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Al-Tawfiq JA. Feathered fears: Could avian H5N1 influenza be the next pandemic threat of disease X? New Microbes New Infect 2024; 59:101416. [PMID: 38707625 PMCID: PMC11067483 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2024.101416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
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2
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Smith MF, Maqsood R, Sullins RA, Driver EM, Halden RU, Lim ES. Seasonality of respiratory, enteric, and urinary viruses revealed by wastewater genomic surveillance. mSphere 2024; 9:e0010524. [PMID: 38712930 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00105-24] [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: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Wastewater surveillance can reveal population-level infectious disease burden and emergent public health threats can be reliably assessed through wastewater surveillance. While molecular methods for wastewater monitoring of microorganisms have traditionally relied on PCR-based approaches, next-generation sequencing (NGS) can provide deeper insights via genomic analyses of multiple diverse pathogens. We conducted a year-long sequencing surveillance of 1,408 composite wastewater samples collected from 12 neighborhood-level access points in the greater Tempe area, Arizona, USA, and show that variation in wastewater viruses is driven by seasonal time and location. The temporal dynamics of viruses in wastewater were influenced cyclically, with the most dissimilarity between samples 23 weeks apart (i.e., winter vs summer, spring vs fall). We identified diverse urinary and enteric viruses including polyomaviruses, astroviruses, and noroviruses, and showed that their genotypes/subtypes shifted across seasons. We show that while wastewater data of certain respiratory viruses like severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strongly correlate with clinical case rates, laboratory-reported case incidences were discordant with surges of high viral load in wastewater for other viruses like human coronavirus 229E. These results demonstrate the utility of wastewater sequencing for informing decision-making in public health.IMPORTANCEWastewater surveillance can provide insights into the spread of pathogens in communities. Advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) methodologies allow for more precise detection of viruses in wastewater. Long-term wastewater surveillance of viruses is an important tool for public health preparedness. This system can act as a public health observatory that gives real-time early warning for infectious disease outbreaks and improved response times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew F Smith
- Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Rabia Maqsood
- Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Regan A Sullins
- Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Erin M Driver
- Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Rolf U Halden
- Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Efrem S Lim
- Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, Singapore
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Lee Y, Kim W, Cho Y, Yoon M, Lee S, Lee J, Oh S, Song Y, Lee BJ, Kim Y, Cho SY. Rational Design of 3D Polymer Corona Interfaces of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Receptor-Free Virus Recognition. ACS NANO 2024; 18:13214-13225. [PMID: 38717114 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c02130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Facing the escalating threat of viruses worldwide, the development of efficient sensor elements for rapid virus detection has never been more critical. Traditional point-of-care (POC) sensors struggle due to their reliance on fragile biological receptors and limited adaptability to viral strains. In this study, we introduce a nanosensor design for receptor-free virus recognitions using near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) functionalized with a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-phospholipid (PEG-lipid) array. Three-dimensional (3D) corona interfaces of the nanosensor array enable selective and sensitive detection of diverse viruses, including Ebola, Lassa, H3N2, H1N1, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 (SARS-CoV-1), and SARS-CoV-2, even without any biological receptors. The PEG-lipid components, designed considering chain length, fatty acid saturation, molecular weight, and end-group moieties, allow for precise quantification of viral recognition abilities. High-throughput automated screening of the array demonstrates how the physicochemical properties of the PEG-lipid/SWCNT 3D corona interfaces correlate with viral detection efficiency. Utilizing molecular dynamics and AutoDock simulations, we investigated the impact of PEG-lipid components on 3D corona interface formation, such as surface coverage and hydrodynamic radius and specific molecular interactions based on chemical potentials. Our findings not only enhance detection specificity across various antigens but also accelerate the development of sensor materials for promptly identifying and responding to emerging antigen threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yullim Lee
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Woojin Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngwook Cho
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Minyeong Yoon
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungju Lee
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungwoo Lee
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangyeon Oh
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeongjun Song
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Brian J Lee
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - YongJoo Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Republic of Korea
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Yeon Cho
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
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Fukuyama K, Mori Y, Ueshima H, Ito S, Tanabe M, Kuroda T. Medical resource usage for COVID-19 evaluated using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303493. [PMID: 38739628 PMCID: PMC11090316 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303493] [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: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exhibited several different waves threatening global health care. During this pandemic, medical resources were depleted. However, the kind of medical resources provided to each wave was not clarified. This study aimed to examine the characteristics of medical care provision at COVID-19 peaks in preparation for the next pandemic. METHODS Using medical insurance claim records in Japan, we examined the presence or absence of COVID-19 infection and the use of medical resources for all patients monthly by age group. RESULTS The wave around August 2021 with the Delta strain had the strongest impact on the working population in terms of hospital admission and respiratory support. For healthcare providers, this peak had the highest frequency of severely ill patients. In the subsequent wave, although the number of patients with COVID-19 remained high, they were predominantly older adults, with relatively fewer patients receiving intensive care. CONCLUSIONS In future pandemics, we should refer to the wave around August 2021 as a situation of medical resource shortage resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Fukuyama
- Division of Medical Information Technology and Administration Planning, Kyoto University Hospital, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yukiko Mori
- Division of Medical Information Technology and Administration Planning, Kyoto University Hospital, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Ueshima
- Division of Medical Information Technology and Administration Planning, Kyoto University Hospital, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shiho Ito
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Mie University Hospital, Edobashi, Tsu city, Mie, Japan
| | - Masaki Tanabe
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Mie University Hospital, Edobashi, Tsu city, Mie, Japan
- Department of Infection Control and Prevention, Mie University Hospital, Edobashi, Tsu city, Mie, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Kuroda
- Division of Medical Information Technology and Administration Planning, Kyoto University Hospital, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto, Japan
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5
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Skerritt JH, Tucek-Szabo C, Sutton B, Nolan T. The Platform Technology Approach to mRNA Product Development and Regulation. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:528. [PMID: 38793779 PMCID: PMC11126020 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12050528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) medicinal products can be considered a platform technology because the development process is similar for different diseases and conditions, with similar noncoding mRNA sequences and lipid nanoparticles and essentially unchanged manufacturing and analytical methods often utilised for different products. It is critical not to lose the momentum built using the platform approach during the development, regulatory approval and rollout of vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. This review proposes a set of modifications to existing regulatory requirements for mRNA products, based on a platform perspective for quality, manufacturing, preclinical, and clinical data. For the first time, we address development and potential regulatory requirements when the mRNA sequences and LNP composition vary in different products as well. In addition, we propose considerations for self-amplifying mRNA, individualised oncology mRNA products, and mRNA therapeutics. Providing a predictable development pathway for academic and commercial groups so that they can know in detail what product characterisation and data are required to develop a dossier for regulatory submission has many potential benefits. These include: reduced development and regulatory costs; faster consumer/patient access and more agile development of products in the face of pandemics; and for rare diseases where alternatives may not exist or to increase survival and the quality of life in cancer patients. Therefore, achieving consensus around platform approaches is both urgent and important. This approach with mRNA can be a template for similar platform frameworks for other therapeutics and vaccines to enable more efficient development and regulatory review.
