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Alessandro Borghesi

@esibor.bsky.social
75 followers 96 following 39 posts

MD, PhD, Committed to child and neonatal health / human genomics of infectious diseases / windsurfing / caring for the environment

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Reposted by Alessandro Borghesi
Petter Brodin @petterbrodin.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
Recent paper (Nature)-why are males more vulnerable to severe infections (ex acute #COVID), while females suffer more from autoimmunity (SLE, MS etc and also #LongCovid)? X/Y or hormones? We study adaptation of immune systems in gender-affirming testosterone treatment: nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Immune system adaptation during gender-affirming testosterone treatment - Nature
Examination of immunological changes in transgender individuals undergoing gender-affirming testosterone treatment reveals sex hormone-regulated pathways in humans and explains sex-divergent responses...
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Reposted by Alessandro Borghesi
Journal of Human Immunity @jhumimmunity.org · 17/03/2026
Cerebral amebiasis due to #Acanthomoeba sp. in a patient with complete gp91phox deficiency. New report from Marie Roelens, Jacinta Bustamante and colleagues @hopitalnecker.bsky.social @institutimagine.bsky.social: rupress.org/jhi/article/... @esidsociety.bsky.social
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
@jenniferuhrlaub.bsky.social, Tiziana Lazzarotto, Patrizia Comoli, Marco Zecca, Stefania Croce, Maria Antonietta Avanzini
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
@jfellay.bsky.social
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Alessandro Mancon, Camilla lucca, stefania vogiatzis, Monia Pacenti, Melodie Aubart, Antonio Piralla, Alberto Dolci, Danilo Cereda, Alessandro Aiuti, Emmanuelle Jouanguy, Paul Bastard, and to all the involved Institutions
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Thanks to all co-authors mentioned above and Jacques Fellay, The Rice Laboratory @ RU, @anne-puel.bsky.social, Laurent Abel, Astrid Marchal, David M Florian, Karin Stiasny, Elisa Burdino, Micol Angelini, Lucy BIZIEN, Daniele Lilleri, Veronica Codullo, Tal Freund, Yael Paran, Avi Gadoth, Roni Biran
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
A huge thank you to the Editorial and Production and teams @jhumimmunity.org
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Thanks to our funders and supporters, in particular Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, the Italian Ministry of Health, the Inflame Project (Horizon, EU) inflame-horizon.eu/who-we-are/f..., @hug-ge.bsky.social
inflame-horizon.eu
1. IRCCS OSM – InFlaMe
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Overall, our new study replicates, expands and refines our previous findings. This was possible thanks to colleagues from Vienna @aberlejudith.bsky.social &team, Israel (David Hagin &team), Milan (Davide Mileto &team), Pavia (Fausto Baldanti, Irene Cassaniti &team) and others
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
At least three independent studies (case report or case series) have reported so far very similar findings pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38976510/ pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40799617/ pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41354208/
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
This was possible by obtaining longitudinal data for several WNVF patients, thanks to Mattia Moratti and Francesca Conti in particular (Bologna).
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
We also speculate that some patients may initially present with a flu‑like illness (WNVF) and later progress to life‑threatening neuroinvasive disease (WNND) - a two‑step model closely resembling that observed in COVID‑19 pneumonia www.cell.com/med/fulltext...
cell.com
Life-Threatening COVID-19: Defective Interferons Unleash Excessive Inflammation
The risk of life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia increases sharply after 65 years of age, but other epidemiological risk factors, genetic or otherwise, are modest. Various rare monogenic inborn errors ...
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
...some patients under this definition of WNVF do, at times, die from WNV infection. We concluded that the high proportion of WNVF cases carrying auto‑Abs reflected, at least in some cases, mis‑assignment to the appropriate WNV disease group.
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
With time, studies - and colleagues in hospitals and diagnostic centers - began to include in this WNVF “limbo” all patients with clinical signs who, for various reasons, did not undergo lumbar puncture or imaging to confirm/rule out neurological involvement... www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/...
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
The initial definition of WNVF in the earliest seroepidemiological studies conducted in the USA in the early 2000s referred to individuals tested for WNV serology self-reporting headache or a transient rise in body temperature in the preceding days www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
thelancet.com
Epidemic West Nile encephalitis, New York, 1999: results of a household-based seroepidemiological survey
During the 1999 West Nile virus outbreak, thousands of symptomless and symptomatic West Nile viral infections probably occurred, with fewer than 1% resulting in severe neurological disease.
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Simply because these individuals didn’t have mild disease. 👇
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
In the 2023 paper, we observed that about 14% of cases (ranging from 0 in some centers to... 30%!! in others) with mild‑to‑moderate WNVF carried these auto‑Abs. Why did these individuals develop a milder form of the disease, despite the presence of the auto‑Abs? 👇
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
When, after the 2023 paper, we studied two new Italian cohorts from the 2023 summer outbreak, we were “happy” to see that we could replicate the ~40% auto‑Ab finding. This was already important. But we could not explain yet one finding on mild‑to‑moderate cases with WNV fever (WNVF).
