ORCID Profile
0000-0002-1674-4157
Current Organisation
KU Leuven
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-05-2023
DOI: 10.1038/S43587-023-00421-1
Abstract: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination has resulted in excellent protection against fatal disease, including in older adults. However, risk factors for post-vaccination fatal COVID-19 are largely unknown. We comprehensively studied three large nursing home outbreaks (20–35% fatal cases among residents) by combining severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) aerosol monitoring, whole-genome phylogenetic analysis and immunovirological profiling of nasal mucosa by digital nCounter transcriptomics. Phylogenetic investigations indicated that each outbreak stemmed from a single introduction event, although with different variants (Delta, Gamma and Mu). SARS-CoV-2 was detected in aerosol s les up to 52 d after the initial infection. Combining demographic, immune and viral parameters, the best predictive models for mortality comprised IFNB1 or age, viral ORF7a and ACE2 receptor transcripts. Comparison with published pre-vaccine fatal COVID-19 transcriptomic and genomic signatures uncovered a unique IRF3 low/ IRF7 high immune signature in post-vaccine fatal COVID-19 outbreaks. A multi-layered strategy, including environmental s ling, immunomonitoring and early antiviral therapy, should be considered to prevent post-vaccination COVID-19 mortality in nursing homes.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2008
DOI: 10.1016/J.VIROL.2008.03.014
Abstract: The genome of a novel virus, tentatively named bandicoot papillomatosis carcinomatosis virus type 2 (BPCV2), obtained from multicentric papillomatous lesions from an adult male southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) was sequenced in its entirety. BPCV2 had a circular double-stranded DNA genome consisting of 7277 bp and open reading frames encoding putative L1 and L2 structural proteins and putative large T antigen and small t antigen transforming proteins. These genomic features, intermediate between Papillomaviridae and Polyomaviridae are most similar to BPCV1, recently described from papillomas and carcinomas in the endangered western barred bandicoot (Perameles bougainville). This study also employed in situ hybridization to definitively demonstrate BPCV2 DNA within lesion biopsies. The discovery of BPCV2 provides evidence of virus-host co-speciation between BPCVs and marsupial bandicoots and has important implications for the phylogeny and taxonomy of circular double-stranded DNA viruses infecting vertebrates.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 31-05-2022
DOI: 10.3390/V14061198
Abstract: We report two clusters of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta variant) infections in a group of 41 Indian nursing students who travelled from New Delhi, India, to Belgium via Paris, France. All students tested negative before departure and had a second negative antigen test upon arrival in Paris. Upon arrival in Belgium, the students were quarantined in eight different houses. Four houses remained COVID-free during the 24 days of follow-up, while all 27 residents of the other four houses developed an infection during quarantine, including the four residents who were fully vaccinated and the two residents who were partially vaccinated. Genome sequencing revealed two distinct clusters affecting one and three houses, respectively. In this group of students, vaccination status did not seem to prevent infection nor decrease the viral load. No severe symptoms were reported. Extensive contact tracing and 3 months of nationwide genomic surveillance confirmed that these outbreaks were successfully contained and did not contribute to secondary community transmission in Belgium. These clusters highlight the importance of repeated testing and quarantine measures among travelers coming from countries experiencing a surge of infections, as all infections were detected 6 days or more after arrival.
