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility in human nasal epithelial cultures but not Influenza A, with protease expression playing a role.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (HPAIV) H5N1 infection in two European grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) with encephalitis.

This study reports HPAIV H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b infection in two grey seals causing encephalitis without systemic spread or prior evidence of antibodies.

Dogs and cats are less susceptible to the omicron variant of concern of SARS-CoV-2 - a field study

This study investigates the susceptibility of dogs and cats to the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 by testing seropositivity in pets exposed to infected owners during the delta and omicron periods.

Assessment of Immunogenicity and Efficacy of CV0501 mRNA-based Omicron COVID-19 Vaccination in Small Animal Models

This paper evaluates the immunogenicity and efficacy of a bivalent mRNA vaccine CV0501 against Omicron subvariants in animal models, showing robust neutralizing antibodies and reduced viral loads.

Tautomer-specific deacylation and {Omega}-loop flexibility explain carbapenem-hydrolyzing, broad-spectrum activity of the KPC-2 β-lactamase

This study identifies how tautomer-specific deacylation and {Omega}-loop flexibility enable KPC-2 β-lactamase to efficiently hydrolyze carbapenems, revealing structural and energetic mechanisms for its broad-spectrum activity.

West Nile Virus spread in Europe - phylogeographic pattern analysis and key drivers

This study analyzes the phylogeographic patterns of West Nile Virus in Europe, identifying key drivers like agriculture and lineage diversity.

Cold-passaged isolates and bat-swine influenza A chimeric viruses as modified live-attenuated vaccines against influenza A viruses in pigs

This study evaluates modified live-attenuated vaccines against swine influenza A viruses using cold-passaged isolates and bat-swine chimeric viruses, finding that chimeric vaccines are safe and induce protective immunity in pigs.

Mystery of fatal "Staggering disease" unravelled: Novel rustrela virus causes severe encephalomyelitis in domestic cats

This study identifies Rustrela virus as the cause of feline staggering disease through detection in affected cats and potential reservoir hosts.

The spike gene is a major determinant for the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-BA.1 phenotype

This study shows the spike gene determines replication, pathogenicity, and immune evasion of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-BA.1 compared to Delta in cell cultures and animal models.

Impaired immune response drives age-dependent severity of COVID-19

This study identifies impaired interferon responses as a cause of age-dependent COVID-19 severity and shows that combined IFN-γ and IFN-λ therapy can mitigate disease in aged mice.

Low-dose bivalent mRNA vaccine is highly effective against different SARS-CoV-2 variants in a transgenic mouse model

This study shows a low-dose bivalent mRNA vaccine targeting multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants provides strong protection in mice and rats, with comparable antibody levels and reduced viral replication.

Serological screening in wild ruminants in Germany, 2021/22: No evidence of SARS-CoV-2, bluetongue virus or pestivirus spread but high seroprevalences against Schmallenberg virus

The paper serologically screens wild ruminants in Germany for SARS-CoV-2, bluetongue virus, pestivirus, and Schmallenberg virus, finding no evidence of spread but high seroprevalence against Schmallenberg virus and potential cross-reactivity with SARS-CoV-2.

Serological screening suggests single SARS-CoV-2 spillover events to cattle

The paper screens 1000 cattle sera from Germany in late 2021 and finds 11 antibody-positive samples, suggesting occasional SARS-CoV-2 spillover from humans to cattle but no further spread.

Transatlantic spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 by wild birds from Europe to North America in 2021

The paper reports the detection of H5N1 HPAI viruses in Canada linked to European strains, suggesting transatlantic spread by wild birds and raising concerns for further spread in the Americas.

Revisiting rustrela virus - new cases of encephalitis and a solution to the capsid enigma

The paper reports two new cases of RusV-associated encephalitis and presents a method to resolve the incomplete RusV genome, revealing a previously undetected intergenic region and capsid protein sequence.

Enhanced fitness of SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern B.1.1.7, but not B.1.351, in animal models

The paper compares the fitness of SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 in animal models, finding B.1.1.7 has a fitness advantage in ferrets and mice but not in hamsters.

Integrative Epigenomic and High-Throughput Functional Enhancer Profiling Reveals Determinants of Enhancer Heterogeneity in Gastric Cancer

The paper identifies enhancer heterogeneity in gastric cancer by integrating epigenomic data and functional assays, linking it to genetic and regulatory factors.

CVnCoV protects human ACE2 transgenic mice from ancestral B BavPat1 and emerging B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2

This study evaluates the efficacy of the CVnCoV mRNA vaccine against ancestral and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants in a human ACE2 transgenic mouse model, showing complete protection against B.1.351.

Adherent and suspension baby hamster kidney cells have a different cytoskeleton and surface receptor repertoire

The paper compares adherent and suspension BHK cells to identify differences in cytoskeleton and surface receptors, highlighting the importance of parental clones in adaptation.

Experimental SARS-CoV-2 infection of bank voles - general susceptibility but lack of direct transmission

This study shows bank voles become infected with SARS-CoV-2, showing seroconversion and viral RNA, but do not transmit the virus to contact animals.

SARS-CoV-2 spike D614G variant confers enhanced replication and transmissibility

This study shows the SARS-CoV-2 D614G variant has enhanced replication and transmissibility in animal models, explaining its global dominance.