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
The 2023 paper was already convincing. Then why replicate and expand it? We could have not, but we did. If you’ve been on top of Everest, don’t you also want to be on top of K2 at some point? Useless to explain that replication and refinement are not optional in Science.
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
...Hungary (@Anna Nagy, @yannick-simonin.bsky.social ), and Texas (@KristyOMurray).
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
These studies could not have been possible without the co‑leadership of the @casanovalab.bsky.social, and the crucial contributions of colleagues from Italy (Padova @luisabarzon.bsky.social [the largest cohort studied so far for these auto‑Abs] Bologna @GiadaRossini and Torino @ValeriaGhisetti)...
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Results were published in 2023 @jem.org, showing that ~40% (15–50) of WNV encephalitis (one out of two patients who died of WNV) carried these auto‑Abs. We performed experiments that provided indirect but compelling evidence for a causative role of these auto‑Abs. rupress.org/jem/article/...
rupress.org
Autoantibodies neutralizing type I IFNs underlie West Nile virus encephalitis in ∼40% of patients
Gervais et al. show that auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs and pre-existing infection underlie ∼40% of cases of West Nile virus (WNV) encephalitis. Blood a
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Despite very different, many epidemiological features of WNV encephalitis, incl. WNV‑related mortality by age (J‑shaped) and sex, make it strikingly similar to COVID-19 pneumonia, which studies from the www.covidhge.com had shown to be caused by auto Abs neutralizing type I IFNs in ~15% of cases.
covidhge.com
COVID HUMAN GENETIC EFFORT
COVID Human Genetic Effort is an international consortium aiming to discover inborn errors of immunity underlying severe forms of COVID-19 in previously healthy individuals
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
In 2022, during an intense WNV summer outbreak, we discovered that a surprisingly high proportion of patients with WNV encephalitis (about half of our initial cohort) carry auto‑Abs neutralizing type I IFNs. Why did we choose to study WNV infection for auto‑Abs to type I IFNs? 👇
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Auto-Abs neutralizing type I INFs in ~40% of patients with West Nile virus (WNV) encephalitis – the sequel @jhumimmunity.org with A Gervais, F Trespidi, A Ferrari, F Rovida, A Cobat, @shenyingzhang1.bsky.social , @casanovalab.bsky.social and co-authors mentioned👇in thread rupress.org/jhi/article/...
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Our new study @jhumimmunity.org - detailed thread will follow !
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Reposted by Alessandro Borghesi
Casanova Lab @casanovalab.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
1/ Which human infectious disease is best understood in 2026? West Nile virus encephalitis, with 40% of cases attributed causally and mechanistically to auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs. doi.org/10.70962/jhi...
doi.org
Autoantibodies neutralizing type I IFNs in 40% of patients with WNV encephalitis in seven new cohorts
In 13 cohorts of individuals with WNV infection, the risk of WNV encephalitis is increased 20 to >>2,000 times by circulating auto-Abs neutralizing t
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Congratulations !!! 👏
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Reposted by Alessandro Borghesi
Casanova Lab @casanovalab.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Autoantibodies neutralizing type I IFNs in 40% of patients with WNV encephalitis in seven new cohorts url: rupress.org/jhi/article/...
rupress.org
Autoantibodies neutralizing type I IFNs in 40% of patients with WNV encephalitis in seven new cohorts
In 13 cohorts of individuals with WNV infection, the risk of WNV encephalitis is increased 20 to >>2,000 times by circulating auto-Abs neutralizing t
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Reposted by Alessandro Borghesi
Rockefeller University Press @rupress.org · 10/03/2026
Rare variants in CYBB (encoding gp91phox) are responsible for chronic granulomatous disease. In @jhumimmunity.org, Roelens, Bustamante et al. report a patient affected by multiple cerebral abscesses caused by #Acanthamoeba sp. and complete gp91phox deficiency. rupress.org/jhi/article/... #CGD
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
We review the known (and unknown) host genetic and immunological factors predisposing to life-threatening viral infection in early life: our ‘current opinion in’ viral infection of the fetus and newborn. With Maya Rhyn, Angela Castellano, Valeria Cortesi, Noa Trojman doi.org/10.1016/j.co...
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Reposted by Alessandro Borghesi
Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine @feinberg.northwestern.edu · 05/03/2026
We're proud to announce that infectious disease pioneer Jean-Laurent Casanova, MD, PhD, of @rockefeller.edu, @institutimagine.bsky.social, @hhmi-science.bsky.social, & @casanovalab.bsky.social, is the recipient of the 2026 Mechthild Esser #NemmersPrize in Medical Science: spr.ly/6008hCUaM
A man wearing a blue shirt stands in a hallway, with walls and floor visible in the background.
