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Tossavainen T, Martikainen MV, Loukola H, Roponen M. Common Pollen Modulate Immune Responses against Viral-Like Challenges in Airway Coculture Model. J Immunol Res 2023; 2023:6639092. [PMID: 37965270 PMCID: PMC10643028 DOI: 10.1155/2023/6639092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent research indicates that exposure to pollen increases the risk and severity of respiratory infections, while studies also suggest that it may possess a protective function. Our aim was to investigate how exposure to common pollen modifies airway cells' responses to viral- or bacterial-like challenges and vice versa. Cocultured A549 and THP-1 cells were exposed to three doses of four different pollens (Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula, Phleum pratense, or Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and subsequently to Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands mimicking bacterial and viral challenges (TLR3, TLR4, TLR7/8). The stimulation experiment was replicated in reverse order. Toxicological and immunological end points were analyzed. When cells were primed with pollen, especially with grass (P. pratense) or weed (A. artemisiifolia), the ability of cells to secrete cytokines in response to bacterial- and viral-like exposure was decreased. In contrast, cells primed with viral ligand TLR7/8 showed greater cytokine responses against pollen than cells exposed to ligands or pollen alone. Our results suggest that pollen exposure potentially weakens immune reactions to bacterial- or viral-like challenges by modulating cytokine production. They also indicate that TLR7/8-mediated viral challenges could elicit exaggerated immune responses against pollen. Both mechanisms could contribute to the acceleration and complication of infections during the pollen season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarleena Tossavainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Maria-Viola Martikainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hanna Loukola
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Marjut Roponen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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2
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Idrose NS, Zhang J, Lodge CJ, Erbas B, Douglass JA, Bui DS, Dharmage SC. A Review of the Role of Pollen in COVID-19 Infection. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20105805. [PMID: 37239533 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20105805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
There is current interest in the role of ambient pollen in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19) infection risk. The aim of this review is to summarise studies published up until January 2023 investigating the relationship between airborne pollen and the risk of COVID-19 infection. We found conflicting evidence, with some studies showing that pollen may increase the risk of COVID-19 infection by acting as a carrier, while others showed that pollen may reduce the risk by acting as an inhibiting factor. A few studies reported no evidence of an association between pollen and the risk of infection. A major limiting factor of this research is not being able to determine whether pollen contributed to the susceptibility to infection or just the expression of symptoms. Hence, more research is needed to better understand this highly complex relationship. Future investigations should consider individual and sociodemographic factors as potential effect modifiers when investigating these associations. This knowledge will help to identify targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Sabrina Idrose
- Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia
- Centre for Food and Allergy Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Jingwen Zhang
- Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia
| | - Caroline J Lodge
- Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia
| | - Bircan Erbas
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Jo A Douglass
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3050, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Dinh S Bui
- Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia
| | - Shyamali C Dharmage
- Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia
- Centre for Food and Allergy Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
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3
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Yang X, Zha Ng J, Sima Y, Zhao J, Wang X, Zhang L. A Multicenter Time Series Study on Pollen Exposure and COVID-19 Infection in Five Cities in China. Allergy 2023. [PMID: 37185872 DOI: 10.1111/all.15752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhe Yang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, Beijing Municipal Education Commission, Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Nasal Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing
| | - Jing Zha Ng
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, Beijing Municipal Education Commission, Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Nasal Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing
| | - Yutong Sima
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, Beijing Municipal Education Commission, Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Nasal Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing
| | - Jinming Zhao
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, Beijing Municipal Education Commission, Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Nasal Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing
| | - Xiangdong Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, Beijing Municipal Education Commission, Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Nasal Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing
| | - Luo Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Allergy, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, Beijing Municipal Education Commission, Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Nasal Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing
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4
