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Ciubotariu II, Wilkes RP, Kattoor JJ, Christian EN, Carpi G, Kitchen A. Investigating the rise of Omicron variant through genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infections in a highly vaccinated university population. Microb Genom 2024; 10:001194. [PMID: 38334271 PMCID: PMC10926704 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Novel variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continue to emerge as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic extends into its fourth year. Understanding SARS-CoV-2 circulation in university populations is vital for effective interventions in higher education settings and will inform public health policy during pandemics. In this study, we generated 793 whole-genome sequences collected over an entire academic year in a university population in Indiana, USA. We clearly captured the rapidity with which Delta variant was wholly replaced by Omicron variant across the West Lafayette campus over the length of two academic semesters in a community with high vaccination rates. This mirrored the emergence of Omicron throughout the state of Indiana and the USA. Further, phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that there was a more diverse set of potential geographic origins for Omicron viruses introduction into campus when compared to Delta. Lastly, statistics indicated that there was a more significant role for international and out-of-state migration in the establishment of Omicron variants at Purdue. This surveillance workflow, coupled with viral genomic sequencing and phylogeographic analyses, provided critical insights into SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics and variant arrival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilinca I. Ciubotariu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Rebecca P. Wilkes
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Jobin J. Kattoor
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Erin N. Christian
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Giovanna Carpi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Andrew Kitchen
- Department of Anthropology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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2
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Saulnier A, Wendling JM, Hermant B, Lepelletier D. SARS-CoV-2 transmission modes: Why and how contamination occurs around shared meals and drinks? Food Microbiol 2023; 114:104297. [PMID: 37290873 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2023.104297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In spite of prevention measures enacted all over the world to control the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, including mask wearing, social distancing, hand hygiene, vaccination, and other precautions, the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to spread globally at an unabated rate of about 1 million cases per day. The specificities of superspreading events as well as evidence of human-to-human, human-to-animal and animal-to-human transmission, indoors or outdoors, raise questions about a possibly neglected viral transmission route. In addition to inhaled aerosols, which are already recognized as key contributors to transmission, the oral route represents a strong candidate, in particular when meals and drinks are shared. In this review, we intend to discuss that significant quantities of virus dispersed by large droplets during discussions at festive gatherings could explain group contamination either directly or indirectly after deposition on surfaces, food, drinks, cutlery, and several other soiled vectors. We suggest that hand hygiene and sanitary practices around objects brought to the mouth and food also need to be taken into account in order to curb transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Benoit Hermant
- Risk and Capability Assessment Unit, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Didier Lepelletier
- Hospital Hygiene Department, Nantes University Hospital, F-44000, Nantes, France; Nantes University, IICiMEd 1155 Lab, IRS 2 Institute, F-44093, Nantes, France.
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3
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Soda KJ, Chen X, Feinn R, Hill DR. Monitoring and responding to emerging infectious diseases in a university setting: A case study using COVID-19. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280979. [PMID: 37196023 PMCID: PMC10191342 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging infection diseases (EIDs) are an increasing threat to global public health, especially when the disease is newly emerging. Institutions of higher education (IHEs) are particularly vulnerable to EIDs because student populations frequently share high-density residences and strongly mix with local and distant populations. In fall 2020, IHEs responded to a novel EID, COVID-19. Here, we describe Quinnipiac University's response to SARS-CoV-2 and evaluate its effectiveness through empirical data and model results. Using an agent-based model to approximate disease dynamics in the student body, the University established a policy of dedensification, universal masking, surveillance testing via a targeted sampling design, and app-based symptom monitoring. After an extended period of low incidence, the infection rate grew through October, likely due to growing incidence rates in the surrounding community. A super-spreader event at the end of October caused a spike in cases in November. Student violations of the University's policies contributed to this event, but lax adherence to state health laws in the community may have also contributed. The model results further suggest that the infection rate was sensitive to the rate of imported infections and was disproportionately impacted by non-residential students, a result supported by the observed data. Collectively, this suggests that campus-community interactions play a major role in campus disease dynamics. Further model results suggest that app-based symptom monitoring may have been an important regulator of the University's incidence, likely because it quarantined infectious students without necessitating test results. Targeted sampling had no substantial advantages over simple random sampling when the model incorporated contact tracing and app-based symptom monitoring but reduced the upper boundary on 90% prediction intervals for cumulative infections when either was removed. Thus, targeted sampling designs for surveillance testing may mitigate worst-case outcomes when other interventions are less effective. The results' implications for future EIDs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. James Soda