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Affiliation(s)
- John H. Skerritt
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia;
| | | | - Brett Sutton
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Research Way, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia;
| | - Terry Nolan
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia;
- Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, 792 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
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Houy N, Flaig J. Value of information dynamics in Disease X vaccine clinical trials. Vaccine 2024; 42:1521-1533. [PMID: 38311534 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.01.063] [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: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Solutions have been proposed to accelerate the development and rollout of vaccines against a hypothetical disease with epidemic or pandemic potential called Disease X. This may involve resolving uncertainties regarding the disease and the new vaccine. However the value for public health of collecting this information will depend on the time needed to perform research, but also on the time needed to produce vaccine doses. We explore this interplay, and its effect on the decision on whether or not to perform research. METHOD We simulate numerically the emergence and transmission of a disease in a population using a susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) compartmental model with vaccination. Uncertainties regarding the disease and the vaccine are represented by parameter prior distributions. We vary the date at which vaccine doses are available, and the date at which information about parameters becomes available. We use the expected value of perfect information (EVPI) and the expected value of partially perfect information (EVPPI) to measure the value of information. RESULTS As expected, information has less or no value if it comes too late, or (equivalently) if it can only be used too late. However we also find non trivial dynamics for shorter durations of vaccine development. In this parameter area, it can be optimal to implement vaccination without waiting for information depending on the respective durations of dose production and of clinical research. CONCLUSION We illustrate the value of information dynamics in a Disease X outbreak scenario, and present a general approach to properly take into account uncertainties and transmission dynamics when planning clinical research in this scenario. Our method is based on numerical simulation and allows us to highlight non trivial effects that cannot otherwise be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Houy
- University of Lyon, Lyon F-69007, France; CNRS, GATE Lyon Saint-Etienne, F-69007, France.
| | - Julien Flaig
- Epidemiology and Modelling of Infectious Diseases (EPIMOD), Lyon F-69002, France.
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Mitu RA, Islam MR. The Current Pathogenicity and Potential Risk Evaluation of Marburg Virus to Cause Mysterious "Disease X"-An Update on Recent Evidences. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSIGHTS 2024; 18:11786302241235809. [PMID: 38440221 PMCID: PMC10910879 DOI: 10.1177/11786302241235809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) defined Disease X as an upcoming disease with the potential to cause a pandemic. Pathogen X is responsible for Disease X. Marburg virus disease (MVD) is one of the diseases from the priority disease list published by WHO. Marburg virus is a filamentous, negative-sense RNA virus that belongs to the same filovirus family as the lethal Ebola virus. Since the first discovery of this virus in 1967, 17 outbreaks occurred sporadically till 2023. Rousettus aegyptiacus acts as the natural reservoir of the virus. With an average incubation period of 5 to 10 days, its first target is the mononuclear phagocytic system cells. It is highly contagious and can be easily transmitted from animal to human and human to human via direct contact with blood or body fluid, feces, and semen of the infected host. Although Marburg disease has a high case fatality rate of close to 90%, unfortunately, there is no approved vaccines or treatments are available. The most recent outbreak of Marburg virus in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania in 2023 caused an alert for global health. However, based on the last global pandemic of COVID-19 and the sudden re-emerging of monkeypox around the world, we can assume that the Marburg virus has the potential to cause a global pandemic. Our modern world depends on globalization, which helps the virus transmission among countries. The Marburg virus can easily be transmitted to humans by fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family. This virus causes severe hemorrhagic disease, and there are no specific vaccines and treatments available to combat it. Therefore, community engagement and early supportive care for patients are keys to successfully controlling MVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahima Akter Mitu
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific, Farmgate, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Rabiul Islam
- School of Pharmacy, BRAC University, Merul Badda, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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8
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Zaman MH, Ali N, Ilyas M. "Disease X" and prevention policies. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1303584. [PMID: 38500724 PMCID: PMC10944944 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1303584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Haidar Zaman
- Department of Health and Biological Sciences, Abasyn University, Peshawar, Pakistan
- IBD, Nan Shi Fu Zhang (NSFZ), Department of Biology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Nawab Ali
- Department of Physiotherapy, Sahara University Narowal, Narowal, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ilyas
- Cardiology Department, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, Pakistan
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9
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Manirambona E. Mitigating the threat of "Disease X" to global health security. New Microbes New Infect 2024; 57:101223. [PMID: 38322731 PMCID: PMC10846398 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2024.101223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
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10
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Lim YB, Popescu S. Exploring List-Based Approaches and Potential Threat Agnostic Applications in US Biodefense and Public Health-Toward a Hybrid Approach. Health Secur 2024; 22:146-155. [PMID: 38546510 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2023.0098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Bee Lim
- Yong-Bee Lim, PhD, is a Visiting Scholar, College of Global Futures, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
| | - Saskia Popescu
- Saskia Popescu, PhD, MPH, MA, CIC, is an Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland Medical School, Baltimore, MD
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11
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Souza JP, Day LT, Rezende-Gomes AC, Zhang J, Mori R, Baguiya A, Jayaratne K, Osoti A, Vogel JP, Campbell O, Mugerwa KY, Lumbiganon P, Tunçalp Ö, Cresswell J, Say L, Moran AC, Oladapo OT. A global analysis of the determinants of maternal health and transitions in maternal mortality. Lancet Glob Health 2024; 12:e306-e316. [PMID: 38070536 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(23)00468-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The reduction of maternal mortality and the promotion of maternal health and wellbeing are complex tasks. This Series paper analyses the distal and proximal determinants of maternal health, as well as the exposures, risk factors, and micro-correlates related to maternal mortality. This paper also examines the relationship between these determinants and the gradual shift over time from a pattern of high maternal mortality to a pattern of low maternal mortality (a phenomenon described as the maternal mortality transition). We conducted two systematic reviews of the literature and we analysed publicly available data on indicators related to the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically, estimates prepared by international organisations, including the UN and the World Bank. We considered 23 frameworks depicting maternal health and wellbeing as a multifactorial process, with superdeterminants that broadly affect women's health and wellbeing before, during, and after pregnancy. We explore the role of social determinants of maternal health, individual characteristics, and health-system features in the production of maternal health and wellbeing. This paper argues that the preventable deaths of millions of women each decade are not solely due to biomedical complications of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period, but are also tangible manifestations of the prevailing determinants of maternal health and persistent inequities in global health and socioeconomic development. This paper underscores the need for broader, multipronged actions to improve maternal health and wellbeing and accelerate sustainable reductions in maternal mortality. For women who have pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum complications, the health system provides a crucial opportunity to interrupt the chain of events that can potentially end in maternal death. Ultimately, expanding the health sector ecosystem to mitigate maternal health determinants and tailoring the configuration of health systems to counter the detrimental effects of eco-social forces, including though increased access to quality-assured commodities and services, are essential to improve maternal health and wellbeing and reduce maternal mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Paulo Souza
- Department of Social Medicine, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; BIREME, Department of Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)-World Health Organization Americas Regional Office, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Louise Tina Day
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and International Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ana Clara Rezende-Gomes
- Department of Social Medicine, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rintaro Mori
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Adama Baguiya
- Kaya Health and Demographic Surveillance System (Kaya-HDSS), Research Institute for Health Sciences (IRSS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Alfred Osoti
- Department of Obstetrics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joshua P Vogel
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Oona Campbell
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and International Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kidza Y Mugerwa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Pisake Lumbiganon
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Özge Tunçalp
- UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jenny Cresswell
- UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lale Say
- UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Allisyn Carol Moran
- Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Ageing, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Olufemi T Oladapo
- UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Alfano V. Unlocking the importance of perceived governance: The impact on COVID-19 in NUTS-2 European regions. Soc Sci Med 2024; 343:116590. [PMID: 38290397 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116590] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
In the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, governments implemented non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Previous literature suggests that NPI effectiveness is influenced by governance quality. The acceptance and perceived necessity of these measures by the public are crucial to their success, as NPIs cannot be easily enforced without public support. Does regional governance also play a role? This study examines the correlation between the quality of governance in European NUTS-2 regions and the spread of COVID-19. The findings indicate that overall perceived governance, and its perceived quality and corruption pillars, significantly impact the effectiveness of these interventions. This effect was pronounced during the first wave and then diminished in importance, disappearing before vaccines were available, suggesting that regional governance matters especially in the immediate aftermath of an exogenous shock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Alfano
- University of Napoli "Parthenope" & Center for Economic Studies - CES-ifo, Italy.