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Date: 15-12-2007
DOI: 10.1128/JVI.01662-07
Abstract: Conservation efforts to prevent the extinction of the endangered western barred bandicoot ( Perameles bougainville ) are currently hindered by a progressively debilitating cutaneous and mucocutaneous papillomatosis and carcinomatosis syndrome observed in captive and wild populations. In this study, we detected a novel virus, designated the bandicoot papillomatosis carcinomatosis virus type 1 (BPCV1), in lesional tissue from affected western barred bandicoots using multiply primed rolling-circle lification and PCR with the cutaneotropic papillomavirus primer pairs FAP59/FAP64 and AR-L1F8/AR-L1R9. Sequencing of the BPCV1 genome revealed a novel prototype virus exhibiting genomic properties of both the Papillomaviridae and the Polyomaviridae . Papillomaviral properties included a large genome size (∼7.3 kb) and the presence of open reading frames (ORFs) encoding canonical L1 and L2 structural proteins. The genomic organization in which structural and nonstructural proteins were encoded on different strands of the double-stranded genome and the presence of ORFs encoding the nonstructural proteins large T and small t antigens were, on the other hand, typical polyomaviral features. BPCV1 may represent the first member of a novel virus family, descended from a common ancestor of the papillomaviruses and polyomaviruses recognized today. Alternatively, it may represent the product of ancient recombination between members of these two virus families. The discovery of this virus could have implications for the current taxonomic classification of Papillomaviridae and Polyomaviridae and can provide further insight into the evolution of these ancient virus families.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-2018
DOI: 10.1007/S10875-018-0570-3
Abstract: The original version of this article unfortunately did not display the appropriate captions in the figure. The correct version is displayed below.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2019
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 08-04-2015
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Date: 04-2009
DOI: 10.1128/JVI.02246-08
Abstract: A limited number of human G6P[14] rotavirus strains that cause gastroenteritis in humans have been isolated in Europe and Australia. The complete genome sequences were determined for five of these human strains—B10925-97 (isolated in Belgium in 1997), 111/05-27 (Italy, 2005), PA169 (Italy, 1987), MG6 (Australia, 1993), and Hun5 (Hungary, 1997)—and their genetic relatedness to animal rotavirus strains was evaluated by sequencing the complete genome of the sheep rotavirus OVR762 (G8P[14] Spain, 2002), the guanaco ( Lama guanicoe ) rotavirus strains Arg/Chubut/99 and Arg/Río Negro/98 (G8P[14] and G8P[1], respectively Argentina, 1999 and 1998), the sable antelope strain RC-18/08 (G6P[14] South Africa, 2008), and the bovine rotavirus strain Arg/B383/98 (G15P[11] Argentina, 1998). These analyses revealed an overall consensus genomic constellation (G6/G8)-P[14]-I2-(R2/R5)-C2-M2-(A3/A11)-N2-T6-(E2/E12)-H3, together with a few gene reassortments, and the phylogenetic analyses confirmed that the P[14] human strains evaluated in this study were closely related to rotavirus strains isolated from sheep, cattle, goats, guanacos, and antelopes and to rabbits (albeit to a lesser extent), suggesting that one (or more) of these animal species might be the source of the human G6P[14] strains. The main feature of the genotype and phylogenetic analyses was the close overall genomic relatedness between the five human G6P[14] rotavirus strains and the ovine and antelope rotavirus strains. Taken together, these data strongly suggest a common origin for the human P[14] strains and those of the even-toed ungulates belonging to the mammalian order Artiodactyla , with sheep probably playing a key role in the interspecies transmission responsible for the introduction of P[14] rotavirus strains into the human population.
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Date: 15-05-2010
DOI: 10.1128/JVI.02635-09
Abstract: The first fully sequenced papillomavirus (PV) of marsupials, tentatively named Bettongia penicillata papillomavirus type 1 (BpPV1), was detected in papillomas from a woylie ( Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi ). The circular, double-stranded DNA genome contains 7,737 bp and encodes 7 open reading frames (ORFs), E6 , E7 , E1 , E2 , E4 , L2 , and L1 , in typical PV conformation. BpPV1 is a close-to-root PV with L1 and L2 ORFs most similar to European hedgehog PV and bandicoot papillomatosis carcinomatosis virus types 1 and 2 (BPCV1 and -2). It appears that the BPCVs arose by recombination between an ancient PV and an ancient polyomavirus more than 10 million years ago.
Publisher: European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC)
Date: 05-03-2020
DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.9.2000178
Abstract: In the WHO European Region, COVID-19 surveillance was implemented 27 January 2020. We detail the first European cases. As at 21 February, nine European countries reported 47 cases. Among 38 cases studied, 21 were linked to two clusters in Germany and France, 14 were infected in China. Median case age was 42 years 25 were male. Late detection of the clusters’ index cases delayed isolation of further local cases. As at 5 March, there were 4,250 cases.
Publisher: Wildlife Disease Association
Date: 07-2013
DOI: 10.7589/2011-09-262
Abstract: Beginning in 1997 Michigan State University Mara Hyena Project investigators observed waxing and waning progression of oral and genital masses during long-term behavioral observations of a population of wild spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) from the Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya. From 1999-2000, we darted adult spotted hyenas to obtain routine physiologic and hematologic data and collected small, raised, lobulated, pigmented masses from the oral or genital areas of eight animals. Microscopically, masses consisted of variably thickened epidermis with thick elongate rete pegs, prominent stratum spinosum, and few koilocytes, consistent with papillomavirus-induced lesions. Immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded papilloma tissue revealed positive intranuclear labeling for papillomavirus antigen in the superficial stratum granulosum and in sloughing keratin layers of multiple s les. Polymerase chain reaction on DNA extracts from tumor tissue lified a papillomavirus-specific 418 base pair licon in the E1 ORF. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis of the sequenced licon suggests a novel hyaenid papillomavirus. Confirmatory complete genomic sequencing was performed later by the Rega Institute in Belgium. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a papillomavirus in a Hyaenidae species. Spotted hyena social behavior might facilitate oral-genital transmission of papillomavirus in this population.