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Richard Feinn
- Department of Medical Sciences, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - David R. Hill
- Department of Medical Sciences, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, United States of America
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4
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Godderis L, Lerouge L, Samant Y, Noone P. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic-what Occupational Safety and Health can bring to Public Health. J Public Health Policy 2023; 44:138-146. [PMID: 36646883 PMCID: PMC9842192 DOI: 10.1057/s41271-023-00394-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
We strive to increase public (PH) and occupational health (OSH) inter-linkages by building a collaborative framework. Besides Covid-19 pandemic, recent approaches such as Human Exposome and Total Worker Health TM, have led to a shift to improving health of working population and consequently the total population. These health objectives can be best realised through primary care actors in specific contexts. Work, school, home and leisure are the four multi-stakeholder contexts in which health and healthcare (goal-oriented care) objectives needs to be set and defined. PH policy makers need to establish a shared decision-making process involving employees, employers and OSH representatives to set PH goals and align with OSH goals. The policy making process in OSH can serve as a potential way forward, as the decisions and policies are being decided centrally in consultation with social partners and governments. This process can then be mirrored on company level to adopt and implement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lode Godderis
- Centre for Environment and Health, and IDEWE, Occupational, Medicine, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Environment and Health, O&N5b, Herestraat 49, Bus 952, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Loic Lerouge
- Labour and Occupational Health Law, University of Bordeaux-CNRS, Talence Cedex, France
| | | | - Peter Noone
- Health Service Executive Dublin North East, Meath, Ireland
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Couture MC, L'Engle KL, Swathi PA, Regan AK. COVID-19 vaccine coverage among college students following vaccine mandates. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2023:1-5. [PMID: 36624974 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2155460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Colleges are potential hotspots for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 due to lower immunization rates and possible close contacts among young adults. Some universities have implemented policies mandating COVID-19 vaccination; however, their effects remain uncertain. We estimated COVID-19 vaccination rates with and without university-mandated vaccination policies. PARTICIPANTS A university-wide survey was conducted among 2,011 students. METHODS Students completed an online questionnaire on sociodemographics, COVID-19 vaccine status, and vaccine intention. RESULTS Without university vaccine mandates, 76% of students would receive a COVID-19 vaccination, and with vaccine mandates, more than 82% of students would receive vaccination. Despite this improvement, we observed fewer changes in vaccine coverage for certain subgroups of students, indicating these policies could exacerbate ongoing disparities in COVID-19 vaccination rates. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 vaccine mandates on campuses are likely to increase vaccination rates modestly. However, interventions will likely be required to supplement vaccine mandates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Claude Couture
- Health Professions Department, School of Nursing and Health Professions, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kelly L L'Engle
- Health Professions Department, School of Nursing and Health Professions, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Pallavi Aytha Swathi
- College of Arts and Sciences, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Annette K Regan
- Health Professions Department, School of Nursing and Health Professions, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Is a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines effective on newly dominant omicron subvariants among university students? Comparison between BA.1 and BA.2 dominancy. Am J Infect Control 2022:S0196-6553(22)00813-6. [PMID: 36435404 PMCID: PMC9683852 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2022.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the COVID-19 Omicron BA.1 subvariant was initially predominant, the BA.2 subvariant has now replaced it. Effectiveness of a booster dose vaccination for BA.2 remains unclear among university students. METHODS We enrolled 562 Japanese university students who became a close contact and underwent polymerase chain reaction testing. We compared infection rates and cumulative incidence rates of severe fever among the students according to the COVID-19 vaccine doses received between BA.1-dominant (January 1-March 31, 2022) and BA.2-dominant (April 1-July 31, 2022) periods. RESULTS Infection rates for BA.1 were 32% with 3 doses, 49% with 2 doses, and 68% in the unvaccinated (P = .008). The odds ratio (OR) for infection following 3 doses during BA.1 was 0.46 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.25-0.82, P = .009). Infection rates for BA.2 were 45% with 3 doses, 62% with 2 doses, and 64% in the unvaccinated (P = .02). The OR for infection following 3 doses during BA.2 was 0.50 (95% CI = 0.31-0.82, P = .006). Effectiveness of vaccine for BA.2 tended to decrease for both 3 (45% vs 32%, P = .06) and 2 doses (62% vs 49%, P = .07) compared with those for BA.1. CONCLUSIONS Booster dose effectiveness tended to decrease but remained significant against BA.2 subvariant predominancy among Japanese university students.