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Reposted by Alessandro Borghesi
Casanova Lab @casanovalab.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Autoantibodies neutralizing type 1 interferons in two cohorts of people with HIV url: rupress.org/jhi/article/...
rupress.org
Autoantibodies neutralizing type 1 interferons in two cohorts of people with HIV
Here, Jensen and colleagues studied type I interferon (IFN-I) neutralizing autoAbs in people with HIV, and found that the prevalence does not significantly
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Connecting the dots
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Reposted by Alessandro Borghesi
NEC Society @necsociety.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
We are building a world without NEC for all babies and families—it doesn't matter where they're from, what language they speak, or what they look like. All babies need to be protected from necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
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Reposted by Alessandro Borghesi
Casanova Lab @casanovalab.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
1/ We’re seeking Sponsors for the 3rd International Symposium on Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI), and their phenocopies, to be held in Lofoten, Norway, in June 2027. www.hgid.org/collaborativ...
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Reposted by Alessandro Borghesi
Casanova Lab @casanovalab.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
1/ We are excited to share our new report in @jem.org showing that almost 40% cases of herpesvirus (HSV)-triggered fulminant viral hepatitis (FVH) are due to pre-existing autoantibodies neutralizing type I IFN (autoAbs-IFN) (doi.org/10.1084/jem....).
doi.org
Autoantibodies neutralizing type I IFNs in patients with fulminant herpes simplex virus hepatitis | Journal of Experimental Medicine | Rockefeller University Press
Fulminant viral hepatitis (FVH) is a devastating condition caused by hepatotropic viruses. In 149 international FVH patients, auto-Abs neutralizing type I
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
Not all FVH are equal: some are due to IFN-I neutralizing auto-Abs, others not
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Reposted by Alessandro Borghesi
Casanova Lab @casanovalab.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
A patient with recessive TBK1 deficiency and lethal viral disease: Recurrent severe viral infection in a child with inherited complete TBK1 deficiency url: rupress.org/jhi/article/...
rupress.org
Recurrent severe viral infection in a child with inherited complete TBK1 deficiency | Journal of Human Immunity | Rockefeller University Press
Kilic et al. reported a child with a homozygous TBK1 mutation previously linked to autoinflammation, suggesting its role in recurrent severe viral infectio
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Reposted by Alessandro Borghesi
Journal of Human Immunity @jhumimmunity.org · 03/12/2025
Kilic, Zhao et al. report a child w/ a homozygous TBK1 mutation previously linked to #autoinflammation, suggesting its role in recurrent severe viral infections; the patient died from acute disseminated #encephalomyelitis. rupress.org/jhi/article/... @casanovalab.bsky.social @clinimmsoc.bsky.social
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Reposted by Alessandro Borghesi
Journal of Human Immunity @jhumimmunity.org · 28/11/2025
Human inborn errors of the alternative NF-κB pathway. New review from Tom Le Voyer, Jean-Laurent Casanova @casanovalab.bsky.social, and Anne Puel @anne-puel.bsky.social: rupress.org/jhi/article/... #InbornErrorsOfImmunity
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Reposted by Alessandro Borghesi
Casanova Lab @casanovalab.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Automated data extraction model for the USIDNET registry: Bigger, faster, and better data collection url: rupress.org/jhi/article/...
rupress.org
Automated data extraction model for the USIDNET registry: Bigger, faster, and better data collection | Journal of Human Immunity | Rockefeller University Press
USIDNET is a suite of resources for clinical immunologists. The registry of patient data utilizes data extraction from electronic health records to minimiz
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
The place to publish your best papers
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
More than a review: a detailed description of the principles to study any infectious disease, by the covidhge.com
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Auto-Abs against type I IFNs: strong, common, and global determinants of severe #arboviral diseases
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Casanova Lab @casanovalab.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
A fascinating genetic and mechanistic study: ORAI1 mutation with mixed loss- and gain-of-function properties causes immunodeficiency and HLH url: rupress.org/jhi/article/...
rupress.org
ORAI1 mutation with mixed loss- and gain-of-function properties causes immunodeficiency and HLH | Journal of Human Immunity | Rockefeller University Press
A novel mutation in ORAI1 results in constitutive CRAC channel activation while abolishing stimulation-induced channel opening. The mutation is associated
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Reposted by Alessandro Borghesi
Casanova Lab @casanovalab.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Don't forget sequencing the promoter ! A WAS promoter variant underlying Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome in two kindreds url: rupress.org/jhi/article/...
rupress.org
A WAS promoter variant underlying Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome in two kindreds | Journal of Human Immunity | Rockefeller University Press
We report the same ultra-rare pathogenic noncoding single-nucleotide variant in the promoter of WAS in four male patients from two unrelated kindreds with
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Reposted by Alessandro Borghesi
Journal of Human Immunity @jhumimmunity.org · 30/10/2025
Ober, Lenoir, @jrosain.bsky.social et al. report the same ultra-rare pathogenic noncoding single-nucleotide variant in the promoter of WAS in four male patients from two unrelated kindreds w/ features of Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome. rupress.org/jhi/article/... @esidsociety.bsky.social
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
Life-threatening arboviral diseases are being increasingly explained by auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs. The other way out, type I IFNs are emerging as ‘strong, common and global determinants’ of life-threatening (arbo)viral diseases
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Alessandro Borghesi @esibor.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
One medically relevant and biologically intriguing life-threatening disease progressively deciphered
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