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Doblan A, Semih AK, Uzun T, Muderris T. Allergic rhinitis in Covid-19 patients. Niger J Clin Pract 2023; 26:336-340. [PMID: 37056109 DOI: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_359_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Background Coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19) is transmitted by respiratory droplets and causes upper respiratory tract symptoms. These features of Covid-19 are essential regarding its potential association with allergic rhinitis (AR). Aim This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Covid-19 and AR and the effects of Covid-19 in patients with AR. Patients And Methods Between April 2020 and June 2020, in Sanliurfa Mehmet Akif Inan Training and Research Hospital, 322 patients who were diagnosed with Covid-19 with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swab samples and with AR in their medical history were detected using the hospital's automation system. Demographic data including age, gender, and additional data such as main complaints, physical examination findings, duration of inpatient floor, and intensive care unit (ICU) stay were recorded. The medical history of the patients was reviewed and patients with previously diagnosed AR were identified. These patients were called by phone and their AR diagnoses were confirmed by performing the Score for Allergic Rhinitis (SFAR) questionnaire. Results The study population consisted of 322 patients aged between 18 and 85. Among these patients, 186 (57.8%) were male and 136 (42.2%) were female. Nineteen (5.9%) of these patients had a history of AR. There was no difference between the patients with and without a history of AR concerning age, gender distribution, type of presentation, ICU referral rate, duration of inpatient floor, and ICU stay (P > 0.05). Conclusion We conclude that the prognosis of Covid-19 was similar between patients with and without AR. The incidence of AR was relatively lower among patients with Covid-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Doblan
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Reyap Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - A K Semih
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Health Sciences Sanliurfa Mehmet Akif Inan Training and Research Hospital, Sanliurfa, Turkey
| | - T Uzun
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Izmir Bakircay University Cigli Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
| | - T Muderris
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Izmir Bakircay University Cigli Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
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Martikainen MV, Tossavainen T, Hannukka N, Roponen M. Pollen, respiratory viruses, and climate change: Synergistic effects on human health. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 219:115149. [PMID: 36566960 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, evidence of the synergistic effects of pollen and viruses on respiratory health has begun to accumulate. Pollen exposure is a known risk factor for the incidence and severity of respiratory viral infections. However, recent evidence suggests that pollen exposure may also inhibit or weaken viral infections. A comprehensive summary has not been made and a consensus on the synergistic health effects has not been reached. It is highly possible that climate change will increase the significance of pollen exposure as a cause of respiratory problems and, at the same time, affect the risk of infectious disease outbreaks. It is important to accurately assess how these two factors affect human health separately and concurrently. In this review article, for the first time, the data from previous studies are combined and reviewed and potential research gaps concerning the synergistic effects of pollen and viral exposure are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Viola Martikainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Tarleena Tossavainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Noora Hannukka
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Marjut Roponen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Wei W, Qi J, Yin Y, Gong J, Yao X. Characteristics of inhalable bioaerosols on foggy and hazy days and their deposition in the human respiratory tract. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 307:119593. [PMID: 35680068 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric bioaerosols contain live and dead biological components that can enter the human respiratory tract (HRT) and affect human health. Here, the total microorganisms in a coastal megacity, Qingdao, were characterized on the basis of long-term observations from October 2013 to January 2021. Particular attention was given to the size dependence of inhalable bioaerosols in concentration and respiratory deposition in different populations on foggy and hazy days. Bioaerosol samples stained with 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) were selected to measure the total airborne microbe (TAM) concentrations with an epifluorescence microscope, while a multiple-path particle dosimetry model was employed to calculate respiratory deposition. The mean TAM concentrations in the particle size range of 0.65-1.1 μm (TAM0.65-1.1) were 1.23, 2.02, 1.60 and 2.33 times those on sunny reference days relative to the corresponding values on days with slight, mild, moderate and severe levels of haze, respectively. The mean concentration of TAMs in the particle size range of 0.65-2.1 μm (TAM0.65-2.1) on severely hazy days was (2.02 ± 3.28) × 105 cells/m3, with a reduction of 4.16% relative to that on the reference days. The mean TAM0.65-2.1 concentration changed from (1.50 ± 1.37) × 105 cells/m3 to (1.76 ± 1.36) × 105 cells/m3, with TAM0.65-1.1 increasing from (7.91 ± 7.97) × 104 cells/m3 to (1.76 ± 1.33) × 105 cells/m3 on days with light fog days and medium fog, respectively. The modeling results showed that the majority of TAM0.65-2.1 deposition occurred in the extrathoracic (ET) region, followed by the alveolar (AL) region. When different populations were examined separately, the deposition doses (DDs) in adult females and in children ranked at the minimum value (6.19 × 103 cells/h) and maximum value (1.08 × 104 cells/h), respectively. However, the inhalation risks on polluted days, such as hazy, foggy and mixed hazy-foggy (HF) days, were still below the threshold for adverse impacts on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshu Wei
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Jianhua Qi
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266100, China.
