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Wang JF, Yang XX, Zhang J, Zheng Y, Zhang FQ, Shi XF, Wang YL. Immunomodulation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in colorectal cancer patients with COVID-19. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16:2113-2122. [PMID: 38764823 PMCID: PMC11099452 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i5.2113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence has shown that adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) are an effective therapeutic approach for managing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, further elucidation is required to determine their underlying immunomodulatory effect on the mRNA expression of T helper cell-related transcription factors (TFs) and cytokine release in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). AIM To investigate the impact of ADSCs on the mRNA expression of TFs and cytokine release in PBMCs from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with severe COVID-19 (CRC+ patients). METHODS PBMCs from CRC+ patients (PBMCs-C+) and age-matched CRC patients (PBMCs-C) were stimulated and cultured in the presence/absence of ADSCs. The mRNA levels of T-box TF TBX21 (T-bet), GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3), RAR-related orphan receptor C (RORC), and forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) in the PBMCs were determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Culture supernatants were evaluated for levels of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-17A, and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Compared with PBMCs-C, PBMCs-C+ exhibited higher mRNA levels of T-bet and RORC, and increased levels of IFN-γ and IL-17A. Additionally, a significant decrease in FoxP3 mRNA and TGF-β1, as well as an increase in T-bet/GATA-3, RORC/FoxP3, IFN-γ/IL-4, and IL-17A/TGF-β1 ratios were observed in PBMCs-C+. Furthermore, ADSCs significantly induced a functional regulatory T cell (Treg) subset, as evidenced by an increase in FoxP3 mRNA and TGF-β1 release levels. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in the mRNA levels of T-bet and RORC, release of IFN-γ and IL-17A, and T-bet/GATA-3, RORC/FoxP3, IFN-γ/IL-4, and IL-17A/TGF-β1 ratios, compared with the PBMCs-C+alone. CONCLUSION The present in vitro studies showed that ADSCs contributed to the immunosuppressive effects on PBMCs-C+, favoring Treg responses. Thus, ADSC-based cell therapy could be a beneficial approach for patients with severe COVID-19 who fail to respond to conventional therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Feng Wang
- Department of Colorectal Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Xiao-Xia Yang
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin First Center Hospital, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Prosthodontics Studio, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, Tianjin 300041, China
| | - Yan Zheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, China
| | - Fu-Qing Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Shi
- Department of Emergency, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Yu-Liang Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, China
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Long Y, Zheng Y, Li C, Guo Z, Li P, Zhang F, Liu W, Wang Y. Respiratory pathogenic microbial infections: a narrative review. Int J Med Sci 2024; 21:826-836. [PMID: 38617014 PMCID: PMC11008481 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.93628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Respiratory infectious diseases have long been recognised as a substantial global healthcare burden and are one of the leading causes of death worldwide, particularly in vulnerable individuals. In the post COVID-19 era, there has been a surge in the prevalence of influenza virus A and other multiple known viruses causing cold compared with during the same period in the previous three years, which coincided with countries easing COVID-19 restrictions worldwide. This article aims to review community-acquired respiratory illnesses covering a broad spectrum of viruses, bacteria, and atypical microorganisms and focuses on the cluster prevalence of multiple known respiratory pathogens in China, thereby providing effective prevention and control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyin Long
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, China
| | - Yan Zheng
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, China
| | - Changlin Li
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, China
| | - Zhanjun Guo
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, China
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin First Center Hospital, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Fuqing Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Tianjin Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300134, China
| | - Yuliang Wang
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300211, China