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13
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Kwon DI, Park S, Jeong YL, Kim YM, Min J, Lee C, Choi JA, Choi YH, Kong HJ, Choi Y, Baek S, Lee KJ, Kang YW, Jeong C, You G, Oh Y, Im SK, Song M, Kim JK, Chang J, Choi D, Lee SW. Fc-fused IL-7 provides broad antiviral effects against respiratory virus infections through IL-17A-producing pulmonary innate-like T cells. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101362. [PMID: 38232693 PMCID: PMC10829794 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101362] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Repeated pandemics caused by the influenza virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) have resulted in serious problems in global public health, emphasizing the need for broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics against respiratory virus infections. Here, we show the protective effects of long-acting recombinant human interleukin-7 fused with hybrid Fc (rhIL-7-hyFc) against major respiratory viruses, including influenza virus, SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus. Administration of rhIL-7-hyFc in a therapeutic or prophylactic regimen induces substantial antiviral effects. During an influenza A virus (IAV) infection, rhIL-7-hyFc treatment increases pulmonary T cells composed of blood-derived interferon γ (IFNγ)+ conventional T cells and locally expanded IL-17A+ innate-like T cells. Single-cell RNA transcriptomics reveals that rhIL-7-hyFc upregulates antiviral genes in pulmonary T cells and induces clonal expansion of type 17 innate-like T cells. rhIL-7-hyFc-mediated disease prevention is dependent on IL-17A in both IAV- and SARS-CoV-2-infected mice. Collectively, we suggest that rhIL-7-hyFc can be used as a broadly active therapeutic for future respiratory virus pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Il Kwon
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Subin Park
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Yujin L Jeong
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Min Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongyong Min
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Changhyung Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Ah Choi
- Science Unit, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Ha Choi
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Jung Kong
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngwon Choi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungtae Baek
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech Co., Ltd., Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Kun-Joo Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeon-Woo Kang
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Chaerim Jeong
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Gihoon You
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngsik Oh
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Kyoung Im
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech Co., Ltd., Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Manki Song
- Science Unit, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Kyoung Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Chang
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Donghoon Choi
- Research Institute of NeoImmuneTech Co., Ltd., Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seung-Woo Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37666, Republic of Korea.
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14
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Subramani C, Sharma G, Chaira T, Barman TK. High content screening strategies for large-scale compound libraries with a focus on high-containment viruses. Antiviral Res 2024; 221:105764. [PMID: 38008193 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105764] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
A majority of viral diseases do not have FDA-approved drugs. The recent outbreaks caused by SARS-CoV-2, monkeypox, and Sudan ebolavirus have exposed the critical need for rapid screening and identification of antiviral compounds against emerging/re-emerging viral pathogens. A high-content screening (HCS) platform is becoming an essential part of the drug discovery process, thanks to developments in image acquisition and analysis. While HCS has several advantages, its full potential has not been realized in antiviral drug discovery compared to conventional drug screening approaches, such as fluorescence or luminescence-based microplate assays. Therefore, this review aims to summarize HCS workflow, strategies, and developments in image-based drug screening, focusing on high-containment viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandru Subramani
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Ghanshyam Sharma
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Tridib Chaira
- Department of Pharmacology, SGT University, Gurugram, Haryana, India
| | - Tarani Kanta Barman
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, Galveston, TX, USA.
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15
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Geber S. Unraveling the Dark Side of Social Norms-Toward a Research Agenda on the Challenges of Social Norms in Health Communication. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023:1-8. [PMID: 38148308 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2296190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Social norms are a promising means in health crisis communication because they can guide collective action to reduce risk. However, recent research on the COVID-19 pandemic suggests that social norms may have not fully supported strategic goals and even contributed to phenomena that hindered risk reduction, calling into question the potential of social norms campaigns. This became most evident during the COVID-19 pandemic in the emergence of alternative norms of measure opposition, stigmatization of norm-deviant individuals, and the issue of free-riding. The article analyzes these phenomena from a social identity and communication perspective and outlines areas for further inquiry in health and crisis communication. The goal is to pave the way for a research agenda dedicated to the dark side of social norms to unlock the full potential of social norms in times of (health) crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Geber
- Department of Communication and Media Research-IKMZ, University of Zurich
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16
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Ou BS, Saouaf OM, Yan J, Bruun TUJ, Baillet J, Zhou X, King NP, Appel EA. Broad and Durable Humoral Responses Following Single Hydrogel Immunization of SARS-CoV-2 Subunit Vaccine. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2301495. [PMID: 37278391 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Most vaccines require several immunizations to induce robust immunity, and indeed, most SARS-CoV-2 vaccines require an initial two-shot regimen followed by several boosters to maintain efficacy. Such a complex series of immunizations unfortunately increases the cost and complexity of populations-scale vaccination and reduces overall compliance and vaccination rate. In a rapidly evolving pandemic affected by the spread of immune-escaping variants, there is an urgent need to develop vaccines capable of providing robust and durable immunity. In this work, a single immunization SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine is developed that can rapidly generate potent, broad, and durable humoral immunity. Injectable polymer-nanoparticle (PNP) hydrogels are leveraged as a depot technology for the sustained delivery of a nanoparticle antigen (RND-NP) displaying multiple copies of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) and potent adjuvants including CpG and 3M-052. Compared to a clinically relevant prime-boost regimen with soluble vaccines formulated with CpG/alum or 3M-052/alum adjuvants, PNP hydrogel vaccines more rapidly generated higher, broader, and more durable antibody responses. Additionally, these single-immunization hydrogel-based vaccines elicit potent and consistent neutralizing responses. Overall, it is shown that PNP hydrogels elicit improved anti-COVID immune responses with only a single administration, demonstrating their potential as critical technologies to enhance overall pandemic readiness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben S Ou
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Olivia M Saouaf
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jerry Yan
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Theodora U J Bruun
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Julie Baillet
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, University of Bordeaux, Pessac, 33600, France
| | - Xueting Zhou
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Neil P King
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Eric A Appel
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics-Endocrinology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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17