| | - Yidan Yin
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Jing Gong
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Xiaohong Yao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266100, China
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7
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Hoogeveen MJ, Kroes ACM, Hoogeveen EK. Environmental factors and mobility predict COVID-19 seasonality in the Netherlands. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 211:113030. [PMID: 35257688 PMCID: PMC8895708 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We recently showed that seasonal patterns of COVID-19 incidence and Influenza-Like Illnesses incidence are highly similar, in a country in the temperate climate zone, such as the Netherlands. We hypothesize that in The Netherlands the same environmental factors and mobility trends that are associated with the seasonality of flu-like illnesses are predictors of COVID-19 seasonality as well. METHODS We used meteorological, pollen/hay fever and mobility data from the Netherlands. For the reproduction number of COVID-19 (Rt), we used daily estimates from the Dutch State Institute for Public Health. For all datasets, we selected the overlapping period of COVID-19 and the first allergy season: from February 17, 2020 till September 21, 2020 (n = 218). Backward stepwise multiple linear regression was used to develop an environmental prediction model of the Rt of COVID-19. Next, we studied whether adding mobility trends to an environmental model improved the predictive power. RESULTS Through stepwise backward multiple linear regression four highly significant (p < 0.01) predictive factors are selected in our combined model: temperature, solar radiation, hay fever incidence, and mobility to indoor recreation locations. Our combined model explains 87.5% of the variance of Rt of COVID-19 and has a good and highly significant fit: F(4, 213) = 374.2, p < 0.00001. This model had a better overall predictive performance than a solely environmental model, which explains 77.3% of the variance of Rt (F(4, 213) = 181.3, p < 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the combined mobility and environmental model can adequately predict the seasonality of COVID-19 in a country with a temperate climate like the Netherlands. In this model higher solar radiation, higher temperature and hay fever are related to lower COVID-19 reproduction, and higher mobility to indoor recreation locations is related to an increased COVID-19 spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn J Hoogeveen
- Department Technical Sciences & Environment, Open University, the Netherlands.
| | - Aloys C M Kroes
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ellen K Hoogeveen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, Den Bosch, the Netherlands
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8
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Chong-Neto HJ, D'amato G, Rosário Filho NA. Impact of the environment on the microbiome. J Pediatr (Rio J) 2022; 98 Suppl 1:S32-S37. [PMID: 34742719 PMCID: PMC9510925 DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This review aimed to verify indoor and outdoor pollution, host and environmental microbiome, and the impact on the health of the pediatric population. SOURCES A review of the literature, non-systematic, with the search for articles since 2001 in PubMed with the terms "pollution" AND "microbiome" AND "children's health" AND "COVID-19". SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS Prevention of allergic diseases includes the following aspects: avoid cesarean delivery, the unnecessary overuse of antibiotics, air pollution, smoking in pregnancy and second-hand tobacco smoke, stimulate breastfeeding, soil connection, consume fresh fruits and vegetables, exercise and outdoor activities and animal contact. The children's microbiota richness and diversity decrease the risk of immune disbalance and allergic disease development. CONCLUSIONS Lifestyle and exposure to pollutants, both biological and non-biological, modify the host and the environment microbiome provoking an immune disbalance with inflammatory consequences and development of allergic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gennaro D'amato
- Federico II University, School of Specialization in Respiratory Diseases, High Specialty Hospital A. Cardarelli, Division of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases, Naples, NA, Italy