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Okada PA, Nuchnoi P, Buayai K, Phuygun S, Thongpramul N, Plabplueng C, Rojanawiwat A, Uppapong B, Sirilak S. Impact of Omicron variant sublineage BA.2.75 on the OnSite COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test: the applicability of rapid antigen test with universal transport media. Infect Dis (Lond) 2024; 56:138-144. [PMID: 37970722 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2023.2280025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rapid antigen testing (RAT) is one of the most powerful tools for SARS-CoV-2 detection. The OnSite COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test is an antigen-based, point-of-care test approved by the WHO for Emergency Use Listing. The Nucleocapsid (N) gene mutations found in the emerging Omicron sublineages lead to the question of RAT performance. OBJECTIVE To ensure the diagnostic performance of the study RAT during rapidly mutated Omicron variants. RESULTS We independently evaluated the performance of this assay in 1098 archived samples collected in Thailand during October 2022-February 2023, which were 798 and 300 COVID-19 real-time RT-PCR positive and negative, respectively. The assay performed with 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity using a cycle threshold (Ct) of <20 for the RT-PCR. The sensitivity decreased to 88% when using Ct <30. Most of the SARS-CoV-2 found were Omicron BA.2 (99%), harboring six known N mutations (P13L, E31del, S33del, R203K, G204R and S413R). Eight samples containing hybrid variants (XBB.1*, XBB.2 and XBJ) were detected by the study RAT. This RAT detects all Omicron sublineages known to be circulating in Thailand. CONCLUSIONS These results confirmed the good performance of the study RAT for detecting Omicron variants and its appropriateness for individual diagnosis and for genomic surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pornlada Nuchnoi
- Department of Clinical Microscopy, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center for Research Innovation and Biomedical Informatics, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kampaew Buayai
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Siripaporn Phuygun
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Nuttida Thongpramul
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Chotiros Plabplueng
- Department of Clinical Microscopy, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Ballang Uppapong
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Supakit Sirilak
- Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
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Muhsen K, Waight PA, Kirsebom F, Andrews N, Letley L, Gower CM, Skarnes C, Quinot C, Lunt R, Bernal JL, Flasche S, Miller E. Association between COVID-19 Vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Household Contacts of Infected Individuals: A Prospective Household Study in England. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:113. [PMID: 38400097 PMCID: PMC10892628 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12020113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We investigated whether COVID-19 vaccination reduced SARS-CoV-2 infection risk among adult household contacts of COVID-19 index cases during the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron waves in England. METHODS Between February 2021 and February 2022, SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR nasal swabs were collected from COVID-19-confirmed index cases aged ≥20 years and their household contacts at enrolment and three and seven days thereafter. Generalized Estimating Equations models were fitted with SARS-CoV-2 positivity as the outcome and household contacts' vaccination status as the main exposure while adjusting for confounders. RESULTS SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed in 238/472 household contacts (50.4%) aged ≥20 years. The adjusted relative risk (95% confidence interval) of infection in vaccinated versus unvaccinated household contacts was 0.50 (0.35-0.72) and 0.69 (0.53-0.90) for receipt of two doses 8-90 and >90 days ago, respectively, and 0.34 (0.23-0.50) for vaccination with three doses 8-151 days ago. Primary vaccination protected household contacts against infection during the Alpha and Delta waves, but only three doses protected during the Omicron wave. Vaccination with three doses in the index case independently reduced contacts' infection risk: 0.45 (0.23-0.89). CONCLUSIONS Vaccination of household contacts reduces their risk of infection under conditions of household exposure though, for Omicron, only after a booster dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khitam Muhsen
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6139001, Israel
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK; (S.F.); (E.M.)
| | - Pauline A. Waight
- UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EU, UK; (P.A.W.); (F.K.); (N.A.); (C.S.); (J.L.B.)
| | - Freja Kirsebom
- UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EU, UK; (P.A.W.); (F.K.); (N.A.); (C.S.); (J.L.B.)
| | - Nick Andrews
- UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EU, UK; (P.A.W.); (F.K.); (N.A.); (C.S.); (J.L.B.)
| | - Louise Letley
- UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EU, UK; (P.A.W.); (F.K.); (N.A.); (C.S.); (J.L.B.)