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Kang N, Kim EA, Heo SY, Heo SJ. Structure-Based In Silico Screening of Marine Phlorotannins for Potential Walrus Calicivirus Inhibitor. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15774. [PMID: 37958757 PMCID: PMC10647355 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115774] [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: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A new calicivirus isolated from a walrus was reported in 2004. Since unknown marine mammalian zoonotic viruses could pose great risks to human health, this study aimed to develop therapeutic countermeasures to quell any potential outbreak of a pandemic caused by this virus. We first generated a 3D model of the walrus calicivirus capsid protein and identified compounds from marine natural products, especially phlorotannins, as potential walrus calicivirus inhibitors. A 3D model of the target protein was generated using homology modeling based on two publicly available template sequences. The sequence of the capsid protein exhibited 31.3% identity and 42.7% similarity with the reference templates. The accuracy and reliability of the predicted residues were validated via Ramachandran plotting. Molecular docking simulations were performed between the capsid protein 3D model and 17 phlorotannins. Among them, five phlorotannins demonstrated markedly stable docking profiles; in particular, 2,7-phloroglucinol-6,6-bieckol showed favorable structural integrity and stability during molecular dynamics simulations. The results indicate that the phlorotannins are promising walrus calicivirus inhibitors. Overall, the study findings showcase the rapid turnaround of in silico-based drug discovery approaches, providing useful insights for developing potential therapies against novel pathogenic viruses, especially when the 3D structures of the viruses remain experimentally unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Soo-Jin Heo
- Jeju Bio Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Jeju 63349, Republic of Korea; (N.K.); (E.-A.K.); (S.-Y.H.)
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18
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Alfano V, Capasso S, Limosani M. On the determinants of anti-COVID restriction and anti-vaccine movements: the case of IoApro in Italy. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16784. [PMID: 37798271 PMCID: PMC10556032 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42133-x] [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: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Following restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19, and subsequent vaccination campaigns, sentiments against such policies were quick to arise. While individual-level determinants that led to such attitudes have drawn much attention, there are also reasons to believe that the macro context in which these movements arose may contribute to their evolution. In this study, exploiting data on business activities which supported a major Italian anti-restriction and anti-vaccine movement, IoApro, using quantitative analysis that employs both a fractional response probit and logit model and a beta regression model, we investigate the relationship between socio-economic characteristics, institutional quality, and the flourishing of this movement. Our results suggest a U-shaped relationship between income and the proliferation of the movement, meaning that support for these movements increases the greater the degree of economic decline. Our results further indicate that the share of the population between 40 and 60 years old is positively related to support for such movements, as is institutional corruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Alfano
- DiSEGIM, University of Napoli Parthenope, Naples, Italy.
- Center for Economic Studies - CES-Ifo, Munich, Germany.
| | - Salvatore Capasso
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, Italian National Research Council, Rome, Italy
- University of Napoli Parthenope, Naples, Italy
- CSEF, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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19
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Hollingsworth SA, Noland CL, Vroom K, Saha A, Sam M, Gao Q, Zhou H, Grandy DU, Singh S, Wen Z, Warren C, Ma XS, Malashock D, Galli J, Go G, Eddins M, Mayhood T, Sathiyamoorthy K, Fridman A, Raoufi F, Gomez-Llorente Y, Patridge A, Tang Y, Chen SJ, Bailly M, Ji C, Kingsley LJ, Cheng AC, Geierstanger BH, Gorman DM, Zhang L, Pande K. Discovery and multimerization of cross-reactive single-domain antibodies against SARS-like viruses to enhance potency and address emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13668. [PMID: 37608223 PMCID: PMC10444775 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40919-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses have been the causative agent of three epidemics and pandemics in the past two decades, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A broadly-neutralizing coronavirus therapeutic is desirable not only to prevent and treat COVID-19, but also to provide protection for high-risk populations against future emergent coronaviruses. As all coronaviruses use spike proteins on the viral surface to enter the host cells, and these spike proteins share sequence and structural homology, we set out to discover cross-reactive biologic agents targeting the spike protein to block viral entry. Through llama immunization campaigns, we have identified single domain antibodies (VHHs) that are cross-reactive against multiple emergent coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and MERS). Importantly, a number of these antibodies show sub-nanomolar potency towards all SARS-like viruses including emergent CoV-2 variants. We identified nine distinct epitopes on the spike protein targeted by these VHHs. Further, by engineering VHHs targeting distinct, conserved epitopes into multi-valent formats, we significantly enhanced their neutralization potencies compared to the corresponding VHH cocktails. We believe this approach is ideally suited to address both emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants during the current pandemic as well as potential future pandemics caused by SARS-like coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A Hollingsworth
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
- Molecular Structure and Design, Bristol-Myers Squibb Research and Development, 700 Bay Road, Redwood City, CA, 94063, USA
| | - Cameron L Noland
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Karin Vroom
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Anasuya Saha
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Miranda Sam
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Qinshan Gao
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Haihong Zhou
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - David U Grandy
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Sujata Singh
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Zhiyun Wen
- Infectious Disease and Vaccine Discovery, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA, 19486, USA
| | - Christopher Warren
- Infectious Disease and Vaccine Discovery, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA, 19486, USA
| | - Xiaohong Shirley Ma
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Daniel Malashock
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Jennifer Galli
- Infectious Disease and Vaccine Discovery, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA, 19486, USA
| | - Gwenny Go
- Infectious Disease and Vaccine Discovery, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA, 19486, USA
| | - Michael Eddins
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Todd Mayhood
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Karthik Sathiyamoorthy
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Arthur Fridman
- Data Science and Informatics, Merck & Co., Inc., 126 E. Lincoln Ave., Rahway, NJ, 07065, USA
| | - Fahimeh Raoufi
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Yacob Gomez-Llorente
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Andrea Patridge
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Yinyan Tang
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Shi-Juan Chen
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Marc Bailly
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Chengjie Ji
- NovaBioAssays, LLC, 52 Dragon Ct, Woburn, MA, 01801, USA
| | - Laura J Kingsley
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
- Boehringer Ingelheim, 900 Ridgebury Rd, Ridgefield, CT, 06877, USA
| | - Alan C Cheng
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Bernhard H Geierstanger
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Daniel M Gorman
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Lan Zhang
- Infectious Disease and Vaccine Discovery, Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA, 19486, USA.
| | - Kalyan Pande
- Discovery Biologics, Merck & Co., Inc., 213 East Grand Ave., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA.
