Danit Sofer
YOU?
Author Swipe
View article: Early detection of a circulating pre-vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (pre-VDPV1) variant linked to an acute flaccid polio case prior to VDPV1 emergence, Israel, 2024 to 2025
Early detection of a circulating pre-vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (pre-VDPV1) variant linked to an acute flaccid polio case prior to VDPV1 emergence, Israel, 2024 to 2025 Open
We report the emergence and evolution of a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) outbreak in Israel, linked to a vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis case. Whole genome sequencing revealed a strong genetic link betwe…
View article: Environmental surveillance of a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 outbreak in Israel between 2022 and 2023: a genomic epidemiology study
Environmental surveillance of a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 outbreak in Israel between 2022 and 2023: a genomic epidemiology study Open
None.
View article: A Multi-Laboratory Evaluation of Commercial Monkeypox Virus Molecular Tests
A Multi-Laboratory Evaluation of Commercial Monkeypox Virus Molecular Tests Open
To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first methodical evaluation of commercial kits designed for Monkeypox virus detection. This was done by performing the same tests using the same sample set in multiple laboratories, simultane…
View article: Epidemiology of Type 3 Poliovirus AFP Cases in Israel between 1973 and 1988: Whole Genome Sequencing of RNA Extracted Directly from Archived Stocks to Avoid Re-Culturing Neurovirulent Wild Poliovirus
Epidemiology of Type 3 Poliovirus AFP Cases in Israel between 1973 and 1988: Whole Genome Sequencing of RNA Extracted Directly from Archived Stocks to Avoid Re-Culturing Neurovirulent Wild Poliovirus Open
Background: Poliovirus post-eradication containment of wild-type 2 poliovirus (PV2) requires the destruction of all materials containing, or potentially containing, PV2. Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases in Israel between 1973 and 1988 w…
View article: A Multi-Laboratory Evaluation of Commercial Monkeypox Molecular Tests
A Multi-Laboratory Evaluation of Commercial Monkeypox Molecular Tests Open
In this report, we describe the first national scale multi-laboratory evaluation of commercial quantitative PCR kits for detection of Monkeypox virus (MPXV) DNA. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of two kits by diff…
View article: Emergence of genetically linked vaccine-originated poliovirus type 2 in the absence of oral polio vaccine, Jerusalem, April to July 2022
Emergence of genetically linked vaccine-originated poliovirus type 2 in the absence of oral polio vaccine, Jerusalem, April to July 2022 Open
We report an emergence and increase in poliovirus type 2 detection via routine wastewater surveillance in three non-overlapping regions in the Jerusalem region, Israel, between April and July 2022. Sequencing showed genetic linkage among i…
View article: National Scale Real-Time Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants Dynamics by Wastewater Monitoring in Israel
National Scale Real-Time Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants Dynamics by Wastewater Monitoring in Israel Open
In this report, we describe a national-scale monitoring of the SARS-CoV-2 (SC-2) variant dynamics in Israel, using multiple-time sampling of 13 wastewater treatment plants. We used a combination of inclusive and selective quantitative PCR …
View article: Monitoring of Enterovirus D68 Outbreak in Israel by a Parallel Clinical and Wastewater Based Surveillance
Monitoring of Enterovirus D68 Outbreak in Israel by a Parallel Clinical and Wastewater Based Surveillance Open
Enterovirus D68 (EVD68) was recently identified as an important cause of respiratory illness and acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), mostly in children. Here, we examined 472 pediatric patients diagnosed with severe respiratory illness and scree…
View article: Specific Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Variants B.1.1.7 (Alpha) and B.1.617.2 (Delta) Using a One-Step Quantitative PCR Assay
Specific Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Variants B.1.1.7 (Alpha) and B.1.617.2 (Delta) Using a One-Step Quantitative PCR Assay Open
The new assays described herein enable rapid, straightforward, and cost-effective detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SC-2) with immediate classification of the examined sample as Alpha, Delta, non-Alpha, or non-D…
View article: NATIONAL SCALE REAL-TIME SURVEILLANCE OF SARS-COV-2 VARIANTS DYNAMICS BY WASTEWATER MONITORING IN ISRAEL
NATIONAL SCALE REAL-TIME SURVEILLANCE OF SARS-COV-2 VARIANTS DYNAMICS BY WASTEWATER MONITORING IN ISRAEL Open
In this report, we describe a national-scale monitoring of the SARS-COV-2 (SC-2) variant dynamics in Israel, using multiple-time sampling of twelve wastewater treatment plants. We used a combination of inclusive and selective quantitative …
View article: SPECIFIC DETECTION OF SARS-COV-2 VARIANTS B.1.1.7 (ALPHA) AND B.1.617.2 (DELTA) USING A ONE-STEP QUANTITATIVE PCR ASSAY
SPECIFIC DETECTION OF SARS-COV-2 VARIANTS B.1.1.7 (ALPHA) AND B.1.617.2 (DELTA) USING A ONE-STEP QUANTITATIVE PCR ASSAY Open
In this report, we describe the development of an RT-qPCR assay, termed Alpha Delta assay, which can detect SARS-COV-2 (SC-2) and distinguish between the Alpha (B.1.1.7) and Delta (B.1.617.2) variants. The Alpha- and Delta-specific reactio…
View article: Rapid and High-Throughput Reverse Transcriptase Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) Assay for Identification and Differentiation between SARS-CoV-2 Variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351
Rapid and High-Throughput Reverse Transcriptase Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) Assay for Identification and Differentiation between SARS-CoV-2 Variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 Open
This study describes the design and utilization of a multiplex reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to identify SARS-COV-2 (SC2) RNA in general and, specifically, to detect whether it is of lineage B.1.1.7 or B.1.351. Implement…
View article: Inferring Numbers of Wild Poliovirus Excretors Using Quantitative Environmental Surveillance
Inferring Numbers of Wild Poliovirus Excretors Using Quantitative Environmental Surveillance Open
Response to and monitoring of viral outbreaks can be efficiently focused when rapid, quantitative, kinetic information provides the location and the number of infected individuals. Environmental surveillance traditionally provides informat…