| | - Charlotte M. Gower
- UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EU, UK; (P.A.W.); (F.K.); (N.A.); (C.S.); (J.L.B.)
| | - Catriona Skarnes
- UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EU, UK; (P.A.W.); (F.K.); (N.A.); (C.S.); (J.L.B.)
| | - Catherine Quinot
- UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EU, UK; (P.A.W.); (F.K.); (N.A.); (C.S.); (J.L.B.)
| | - Rachel Lunt
- UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EU, UK; (P.A.W.); (F.K.); (N.A.); (C.S.); (J.L.B.)
| | - Jamie Lopez Bernal
- UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EU, UK; (P.A.W.); (F.K.); (N.A.); (C.S.); (J.L.B.)
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Respiratory Infections, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Stefan Flasche
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK; (S.F.); (E.M.)
| | - Elizabeth Miller
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK; (S.F.); (E.M.)
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Guo H, Cho B, Hinton PR, He S, Yu Y, Ramesh AK, Sivaccumar JP, Ku Z, Campo K, Holland S, Sachdeva S, Mensch C, Dawod M, Whitaker A, Eisenhauer P, Falcone A, Honce R, Botten JW, Carroll SF, Keyt BA, Womack AW, Strohl WR, Xu K, Zhang N, An Z, Ha S, Shiver JW, Fu TM. An ACE2 decamer viral trap as a durable intervention solution for current and future SARS-CoV. Emerg Microbes Infect 2023; 12:2275598. [PMID: 38078382 PMCID: PMC10768737 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2275598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The capacity of SARS-CoV-2 to evolve poses challenges to conventional prevention and treatment options such as vaccination and monoclonal antibodies, as they rely on viral receptor binding domain (RBD) sequences from previous strains. Additionally, animal CoVs, especially those of the SARS family, are now appreciated as a constant pandemic threat. We present here a new antiviral approach featuring inhalation delivery of a recombinant viral trap composed of ten copies of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) fused to the IgM Fc. This ACE2 decamer viral trap is designed to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 entry function, regardless of viral RBD sequence variations as shown by its high neutralization potency against all known SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron BQ.1, BQ.1.1, XBB.1 and XBB.1.5. In addition, it demonstrates potency against SARS-CoV-1, human NL63, as well as bat and pangolin CoVs. The multivalent trap is effective in both prophylactic and therapeutic settings since a single intranasal dosing confers protection in human ACE2 transgenic mice against viral challenges. Lastly, this molecule is stable at ambient temperature for more than twelve weeks and can sustain physical stress from aerosolization. These results demonstrate the potential of a decameric ACE2 viral trap as an inhalation solution for ACE2-dependent coronaviruses of current and future pandemic concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sijia He
- IGM Biosciences, Mountain View, CA, USA
| | | | - Ashwin Kumar Ramesh
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jwala Priyadarsini Sivaccumar
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zhiqiang Ku
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Annalis Whitaker
- Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Philip Eisenhauer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Allison Falcone
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Rebekah Honce
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Jason W. Botten
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Kai Xu
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ningyan Zhang
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zhiqiang An
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sha Ha
- IGM Biosciences, Mountain View, CA, USA
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Zheng Z, Jiao Y, You H, An J, Sun Y. Fast end-to-end surface interpretation of SARS-CoV-2 variants by differentiable molecular surface interaction fingerprinting method. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:4816-4824. [PMID: 37841329 PMCID: PMC10570951 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Confronting the challenge of persistent mutations of SARS-CoV-2, researchers have turned to deep learning methods to predict the mutated structures of spike proteins and to hypothesize potential changes in their structures and drug efficacies. However, limited works are focused on the surface learning of spike proteins even though their biological functions are usually defined by the geometric and chemical features of 3D molecular surfaces. In addition, the current used geometric deep learning methods are based on mesh representations of proteins to identify potential binding targets for drugs. However, the use of meshes has limitations and is not applicable for many important tasks in molecular biology. To address these limitations, we adopt the differentiable molecular surface interaction