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20
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Alfano V, Cicatiello L, Ercolano S. Assessing the effectiveness of mandatory outdoor mask policy: The natural experiment of Campania. ECONOMICS AND HUMAN BIOLOGY 2023; 50:101265. [PMID: 37348287 PMCID: PMC10259108 DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2023.101265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Face masks are possibly the main symbol of the COVID-19 pandemic. Once rarely used in Western countries, in the last two years they have become an object it is impossible to leave one's home without. Italy made their use a legal requirement, even outdoors, from late 2020 to early 2022. The effectiveness of this policy in reducing COVID-19 cases has been widely debated. The recent cancellation of their mandatory use in Italy offers an interesting setting in which to test its impact, since one Italian region (Campania) extended the restriction for a further three weeks. We aim to shed some light on the real-world impact of mandatory use of face masks outdoors, identifying the effect of this policy on the spread of COVID-19. By means of a quantitative analysis, employing a synthetic control method approach, we find that Campania had statistically the same number of cases as its synthetic counterfactual, built from a donor pool formed from the other Italian provinces. Hence, results suggest that while it imposes a burden on the public, the use of face masks outdoors is not correlated with a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Alfano
- DiGESIM, University of Napoli Parthenope, Napoli, Italy; Center for Economic Studies - CESifo, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Cicatiello
- Department of Human and Social Science, University of Napoli L'Orientale, Napoli, Italy
| | - Salvatore Ercolano
- Department of Mathematics, Information Sciences and Economics, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy; National University Centre for Applied Economic Studies - CMET 05, Italy
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21
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Cao X, Yang D, Parvathareddy J, Chu YK, Kim EJ, Fitz-Henley JN, Li X, Lukka PB, Parmar KR, Temrikar ZH, Dhole P, Adcock RS, Gabbard J, Bansal S, Lee J, Zalduondo L, Hayes E, Stabenow J, Meibohm B, Fitzpatrick EA, Bailey K, Campos RK, Julander JG, Rossi SL, Chung D, Jonsson CB, Golden JE. Efficacy of a brain-penetrant antiviral in lethal Venezuelan and eastern equine encephalitis mouse models. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eabl9344. [PMID: 37043558 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abl9344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Venezuelan and eastern equine encephalitis viruses (VEEV and EEEV, respectively) are mosquito-borne, neuroinvasive human pathogens for which no FDA-approved therapeutic exists. Besides the biothreat posed by these viruses when aerosolized, arthropod transmission presents serious health risks to humans, as demonstrated by the 2019 outbreak of EEE disease in the United States that resulted in 38 confirmed cases, 19 deaths, and neurological effects in survivors. Here, we describe the discovery of a 2-pyrrolidinoquinazolinone scaffold, efficiently synthesized in two to five steps, whose structural optimization resulted in profound antiviral activity. The lead quinazolinone, BDGR-49, potently reduced cellular VEEV and EEEV titers by >7 log at 1 μM and exhibited suitable intravenous and oral pharmacokinetic profiles in BALB/c mice to achieve excellent brain exposure. Outstanding in vivo efficacy was observed in several lethal, subcutaneous infection mouse models using an 8-day dosing regimen. Prophylactically administered BDGR-49 at 25 mg kg-1 per day fully protected against a 10× LD50 VEEV Trinidad donkey (TrD) challenge in BALB/c mice. Similarly, we observed 70% protection when 10× LD50 EEEV FL93-939-infected C57BL/6 mice were treated prophylactically with BDGR-49 at 50 mg kg-1 per day. Last, we observed 100% therapeutic efficacy when mice, challenged with 10× LD50 VEEV TrD, were dosed at 48 hours after infection with BDGR-49 at 25 mg kg-1 per day. Mouse brain viral titers at 96 hours after infection were reduced to values near the limit of detection. Collectively, these results underscore the substantial development potential of a well-tolerated, brain-penetrant lead compound that shows promise in preventing and treating encephalitic alphavirus disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xufeng Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Dong Yang
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Jyothi Parvathareddy
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Yong-Kyu Chu
- Center for Predictive Medicine, Department of Microbiology Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Eun Jung Kim
- Center for Predictive Medicine, Department of Microbiology Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Jhewelle N Fitz-Henley
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Pradeep B Lukka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Keyur R Parmar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Zaid H Temrikar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Priya Dhole
- Center for Predictive Medicine, Department of Microbiology Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Robert Scott Adcock
- Center for Predictive Medicine, Department of Microbiology Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Jon Gabbard
- Center for Predictive Medicine, Department of Microbiology Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Shruti Bansal
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Jasper Lee
- Departments of Microbiology, Immunology, Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Lillian Zalduondo
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Ernestine Hayes
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Jennifer Stabenow
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Bernd Meibohm
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Fitzpatrick
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
- Departments of Microbiology, Immunology, Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Kevin Bailey
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Rafael K Campos
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Justin G Julander
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Shannan L Rossi
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Donghoon Chung
- Center for Predictive Medicine, Department of Microbiology Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Colleen B Jonsson
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
- Departments of Microbiology, Immunology, Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Jennifer E Golden
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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22
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Davidson M, Andiappan M. When caring breeds contempt: The impact of moral emotions on healthcare professionals' commitment during a pandemic. Health Serv Manage Res 2023:9514848231165894. [PMID: 36952623 PMCID: PMC10037123 DOI: 10.1177/09514848231165894] [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: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is a major heath crisis that continues to impact healthcare organizations worldwide. As infection rates surged, there was a global shortage of personal protective equipment, critical medications, ventilators, and hospital beds, meaning that healthcare professionals faced increasingly difficult workplace conditions. In this conceptual study, we argue these situations can lead to healthcare professionals experiencing moral emotions - defined as specific emotions which relate, or occur in response, to the interest or welfare of others - towards their organizations. This paper explores the three moral emotions of contempt, anger and disgust, and their potential influence on healthcare professionals' workplace commitment in the context of a pandemic. Drawing from the moral emotions and organizational commitment literature, we develop a process model to demonstrate how healthcare professionals' affective and continuous commitment are likely to decrease while, paradoxically, normative, and professional commitment may become amplified. The possible potential for positive outcomes from negative moral emotions is discussed, followed by theoretical and practical contributions of the model, and finally, directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Davidson