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Saghazadeh A, Rezaei N. Evaluating COVID-19-Environment Fit. ACTA BIO-MEDICA : ATENEI PARMENSIS 2022; 93:e2022204. [PMID: 35546012 PMCID: PMC9171863 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v93i2.12161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Spring came and went; the COVID-19 pandemic is still an inhabitant of the world, and its tendency to infect individuals is preserved in numbers; so does the case fatality rate continues to increase. While a long list of facts provided by the clinical and medical sciences have remained unable to resolve the problem, recognizing environmental issues concerning COVID-19 resistance and adaptation might be a flash of lighting the nature of COVID-19 and its ideas of fitness. Here, we summarize the current state of the science of environment related to the causative pathogen of COVID-19, SARS-CoV2, as follows. SARS-CoV2 i. survives in water, ii. mainly spreads via the droplet route, and to a lesser extent, from touching contaminated surfaces, iii. transmission via droplets occurs within the interpersonal distance of two meters and beyond, iv. can more easily spread and cause more severe phenotypes of disease under higher-polluted, low-temperature, and low-humidity conditions, v. can spread under high-temperature conditions, and vi. transmission might be moderated by pollen-derived immune responses and lockdown-mediated air quality improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amene Saghazadeh
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Expert Group (SRMEG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Nima Rezaei
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
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10
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Hoogeveen MJ, Hoogeveen EK. Comparable seasonal pattern for COVID-19 and flu-like illnesses. One Health 2021; 13:100277. [PMID: 34124333 PMCID: PMC8184361 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the first wave of COVID-19 it was hypothesized that COVID-19 is subject to multi-wave seasonality, similar to Influenza-Like Illnesses since time immemorial. One year into the pandemic, we aimed to test the seasonality hypothesis for COVID-19. METHODS We calculated the average annual time-series for Influenza-Like Illnesses based on incidence data from 2016 till 2019 in the Netherlands, and compared these with two COVID-19 time-series during 2020/2021 for the Netherlands. We plotted the time-series on a standardized logarithmic infection scale. Finally, we calculated correlation coefficients and used univariate regression analysis to estimate the strength of the association between the time-series of COVID-19 and Influenza-Like Illnesses. RESULTS The time-series for COVID-19 and Influenza-Like Illnesses were strongly and highly significantly correlated. The COVID-19 peaks were all during flu season, and lows were all in the opposing period. Finally, COVID-19 meets the multi-wave characteristics of earlier flu-like pandemics, namely a short first wave at the tail-end of a flu season, and a longer and more intense second wave during the subsequent flu season. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that seasonal patterns of COVID-19 incidence and Influenza-Like Illnesses incidence are highly similar, in a country in the temperate climate zone, such as the Netherlands. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic satisfies the criteria of earlier respiratory pandemics, namely a first wave that is short-lived at the tail-end of flu season, and a second wave that is longer and more severe.This seems to imply that the same factors that are driving the seasonality of Influenza-Like Illnesses are causing COVID-19 seasonality as well, such as solar radiation (UV), temperature, relative humidity, and subsequently seasonal allergens and allergies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ellen K. Hoogeveen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, Den Bosch, the Netherlands
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Shah RB, Shah RD, Retzinger DG, Retzinger AC, Retzinger DA, Retzinger GS. Competing Bioaerosols May Influence the Seasonality of Influenza-Like Illnesses, including COVID-19. The Chicago Experience. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10091204. [PMID: 34578237 PMCID: PMC8469960 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Data from Chicago confirm the end of flu season coincides with the beginning of pollen season. More importantly, the end of flu season also coincides with onset of seasonal aerosolization of mold spores. Overall, the data suggest bioaerosols, especially mold spores, compete with viruses for a shared receptor, with the periodicity of influenza-like illnesses, including COVID-19, a consequence of seasonal factors that influence aerosolization of competing species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richa B. Shah
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60209, USA;
| | - Rachna D. Shah
- Department of Medicine, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Chicago, IL 60153, USA;
| | | | - Andrew C. Retzinger