Publisher: Microbiology Society
Date: 09-1994
DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-75-9-2277
Abstract: Forty-two women attending a colposcopy clinic for evaluation of abnormal cervical cytology and 13 normal controls were studied for the presence of lymphocyte proliferation (LP) cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses and serological reactivity to E7 peptides of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16). HPV was typed by Southern blot hybridization of exfoliated cervicovaginal cell DNA. Positive LP responses (stimulation index > or = 5.0) to one or more E7 peptides were observed in 28.6% (12 of 42) of patients and 23.1% (three of 13) of controls. Of patients infected with HPV-16, -31 or -33, 63.6% (seven of 11) showed a positive LP response compared with 14.3% (two of 14) of women infected with other HPV types (P = 0.02), 17.6% (three of 17) negative for HPV (P = 0.02) and 23.1% (three of 13) of controls (HPV status unknown) (P = 0.05). C-terminal peptide 109 (amino acids 72 to 97) elicited positive LP responses in 45.4% (five of 11) of patients infected with HPV -16, -31 or -33 compared with 7.1% (one of 14) patients infected with other HPVs (P = 0.04), 5.9% (one of 17) of women negative for HPV (P = 0.02) and 7.7% (one of 13) of controls (P = 0.05). HPV-16 group-specific LP responses of borderline significance were also observed against E7 peptides 103, 105 and 108 (17-37, 37-54 and 62-80) (P = 0.07). ELISA reactivity (IgG) to E7 peptide 109 (72-97) was present in 7.7% (one of 13) of controls, 35.3% (six of 17) of HPV-negative patients, 42.9% (six of 14) of patients infected with other HPVs, and only 9.1% (one of 11) of patients infected with HPV-16, -31 or -33. CMI responses to C-terminal HPV-16 E7 peptide 109 (72-97) were thus significantly related to ongoing cervical infection with HPV-16 and closely related types, whereas serological reactivity to E7 peptides was not HPV type-specific.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-2018
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Date: 04-2008
DOI: 10.1128/JVI.02257-07
Abstract: Group A rotavirus classification is currently based on the molecular properties of the two outer layer proteins, VP7 and VP4, and the middle layer protein, VP6. As reassortment of all the 11 rotavirus gene segments plays a key role in generating rotavirus ersity in nature, a classification system that is based on all the rotavirus gene segments is desirable for determining which genes influence rotavirus host range restriction, replication, and virulence, as well as for studying rotavirus epidemiology and evolution. Toward establishing such a classification system, gene sequences encoding VP1 to VP3, VP6, and NSP1 to NSP5 were determined for human and animal rotavirus strains belonging to different G and P genotypes in addition to those available in databases, and they were used to define phylogenetic relationships among all rotavirus genes. Based on these phylogenetic analyses, appropriate identity cutoff values were determined for each gene. For the VP4 gene, a nucleotide identity cutoff value of 80% completely correlated with the 27 established P genotypes. For the VP7 gene, a nucleotide identity cutoff value of 80% largely coincided with the established G genotypes but identified four additional distinct genotypes comprised of murine or avian rotavirus strains. Phylogenetic analyses of the VP1 to VP3, VP6, and NSP1 to NSP5 genes showed the existence of 4, 5, 6, 11, 14, 5, 7, 11, and 6 genotypes, respectively, based on nucleotide identity cutoff values of 83%, 84%, 81%, 85%, 79%, 85%, 85%, 85%, and 91%, respectively. In accordance with these data, a revised nomenclature of rotavirus strains is proposed. The novel classification system allows the identification of (i) distinct genotypes, which probably followed separate evolutionary paths (ii) interspecies transmissions and a plethora of reassortment events and (iii) certain gene constellations that revealed (a) a common origin between human Wa-like rotavirus strains and porcine rotavirus strains and (b) a common origin between human DS-1-like rotavirus strains and bovine rotaviruses. These close evolutionary links between human and animal rotaviruses emphasize the need for close simultaneous monitoring of rotaviruses in animals and humans.
No related grants have been discovered for Marc Van Ranst.