- 7938University of Toronto, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Meena Andiappan
- 7938University of Toronto, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Toronto, ON, Canada
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23
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Farlow A, Torreele E, Gray G, Ruxrungtham K, Rees H, Prasad S, Gomez C, Sall A, Magalhães J, Olliaro P, Terblanche P. The Future of Epidemic and Pandemic Vaccines to Serve Global Public Health Needs. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11030690. [PMID: 36992275 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
This Review initiates a wide-ranging discussion over 2023 by selecting and exploring core themes to be investigated more deeply in papers submitted to the Vaccines Special Issue on the "Future of Epidemic and Pandemic Vaccines to Serve Global Public Health Needs". To tackle the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, an acceleration of vaccine development across different technology platforms resulted in the emergency use authorization of multiple vaccines in less than a year. Despite this record speed, many limitations surfaced including unequal access to products and technologies, regulatory hurdles, restrictions on the flow of intellectual property needed to develop and manufacture vaccines, clinical trials challenges, development of vaccines that did not curtail or prevent transmission, unsustainable strategies for dealing with variants, and the distorted allocation of funding to favour dominant companies in affluent countries. Key to future epidemic and pandemic responses will be sustainable, global-public-health-driven vaccine development and manufacturing based on equitable access to platform technologies, decentralised and localised innovation, and multiple developers and manufacturers, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). There is talk of flexible, modular pandemic preparedness, of technology access pools based on non-exclusive global licensing agreements in exchange for fair compensation, of WHO-supported vaccine technology transfer hubs and spokes, and of the creation of vaccine prototypes ready for phase I/II trials, etc. However, all these concepts face extraordinary challenges shaped by current commercial incentives, the unwillingness of pharmaceutical companies and governments to share intellectual property and know-how, the precariousness of building capacity based solely on COVID-19 vaccines, the focus on large-scale manufacturing capacity rather than small-scale rapid-response innovation to stop outbreaks when and where they occur, and the inability of many resource-limited countries to afford next-generation vaccines for their national vaccine programmes. Once the current high subsidies are gone and interest has waned, sustaining vaccine innovation and manufacturing capability in interpandemic periods will require equitable access to vaccine innovation and manufacturing capabilities in all regions of the world based on many vaccines, not just "pandemic vaccines". Public and philanthropic investments will need to leverage enforceable commitments to share vaccines and critical technology so that countries everywhere can establish and scale up vaccine development and manufacturing capability. This will only happen if we question all prior assumptions and learn the lessons offered by the current pandemic. We invite submissions to the special issue, which we hope will help guide the world towards a global vaccine research, development, and manufacturing ecosystem that better balances and integrates scientific, clinical trial, regulatory, and commercial interests and puts global public health needs first.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Farlow
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Broad St., Oxford OX1 3BD, UK
- Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Broad St., Oxford OX1 3BD, UK
| | - Els Torreele
- Independent Consultant and Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose (IIPP), University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Glenda Gray
- Office of the President, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Tygerberg 7050, South Africa
| | - Kiat Ruxrungtham
- Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development (Chula Vaccine Research Center, Chula VRC), Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- School of Global Health (SGH), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Helen Rees
- Wits RHI, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
| | - Sai Prasad
- Bharat Biotech International Limited, Genome Valley, Shameerpet, Hyderabad 500 078, India
| | - Carolina Gomez
- Facultad de Derecho, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cra 45, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
| | - Amadou Sall
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, 36, Avenue Pasteur, Dakar 10200, Senegal
| | - Jorge Magalhães
- Centre for Technological Innovation, Institute of Drugs Technology-Farmanguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, Brazil
| | - Piero Olliaro
- ISARIC Global Support Centre International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium, Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3BD, UK
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Park KS, Choi A, Kim HJ, Park I, Eom MS, Yeo SG, Son RG, Park TI, Lee G, Soh HT, Hong Y, Pack SP. Ultra-sensitive label-free SERS biosensor with high-throughput screened DNA aptamer for universal detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants from clinical samples. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 228:115202. [PMID: 36940632 PMCID: PMC9993738 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has caused an ongoing global pandemic with economic and social disruption. Moreover, the virus has persistently and rapidly evolved into novel lineages with mutations. The most effective strategy to control the pandemic is suppressing virus spread through early detection of infections. Therefore, developing a rapid, accurate, easy-to-use diagnostic platform against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern remains necessary. Here, we developed an ultra-sensitive label-free surface-enhanced Raman scattering-based aptasensor as a countermeasure for the universal detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. In this aptasensor platform, we discovered two DNA aptamers that enable binding to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein via the Particle Display, a high-throughput screening approach. These showed high affinity that exhibited dissociation constants of 1.47 ± 0.30 nM and 1.81 ± 0.39 nM. We designed a combination with the aptamers and silver nanoforest for developing an ultra-sensitive SERS platform and achieved an attomolar (10-18 M) level detection limit with a recombinant trimeric spike protein. Furthermore, using the intrinsic properties of the aptamer signal, we demonstrated a label-free aptasensor approach, enabling use without the Raman tag. Finally, our label-free SERS-combined aptasensor succeeded in detecting SARS-CoV-2 with excellent accuracy, even in clinical samples with variants of concern, including the wild-type, delta, and omicron variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki Sung Park
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Anna Choi
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jung Kim
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea; Department of Medical Device, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), Daegu, 42994, Republic of Korea
| | - Insu Park
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Konyang University, Daejeon, 35365, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Suk Eom
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Sejong Institute of Health & Environment, Sejong, 30015, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Gu Yeo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Sejong Institute of Health & Environment, Sejong, 30015, Republic of Korea
| | - Ryeo Gang Son
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-In Park
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyudo Lee
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyongsok Tom Soh
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA; Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Yoochan Hong
- Department of Medical Device, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), Daegu, 42994, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seung Pil Pack
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea.