- Department of Emergency Medicine, West Virginia University, Camden Clark Medical Center, Parkersburg, WV 26101, USA;
| | | | - Gregory S. Retzinger
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-312-926-2258
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12
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Ravindra K, Goyal A, Mor S. Does airborne pollen influence COVID-19 outbreak? SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2021; 70:102887. [PMID: 33816082 PMCID: PMC7999829 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2021.102887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The fast spread of SARS-CoV-2 presented a worldwide challenge to public health, economy, and educational system, affecting wellbeing of human society. With high transmission rates, there are increasing evidences of COVID-19 spread via bioaerosols from an infected person. The current review was conducted to examine airborne pollen impact on COVID-19 transmission and to identify the major gaps for post-pandemic research. The study used all key terms to identify revenant literature and observation were collated for the current research. Based on existing literature, there is a potential association between pollen bioaerosols and COVID-19. There are few studies focusing the impact of airborne pollen on SARS-CoV-2, which could be useful to advance future research. Allergic rhinitis and asthma patients were found to have pre-modified immune activation, which could help to provide protection against COVID-19. However, does airborne pollen acts as a potent carrier for SARS-CoV-2 transport, dispersal and its proliferation still require multidisciplinary research. Further, a clear conclusion cannot be drawn due to limited evidence and hence more research is needed to show how pollen bioaerosols could affect virus survivals. The small but growing literature review focuses on searching for every possible answer to provide additional security layers to overcome near future corona-like infectious diseases.
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Key Words
- AAAAI, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
- ACE-2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
- ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome
- Airborne pollen
- Allergic rhinitis
- Asthma
- Bioaerosols
- CCDC, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
- CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- CESM, Community Earth System Model
- CMAQ, Community Multiscale Air Quality
- COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases
- COVID-19
- ERS, European Respiratory Society
- FLI, flu-like illnesses
- GINA, Global Initiative for Asthma
- H1N1, Influenza A virus subtype H1N1
- H5N1, avian influenza virus
- IgE, Immunoglobulin E
- LDT, long-distance transport
- MERS, Middle East respiratory syndrome
- NHC, National Health Commission
- RSV, Respiratory Syncytial Virus infection
- SARS-CoV-2, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2
- STaMPS, Simulator of Timing and Magnitude of Pollen Season
- Virus
- WAO, World Allergy Organisation
- WHO, World Health Organization
- WRF, Weather Research Forecasting
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaiwal Ravindra
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Akshi Goyal
- Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Suman Mor
- Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
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13
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Dbouk T, Drikakis D. On pollen and airborne virus transmission. PHYSICS OF FLUIDS (WOODBURY, N.Y. : 1994) 2021; 33:063313. [PMID: 34335004 PMCID: PMC8320470 DOI: 10.1063/5.0055845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates how airborne pollen pellets (or grains) can cause severe respiratory-related problems in humans. Given that pollen pellets can capture ribonucleic acid viruses, we show that airborne pollen grains could transport airborne virus particles such as the airborne coronavirus (CoV) disease (COVID-19) or others. We consider the environmental conditions featuring the highest pollen concentration season and conduct computational multiphysics, multiscale modeling and simulations. The investigation concerns a prototype problem comprising the transport of 104 airborne pollen grains dropped from a mature willow tree at a wind speed of ( U wind = 4 km / h ) . We show how pollen grains can increase the coronavirus (CoV) transmission rate in a group of people, including some infected persons. In the case of high pollen grains concentrations in the air or during pollination in the spring, the social distance of 2 m does not hold as a health safety measure for an outdoor crowd. Thus, the public authorities should revise the social distancing guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talib Dbouk