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Lazarus JV, Romero D, Kopka CJ, Karim SA, Abu-Raddad LJ, Almeida G, Baptista-Leite R, Barocas JA, Barreto ML, Bar-Yam Y, Bassat Q, Batista C, Bazilian M, Chiou ST, Del Rio C, Dore GJ, Gao GF, Gostin LO, Hellard M, Jimenez JL, Kang G, Lee N, Matičič M, McKee M, Nsanzimana S, Oliu-Barton M, Pradelski B, Pyzik O, Rabin K, Raina S, Rashid SF, Rathe M, Saenz R, Singh S, Trock-Hempler M, Villapol S, Yap P, Binagwaho A, Kamarulzaman A, El-Mohandes A. A multinational Delphi consensus to end the COVID-19 public health threat. Nature 2022; 611:332-345. [PMID: 36329272 PMCID: PMC9646517 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05398-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Despite notable scientific and medical advances, broader political, socioeconomic and behavioural factors continue to undercut the response to the COVID-19 pandemic1,2. Here we convened, as part of this Delphi study, a diverse, multidisciplinary panel of 386 academic, health, non-governmental organization, government and other experts in COVID-19 response from 112 countries and territories to recommend specific actions to end this persistent global threat to public health. The panel developed a set of 41 consensus statements and 57 recommendations to governments, health systems, industry and other key stakeholders across six domains: communication; health systems; vaccination; prevention; treatment and care; and inequities. In the wake of nearly three years of fragmented global and national responses, it is instructive to note that three of the highest-ranked recommendations call for the adoption of whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches1, while maintaining proven prevention measures using a vaccines-plus approach2 that employs a range of public health and financial support measures to complement vaccination. Other recommendations with at least 99% combined agreement advise governments and other stakeholders to improve communication, rebuild public trust and engage communities3 in the management of pandemic responses. The findings of the study, which have been further endorsed by 184 organizations globally, include points of unanimous agreement, as well as six recommendations with >5% disagreement, that provide health and social policy actions to address inadequacies in the pandemic response and help to bring this public health threat to an end.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey V Lazarus
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), New York City, NY, USA.
| | - Diana Romero
- City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), New York City, NY, USA
| | | | - Salim Abdool Karim
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Centre for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Laith J Abu-Raddad
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation-Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Ricardo Baptista-Leite
- UNITE Global Parliamentarians Network, Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Institute of Health Sciences (CIIS), Catholic University of Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Mauricio L Barreto
- Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Yaneer Bar-Yam
- New England Complex Systems Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Quique Bassat
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- Manhiça Health Research Center (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
- Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- Pediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Consortium in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolina Batista
- Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Geneva, Switzerland
- Baraka Impact Finance, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Shu-Ti Chiou
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Gregory J Dore
- University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - George F Gao
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Lawrence O Gostin
- The O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Jose L Jimenez
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | | | - Mojca Matičič
- Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Illnesses, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Martin McKee
- The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | | | - Bary Pradelski
- French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Grenoble, France
| | | | - Kenneth Rabin
- City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), New York City, NY, USA
| | - Sunil Raina
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Sabina Faiz Rashid
- James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Rocio Saenz
- University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Sudhvir Singh
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Sonia Villapol
- Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Peiling Yap
- International Digital Health & AI Research Collaborative (I-DAIR), Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Ayman El-Mohandes
- City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), New York City, NY, USA
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Blake H, Somerset S, Mahmood I, Mahmood N, Corner J, Ball JK, Denning C. A Qualitative Evaluation of the Barriers and Enablers for Implementation of an Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Testing Service at the University of Nottingham: A Multi-Site Higher Education Setting in England. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13140. [PMID: 36293719 PMCID: PMC9603241 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Asymptomatic testing for SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been used to prevent and manage COVID-19 outbreaks in university settings, but few studies have explored their implementation. The aim of the study was to evaluate how an accredited asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 testing service (ATS) was implemented at the University of Nottingham, a multi-campus university in England, to identify barriers and enablers of implementation and to draw out lessons for implementing pandemic response initiatives in higher education settings. A qualitative interview study was conducted with 25 ATS personnel between May and July 2022. Interviews were conducted online, audio-recorded, and transcribed. Participants were asked about their experience of the ATS, barriers and enablers of implementation. Transcripts were thematically analysed. There were four overarching themes: (1) social responsibility and innovation, (2) when, how and why people accessed testing, (3) impact of the ATS on the spread of COVID-19, and (4) lessons learned for the future. In establishing the service, the institution was seen to be valuing its community and socially responsible. The service was viewed to be broadly successful as a COVID-19 mitigation approach. Challenges to service implementation were the rapidly changing pandemic situation and government advice, delays in service accreditation and rollout to staff, ambivalence towards testing and isolating in the target population, and an inability to provide follow-up support for positive cases within the service. Facilitators included service visibility, reduction in organisational bureaucracy and red tape, inclusive leadership, collaborative working with regular feedback on service status, flexibility in service delivery approaches and simplicity of saliva testing. The ATS instilled a perception of early 'return to normality' and impacted positively on staff feelings of safety and wellbeing, with wider benefits for healthcare services and local communities. In conclusion, we identified common themes that have facilitated or hindered the implementation of a SARS-CoV-2 testing service at a university in England. Lessons learned from ATS implementation will inform future pandemic response interventions in higher education settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Blake
- School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Sarah Somerset
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Ikra Mahmood
- School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Neelam Mahmood
- School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
| | - Jessica Corner
- Executive Office, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Jonathan K. Ball
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Chris Denning
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
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Pädiatrie aktuell – Forschung kurz notiert. Monatsschr Kinderheilkd 2022; 170:961-964. [PMID: 36101563 PMCID: PMC9454404 DOI: 10.1007/s00112-022-01600-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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