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Mba IE, Sharndama HC, Anyaegbunam ZKG, Anekpo CC, Amadi BC, Morumda D, Doowuese Y, Ihezuo UJ, Chukwukelu JU, Okeke OP. Vaccine development for bacterial pathogens: Advances, challenges and prospects. Trop Med Int Health 2023; 28:275-299. [PMID: 36861882 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13865] [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: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
The advent and use of antimicrobials have played a key role in treating potentially life-threatening infectious diseases, improving health, and saving the lives of millions of people worldwide. However, the emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens has been a significant health challenge that has compromised the ability to prevent and treat a wide range of infectious diseases that were once treatable. Vaccines offer potential as a promising alternative to fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) infectious diseases. Vaccine technologies include reverse vaccinology, structural biology methods, nucleic acid (DNA and mRNA) vaccines, generalised modules for membrane antigens, bioconjugates/glycoconjugates, nanomaterials and several other emerging technological advances that are offering a potential breakthrough in the development of efficient vaccines against pathogens. This review covers the opportunities and advancements in vaccine discovery and development targeting bacterial pathogens. We reflect on the impact of the already-developed vaccines targeting bacterial pathogens and the potential of those currently under different stages of preclinical and clinical trials. More importantly, we critically and comprehensively analyse the challenges while highlighting the key indices for future vaccine prospects. Finally, the issues and concerns of AMR for low-income countries (sub-Saharan Africa) and the challenges with vaccine integration, discovery and development in this region are critically evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifeanyi Elibe Mba
- Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | | | - Zikora Kizito Glory Anyaegbunam
- Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
- Institute for Drug-Herbal Medicine-Excipient Research and Development, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Chijioke Chinedu Anekpo
- Department of Ear Nose and Throat, College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Ben Chibuzo Amadi
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Daji Morumda
- Department of Microbiology, Federal University Wukari, Wukari, Taraba, Nigeria
| | - Yandev Doowuese
- Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Nigeria
| | - Uchechi Justina Ihezuo
- Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
- Institute for Drug-Herbal Medicine-Excipient Research and Development, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
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Xiao K, Zhang L. Wastewater pathogen surveillance based on One Health approach. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2023; 4:e297. [PMID: 36848921 PMCID: PMC9956970 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00039-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kangpeng Xiao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
| | - Longxian Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou, China
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Mozer A, Prost S. An Introduction to Illegal Wildlife Trade and its Effects on Biodiversity and Society. FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL: ANIMALS AND ENVIRONMENTS 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fsiae.2023.100064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
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Tusabe F, Lamorde M, Medley A, Kesande M, Lozier MJ, Yapswale S, Ociti F, Isabirye H, Nuwamanya E, Nanyondo J, Boore A, Vosburgh W, Kasule JN, Pratt C, Berendes D. Establishment of District-Led Production of WHO-Recommended Alcohol-based Hand Rub (ABHR) during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Model for Improving Access to ABHR during Health Emergencies. JOURNAL OF WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE FOR DEVELOPMENT : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL WATER ASSOCIATION 2023; 13:847-856. [PMID: 38410156 PMCID: PMC10896262 DOI: 10.2166/washdev.2023.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we established and sustained local production of alcohol-based handrub (ABHR) at district scale for healthcare facilities and community, public locations in four districts in Uganda. District officials provided space and staff for production units. The project renovated space for production, trained staff on ABHR production, and transported ABHR to key locations. The production officer conducted internal ABHR quality assessments while trained district health inspectors conducted external quality assessments prior to distribution. Information, education, and communication materials accompanied ABHR distribution. Onsite ABHR consumption was monitored by site staff using stock cards. On average, it took 11 days (range: 8-14) and 5,760 USD (range: 4,400-7,710) to set up a production unit. From March-December 2021, 21,600L of quality-controlled ABHR were produced for 111 healthcare facilities and community locations at an average cost of 4.30 USD/L (range: 3.50-5.76). All ABHR passed both internal and external quality control (average ethanol concentration of 80%, range: 78-81%). This case study demonstrated that establishing centralized, local production of quality-controlled, affordable ABHR at a district-wide scale is feasible and strengthens the ability of healthcare workers and community locations to access and use ABHR during infectious disease outbreaks in low-resource countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred Tusabe
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Mohammed Lamorde
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Alexandra Medley
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. Mailstop H24-11, Atlanta, GA, USA, 30329
| | - Maureen Kesande
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Matthew J. Lozier
- Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. Mailstop H24-11, Atlanta, GA, USA, 30329
| | - Sauda Yapswale
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Francis Ociti
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Herbert Isabirye
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Elly Nuwamanya
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Judith Nanyondo
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Amy Boore
- Division of Global Health Protection, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Country Office Kampala, Uganda
| | - Waverly Vosburgh
- Division of Global Health Protection, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Country Office Kampala, Uganda
| | - Juliet N. Kasule
- Division of Global Health Protection, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Country Office Kampala, Uganda
| | - Caroline Pratt
- Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. Mailstop H24-11, Atlanta, GA, USA, 30329
| | - David Berendes
- Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. Mailstop H24-11, Atlanta, GA, USA, 30329
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Kim SW. COVID-19 Outbreak in Daegu City, Korea and Response to COVID-19: How Have We Dealt and What Are the Lessons? J Korean Med Sci 2022; 37:e356. [PMID: 36573388 PMCID: PMC9792262 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Daegu city was overcome by efforts, including; 1) prompt isolation and quarantine action by local government with cooperative help from expert groups and the central government, 2) high-intensity social distancing and active cooperation of citizens, 3) admission of asymptomatic and mild patients in 'residential treatment centers', and 4) use of a telephone scoring system for the allocation of patients, with a mortality rate of 2.5%. A continuous suppression policy with test, tracing, and treatment (3 Ts) was implemented as an active response to the initial outbreaks in Korea. With the introduction of vaccines and therapeutic agents, the COVID-19 crisis had improved. Recently, the omicron variant was responsible for most domestic outbreaks, albeit with a low mortality rate (0.1%). Since the omicron outbreak, a damage mitigation policy has been implemented, focusing on protecting vulnerable groups. In the future, preparation including below are needed; 1) improving the national public health emergency response system, 2) strengthening the crisis response capacity of local governments, 3) cooperation between public healthcare and private healthcare, and 4) establishing a resilient medical response system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Woo Kim
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
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Zhang Z, Vaghefi I. Continued Use of Contact-Tracing Apps in the United States and the United Kingdom: Insights From a Comparative Study Through the Lens of the Health Belief Model. JMIR Form Res 2022; 6:e40302. [PMID: 36351080 DOI: 10.2196/40302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2, contact-tracing (CT) mobile apps were developed and deployed to identify and notify individuals who have exposure to the virus. However, the effectiveness of these apps depends not only on their adoption by the general population but also on their continued use in the long term. Limited research has investigated the facilitators of and barriers to the continued use of CT apps. OBJECTIVE In this study, we aimed to examine factors influencing the continued use intentions of CT apps based on the health belief model. In addition, we investigated the differences between users and nonusers and between the US and UK populations. METHODS We administered a survey in the United States and the United Kingdom. Respondents included individuals who had previously used CT technologies and those without experience. We used the structural equation modeling technique to validate the proposed research model and hypotheses. RESULTS Analysis of data collected from 362 individuals showed that perceived benefits, self-efficacy, perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, and cues to action positively predicted the continued use intentions of CT apps, while perceived barriers could reduce them. We observed few differences between the US and UK groups; the only exception was the effect of COVID-19 threat susceptibility, which was significant for the UK group but not for the US group. Finally, we found that the only significant difference between users and nonusers was related to perceived barriers, which may not influence nonusers' continued use intentions but significantly reduce experienced users' intentions. CONCLUSIONS Our findings have implications for technological design and policy. These insights can potentially help governments, technology companies, and media outlets to create strategies and policies to promote app adoption for new users and sustain continued use for existing users in the long run.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhan Zhang
- School of Computer Science and Information Systems, Pace University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Isaac Vaghefi
- Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
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Xie L, Li Y. Advances in vaccinia virus-based vaccine vectors, with applications in flavivirus vaccine development. Vaccine 2022; 40:7022-7031. [PMID: 36319490 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.10.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Historically, virulent variola virus infection caused hundreds of millions of deaths. The smallpox pandemic in human beings has spread for centuries until the advent of the attenuated vaccinia virus (VV) vaccine, which played a crucial role in eradicating the deadly contagious disease. Decades of exploration and utilization have validated the attenuated VV as a promising vaccine vehicle against various lethal viruses. In this review, we focus on the advances in VV-based vaccine vector studies, including construction approaches of recombinant VV, the impact of VV-specific pre-existing immunity on subsequent VV-based vaccines, and antigen-specific immune responses. More specifically, the recombinant VV-based flaviviruses are intensively discussed. Based on the publication data, this review aims to provide valuable insights and guidance for future VV-based vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilan Xie
- College of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan University of Bioengineering, Wuhan, China; Hubei Engineering Research Center of Viral Vector, Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yaoming Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan University of Bioengineering, Wuhan, China; Hubei Engineering Research Center of Viral Vector, Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Wuhan, China.