fingerprinting (dMaSIF) method which is based on the 3D point clouds and a novel efficient geometric convolutional layer to fast predict the interaction sites on the protein surface. The different binding site patterns for Delta, Omicron and its subvariants are clearly visualized. We find that Delta and Omicron show the similar surface binding patterns while BA.2, BA.2.13, BA.3 and BA.4 present similar ones. BA.4 possesses higher positive interaction site ratio than the others which may account for its higher transmission and infection among humans. In addition, the positive interaction site ratios of BA.2, BA.2.13, BA.3 are higher than Delta and Omicron, which are accordant with their transmission and infection rates. Hopefully our work offers a new effective route to analyze the protein-protein interaction for the SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyang Zheng
- School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Yanqi Jiao
- School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Haixin You
- School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Junfeng An
- Shen Zhi Xing (Shenzhen) Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Yao Sun
- School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
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Zak AJ, Hoang T, Yee CM, Rizvi SM, Prabhu P, Wen F. Pseudotyping Improves the Yield of Functional SARS-CoV-2 Virus-like Particles (VLPs) as Tools for Vaccine and Therapeutic Development. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14622. [PMID: 37834067 PMCID: PMC10572262 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) have been proposed as an attractive tool in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development, both as (1) a vaccine candidate with high immunogenicity and low reactogenicity and (2) a substitute for live virus in functional and neutralization assays. Though multiple SARS-CoV-2 VLP designs have already been explored in Sf9 insect cells, a key parameter ensuring VLPs are a viable platform is the VLP spike yield (i.e., spike protein content in VLP), which has largely been unreported. In this study, we show that the common strategy of producing SARS-CoV-2 VLPs by expressing spike protein in combination with the native coronavirus membrane and/or envelope protein forms VLPs, but at a critically low spike yield (~0.04-0.08 mg/L). In contrast, fusing the spike ectodomain to the influenza HA transmembrane domain and cytoplasmic tail and co-expressing M1 increased VLP spike yield to ~0.4 mg/L. More importantly, this increased yield translated to a greater VLP spike antigen density (~96 spike monomers/VLP) that more closely resembles that of native SARS-CoV-2 virus (~72-144 Spike monomers/virion). Pseudotyping further allowed for production of functional alpha (B.1.1.7), beta (B.1.351), delta (B.1.617.2), and omicron (B.1.1.529) SARS-CoV-2 VLPs that bound to the target ACE2 receptor. Finally, we demonstrated the utility of pseudotyped VLPs to test neutralizing antibody activity using a simple, acellular ELISA-based assay performed at biosafety level 1 (BSL-1). Taken together, this study highlights the advantage of pseudotyping over native SARS-CoV-2 VLP designs in achieving higher VLP spike yield and demonstrates the usefulness of pseudotyped VLPs as a surrogate for live virus in vaccine and therapeutic development against SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Fei Wen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA (P.P.)
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Wang Y, Long Y, Wang F, Li C, Liu W. Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 recombinants and emerging Omicron sublineages. Int J Med Sci 2023; 20:151-162. [PMID: 36619228 PMCID: PMC9812801 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.79116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron is currently the predominant circulating variant in the COVID-19 pandemic. The dominating Omicron sublineages respond to host immune pressure and develop advantageous mutations or genetic recombination, which result in variants that are more contagious or better at escaping immune responses in response to previous infection or vaccination. Meanwhile, multiple genetic recombination events have been reported in coinfection cases, the majority of which have resulted from the recombination between co-circulating Omicron BA.1 (or BA.1.1) and Delta variant or BA.2. Here, we review the knowledge and characterization of recombination for SARS-CoV-2 at the population level, provide an update on the occurrence of newly circulating Omicron sublineages, and discuss the effectiveness of novel vaccines/therapeutic drugs against the Omicron variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliang Wang
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yiyin Long
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Changlin Li
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Tianjin Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
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