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
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14
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Hoogeveen MJ, van Gorp ECM, Hoogeveen EK. Can pollen explain the seasonality of flu-like illnesses in the Netherlands? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 755:143182. [PMID: 33131881 PMCID: PMC7580695 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Current models for flu-like epidemics insufficiently explain multi-cycle seasonality. Meteorological factors alone, including the associated behavior, do not predict seasonality, given substantial climate differences between countries that are subject to flu-like epidemics or COVID-19. Pollen is documented to be allergenic, it plays a role in immuno-activation and defense against respiratory viruses, and seems to create a bio-aerosol that lowers the reproduction number of flu-like viruses. Therefore, we hypothesize that pollen may explain the seasonality of flu-like epidemics, including COVID-19, in combination with meteorological variables. We have tested the Pollen-Flu Seasonality Theory for 2016-2020 flu-like seasons, including COVID-19, in the Netherlands, with its 17.4 million inhabitants. We combined changes in flu-like incidence per 100 K/Dutch residents (code: ILI) with pollen concentrations and meteorological data. Finally, a predictive model was tested using pollen and meteorological threshold values, inversely correlated to flu-like incidence. We found a highly significant inverse correlation of r(224) = -0.41 (p < 0.001) between pollen and changes in flu-like incidence, corrected for the incubation period. The correlation was stronger after taking into account the incubation time. We found that our predictive model has the highest inverse correlation with changes in flu-like incidence of r(222) = -0.48 (p < 0.001) when average thresholds of 610 total pollen grains/m3, 120 allergenic pollen grains/m3, and a solar radiation of 510 J/cm2 are passed. The passing of at least the pollen thresholds, preludes the beginning and end of flu-like seasons. Solar radiation is a co-inhibitor of flu-like incidence, while temperature makes no difference. However, higher relative humidity increases with flu-like incidence. We conclude that pollen is a predictor of the inverse seasonality of flu-like epidemics, including COVID-19, and that solar radiation is a co-inhibitor, in the Netherlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn J Hoogeveen
- Department Technical Sciences & Environment, Open University, the Netherlands.
| | - Eric C M van Gorp
- Department of Viroscience and Department of Infectious Diseases, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ellen K Hoogeveen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, Den Bosch, the Netherlands
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15
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Hochman A, Alpert P, Negev M, Abdeen Z, Abdeen AM, Pinto JG, Levine H. The relationship between cyclonic weather regimes and seasonal influenza over the Eastern Mediterranean. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 750:141686. [PMID: 32861075 PMCID: PMC7422794 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The prediction of the occurrence of infectious diseases is of crucial importance for public health, as clearly seen in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we analyze the relationship between the occurrence of a winter low-pressure weather regime - Cyprus Lows - and the seasonal Influenza in the Eastern Mediterranean. We find that the weekly occurrence of Cyprus Lows is significantly correlated with clinical seasonal Influenza in Israel in recent years (R = 0.91; p < .05). This result remains robust when considering a complementary analysis based on Google Trends data for Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan. The weekly occurrence of Cyprus Lows precedes the onset and maximum of Influenza occurrence by about one to two weeks (R = 0.88; p < .05 for the maximum occurrence), and closely follows their timing in eight out of ten years (2008-2017). Since weather regimes such as Cyprus Lows are more robustly predicted in weather and climate models than individual climate variables, we conclude that the weather regime approach can be used to develop tools for estimating the compatibility of the transmission environment for Influenza occurrence in a warming world. Furthermore, this approach may be applied to other regions and climate sensitive diseases. This study is a new cross-border inter-disciplinary regional collaboration for appropriate adaptation to climate change in the Eastern Mediterranean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assaf Hochman
- Department of Tropospheric Research, Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein - Leopoldshafen 76344, Germany.