View article: Detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants by genomic analysis of wastewater samples in Israel
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants by genomic analysis of wastewater samples in Israel Open
Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 spread and identification of variants in sewers has been demonstrated to accurately detect prevalence of viral strains and is advantageous to clinical sampling in population catchment size. Herein, we utilized a…
View article: Rapid And high throughput RT-qPCR assay for identification and differentiation between SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351
Rapid And high throughput RT-qPCR assay for identification and differentiation between SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 Open
Emerging SARS-CoV-2 (SC-2) variants with increased infectivity and vaccine resistance are of major concern. Rapid identification of such variants is important for the public health activities and provide valuable data for epidemiological a…
View article: Genomic variation and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 importation and early circulation in Israel
Genomic variation and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 importation and early circulation in Israel Open
Severe acute respiratory disease coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which causes corona virus disease (COVID-19) was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and has since led to a global pandemic. Importations of SARS-CoV-2 to Israel in …
View article: Testing IgG antibodies against the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 is sufficient and necessary for COVID-19 diagnosis
Testing IgG antibodies against the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 is sufficient and necessary for COVID-19 diagnosis Open
The COVID-19 pandemic and the fast global spread of the disease resulted in unprecedented decline in world trade and travel. A critical priority is, therefore, to quickly develop serological diagnostic capacity and identify individuals wit…
View article: First report of a persistent oropharyngeal infection of type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus (iVDPV2) in a primary immune deficient (PID) patient after eradication of wild type 2 poliovirus
First report of a persistent oropharyngeal infection of type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus (iVDPV2) in a primary immune deficient (PID) patient after eradication of wild type 2 poliovirus Open
This is the first report of persistent oropharyngeal mucosal infection with type 2 poliovirus (iVDPV2) in a primary immune deficient patient (PID) after wild type 2 poliovirus eradication. The iVDPV2 also established persistence in the gut…
View article: Comparison of the new fully automated extraction platform eMAG to the MagNA PURE 96 and the well-established easyMAG for detection of common human respiratory viruses
Comparison of the new fully automated extraction platform eMAG to the MagNA PURE 96 and the well-established easyMAG for detection of common human respiratory viruses Open
Respiratory viral infections constitute the majority of samples tested in the clinical virology laboratory during the winter season, and are mainly diagnosed using molecular assays, namely real-time PCR (qPCR). Therefore, a high-quality ex…
View article: Epidemiologic and phylogenetic analysis of the 2018 West Nile virus (WNV) outbreak in Israel demonstrates human infection of WNV lineage I
Epidemiologic and phylogenetic analysis of the 2018 West Nile virus (WNV) outbreak in Israel demonstrates human infection of WNV lineage I Open
As at 12 November 2018, an outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) was responsible for 139 WNV infection cases in Israel. Here, we characterise the epidemiology of the outbreak and demonstrate that only WNV lineage I was circulating in mosquitoe…
View article: Surveillance and Diagnosis of West Nile Virus in the Face of Flavivirus Cross-Reactivity
Surveillance and Diagnosis of West Nile Virus in the Face of Flavivirus Cross-Reactivity Open
West Nile Virus (WNV) is an arthropod-borne flavivirus whose zoonotic cycle includes both mosquitoes and birds as amplifiers and humans and horses as dead-end hosts. In recent years WNV has been spreading globally and is currently endemic …
View article: Evolution of echovirus 11 in a chronically infected immunodeficient patient
Evolution of echovirus 11 in a chronically infected immunodeficient patient Open
Deep sequencing was used to determine complete nucleotide sequences of echovirus 11 (EV11) strains isolated from a chronically infected patient with CVID as well as from cases of acute enterovirus infection. Phylogenetic analysis showed th…
View article: LAMP assay for specific detection of Asian and African lineage Zika virus: will it meet the expectations?
LAMP assay for specific detection of Asian and African lineage Zika virus: will it meet the expectations? Open
The current Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak started in 2015 in Brazil and since then has spread to over 70 countries in South and Central America, Africa and Asia (1).
View article: Ongoing mumps outbreak in Israel, January to August 2017
Ongoing mumps outbreak in Israel, January to August 2017 Open
In Israel, 262 mumps cases were registered between 1 January and 28 August 2017 despite a vaccine coverage of ≥ 96%. The majority (56.5%) of cases were adolescents and young adults between 10 and 24 years of age. Nearly twice as many cases…
View article: Prolonged excretion of type-2 poliovirus from a primary immune deficient patient during the transition to a type-2 poliovirus-free world, Israel, 2016
Prolonged excretion of type-2 poliovirus from a primary immune deficient patient during the transition to a type-2 poliovirus-free world, Israel, 2016 Open
Wild poliovirus type-2 has been eradicated, use of live type-2 vaccine has been terminated globally, and all type-2 polioviruses are under strict laboratory containment protocols. Re-emergence may arise from prolonged asymptomatic excretio…
View article: Superiority of West Nile Virus RNA Detection in Whole Blood for Diagnosis of Acute Infection
Superiority of West Nile Virus RNA Detection in Whole Blood for Diagnosis of Acute Infection Open
The current diagnosis of West Nile virus (WNV) infection is primarily based on serology, since molecular identification of WNV RNA is unreliable due to the short viremia and absence of detectable virus in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Recent …