| | - Pinhas Alpert
- Department of Geophysics, Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Maya Negev
- School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel 3498838, Israel
| | - Ziad Abdeen
- Al-Quds Public Health Society and the Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine-Al-Quds University, Abu-Deis, Palestinian Authority
| | - Abdul Mohsen Abdeen
- Al-Quds Public Health Society and the Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine-Al-Quds University, Abu-Deis, Palestinian Authority
| | - Joaquim G Pinto
- Department of Tropospheric Research, Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein - Leopoldshafen 76344, Germany
| | - Hagai Levine
- Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Hadassah - Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9110202, Israel
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16
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Iqbal MM, Abid I, Hussain S, Shahzad N, Waqas MS, Iqbal MJ. The effects of regional climatic condition on the spread of COVID-19 at global scale. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 739:140101. [PMID: 32531684 PMCID: PMC7280824 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The pandemic outbreak of the novel coronavirus epidemic disease (COVID-19) is spreading like a diffusion-reaction in the world and almost 208 countries and territories are being affected around the globe. It became a sever health and socio-economic problem, while the world has no vaccine to combat this virus. This research aims to analyze the connection between the fast spread of COVID-19 and regional climate parameters over a global scale. In this research, we collected the data of COVID-19 cases from the time of 1st reported case to the 5th June 2020 in different affected countries and regional climatic parameters data from January 2020 to 5th June 2020. It was found that most of the countries located in the relatively lower temperature region show a rapid increase in the COVID-19 cases than the countries locating in the warmer climatic regions despite their better socio-economic conditions. A correlation between metrological parameters and COVID-19 cases was observed. Average daylight hours are correlated to total the COVID-19 cases with a coefficient of determination of 0.42, while average high-temperature shows a correlation of 0.59 and 0.42 with total COVID-19 cases and death cases respectively. The finding of the study will help international health organizations and local administrations to combat and well manage the spread of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Irfan Abid
- National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Saddam Hussain
- Department of Irrigation and Drainage, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Naeem Shahzad
- National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Sohail Waqas
- Soil Conservation Group, Agriculture Department (Field Wing), Government of the Punjab, Pakistan
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17
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Barcelo D. An environmental and health perspective for COVID-19 outbreak: Meteorology and air quality influence, sewage epidemiology indicator, hospitals disinfection, drug therapies and recommendations. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 2020; 8:104006. [PMID: 32373461 PMCID: PMC7198433 DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2020.104006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
This Opinion Paper wishes to provide a summary of recent findings and solutions for a better understanding of the environmental and health problems associated with COVID-19. The list of topics covered is large: meteorology and air quality factors with correlation number of infections, sewage waters as a way to reveal the scale of COVID-19 outbreak, current hospital disinfection procedures and new eco-friendly technologies and list of drug therapies recommend waiting for the desired vaccine to come. During the last two months we did notice an increase in the scientific literature regarding COVID-19 with a partial vision of this problem. The current Opinion Paper is one of the first attempts, to my understanding, to summarize and integrate environmental and human health aspects related to the monitoring, fate and treatment solutions for COVID-19. That being said I believe that this Opinion Paper can serve as multipurpose document, not only for scientists of different disciplines but for social media and citizens in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damia Barcelo
- Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), C/Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain
- College of Environmental and Resources Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
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18
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Barcelo D. An environmental and health perspective for COVID-19 outbreak: Meteorology and air quality influence, sewage epidemiology indicator, hospitals disinfection, drug therapies and recommendations. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 2020; 8:104006. [PMID: 32373461 DOI: 10.1016/j/jece.2020.104006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
This Opinion Paper wishes to provide a summary of recent findings and solutions for a better understanding of the environmental and health problems associated with COVID-19. The list of topics covered is large: meteorology and air quality factors with correlation number of infections, sewage waters as a way to reveal the scale of COVID-19 outbreak, current hospital disinfection procedures and new eco-friendly technologies and list of drug therapies recommend waiting for the desired vaccine to come. During the last two months we did notice an increase in the scientific literature regarding COVID-19 with a partial vision of this problem. The current Opinion Paper is one of the first attempts, to my understanding, to summarize and integrate environmental and human health aspects related to the monitoring, fate and treatment solutions for COVID-19. That being said I believe that this Opinion Paper can serve as multipurpose document, not only for scientists of different disciplines but for social media and citizens in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damia Barcelo
- Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), C/Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain
- College of Environmental and Resources Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
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