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Alfano V, Ercolano S. Your vaccine attitude determines your altitude. What are the determinants of attitudes toward vaccination? Vaccine 2022; 40:6987-6997. [PMID: 36374709 PMCID: PMC9614527 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.10.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Attitudes toward vaccination are doubtless an important determinant of public health, and this became evident after the first year of the last COVID-19 pandemic. The issue, long-debated within European societies, especially with respect to occasional surges of diseases in given years, has become a crucial determinant of the wellbeing of a country since 2021. In this study, using microdata from a 2019 Eurobarometer survey, we frame and deepen our knowledge about the main determinants of vaccination attitudes as observed by the related literature. We argue that a positive attitude toward vaccination may be due to individualistic or altruistic reasons, or various incentives; our analysis aims to improve our knowledge about the determinants of such a complex decision. Our findings, obtained by means of a quantitative analysis that employs Ordered Probit, Ordered Logit and Generalized Ordered Logit estimations, provide complete support for some of the theories that have been debated in the literature, limited support for others because of mixed evidence, and no support for some.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Alfano
- Department of Economics, University of Messina, Italy,Center for Economic Studies - CES-ifo, Munich, Germany,Corresponding author
| | - Salvatore Ercolano
- Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Economics, University of Basilicata, Italy
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Ferrobotic swarms enable accessible and adaptable automated viral testing. Nature 2022; 611:570-577. [PMID: 36352231 PMCID: PMC9645323 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05408-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Expanding our global testing capacity is critical to preventing and containing pandemics1–9. Accordingly, accessible and adaptable automated platforms that in decentralized settings perform nucleic acid amplification tests resource-efficiently are required10–14. Pooled testing can be extremely efficient if the pooling strategy is based on local viral prevalence15–20; however, it requires automation, small sample volume handling and feedback not available in current bulky, capital-intensive liquid handling technologies21–29. Here we use a swarm of millimetre-sized magnets as mobile robotic agents (‘ferrobots’) for precise and robust handling of magnetized sample droplets and high-fidelity delivery of flexible workflows based on nucleic acid amplification tests to overcome these limitations. Within a palm-sized printed circuit board-based programmable platform, we demonstrated the myriad of laboratory-equivalent operations involved in pooled testing. These operations were guided by an introduced square matrix pooled testing algorithm to identify the samples from infected patients, while maximizing the testing efficiency. We applied this automated technology for the loop-mediated isothermal amplification and detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in clinical samples, in which the test results completely matched those obtained off-chip. This technology is easily manufacturable and distributable, and its adoption for viral testing could lead to a 10–300-fold reduction in reagent costs (depending on the viral prevalence) and three orders of magnitude reduction in instrumentation cost. Therefore, it is a promising solution to expand our testing capacity for pandemic preparedness and to reimagine the automated clinical laboratory of the future. A handheld printed circuit board-based programmable platform using ferrobots can perform the complex, laboratory-equivalent procedures involved in multiplexed and pooled nucleic acid amplification testing, allowing for the decentralization of viral diagnostics.
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Tusabe F, Tahir IM, Akpa CI, Mtaki V, Baryamujura J, Kamau B, Lidoroh S, Kobugabe PL, Maaga NO, Bongomin F. Lessons Learned from the Ebola Virus Disease and COVID-19 Preparedness to Respond to the Human Monkeypox Virus Outbreak in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:6279-6286. [PMID: 36329989 PMCID: PMC9624151 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s384348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the human monkeypox virus disease an international health emergency. In the past decades, infectious disease epidemics have significantly impacted low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) being the most recent. LMICs, particularly in Africa and Asia, responded reasonably well by strengthening health systems, including infection prevention and control strategies, laboratory systems, risk communication, and training of essential healthcare workers for surge capacity in preparation for and response to COVID-19. With the possibility of other epidemics, such as the current epidemic of human Monkeypox, a consolidated global response is required. This article discusses lessons learned from previous Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks and also provides recommendations on how these lessons can be useful to strengthen monkeypox disease outbreak preparedness and response in LMIC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred Tusabe
- Global Health Security Department, Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda,Correspondence: Fred Tusabe, Tel +256 777317065, Email
| | - Imtiaz Mahmood Tahir
- College of Allied Health Professionals, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Chijioke Igwe Akpa
- Surveillance and Epidemiology Department, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Victor Mtaki
- Medical Laboratory Department, Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Jovan Baryamujura
- Global Health Security Department, Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Beatrice Kamau
- Health Services Department, Nairobi County, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Sharon Lidoroh
- Public Health Department, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Kenya
| | - Penlope Lillian Kobugabe
- Counselling Department, Makerere University-John Hopkins Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Nathan Okemwa Maaga
- Department of Diagnostics, Ministry of Health, Kisii County Government, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Felix Bongomin
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda
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Leong YX, Tan EX, Leong SX, Lin Koh CS, Thanh Nguyen LB, Ting Chen JR, Xia K, Ling XY. Where Nanosensors Meet Machine Learning: Prospects and Challenges in Detecting Disease X. ACS NANO 2022; 16:13279-13293. [PMID: 36067337 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c05731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Disease X is a hypothetical unknown disease that has the potential to cause an epidemic or pandemic outbreak in the future. Nanosensors are attractive portable devices that can swiftly screen disease biomarkers on site, reducing the reliance on laboratory-based analyses. However, conventional data analytics limit the progress of nanosensor research. In this Perspective, we highlight the integral role of machine learning (ML) algorithms in advancing nanosensing strategies toward Disease X detection. We first summarize recent progress in utilizing ML algorithms for the smart design and fabrication of custom nanosensor platforms as well as realizing rapid on-site prediction of infection statuses. Subsequently, we discuss promising prospects in further harnessing the potential of ML algorithms in other aspects of nanosensor development and biomarker detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Xiang Leong
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Emily Xi Tan
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Shi Xuan Leong
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Charlynn Sher Lin Koh
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Lam Bang Thanh Nguyen
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Jaslyn Ru Ting Chen
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Kelin Xia
- Division of Mathematical Sciences, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Xing Yi Ling
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
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Siddiqui A, Adnan A. Transcriptomics and the hunt for Disease X; A view point from Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2022; 81:104552. [PMID: 36091195 PMCID: PMC9439854 DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Jain V, Atun R, Hansen P, Lorgelly P. Which countries need COVID-19 vaccines the most? Development of a prioritisation tool. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1518. [PMID: 35945545 PMCID: PMC9363142 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13948-6] [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: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic and associated non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) have affected all countries. With a scarcity of COVID-19 vaccines there has been a need to prioritize populations, but assessing relative needs has been challenging. The COVAX Facility allocates vaccines to cover 20% of each national population, followed by a needs assessment that considers five quantitative metrics alongside a qualitative assessment. The objective of this study was to identify the most important factors for assessing countries’ needs for vaccines, and to weight each, generating a scoring tool for prioritising countries. Methods The study was conducted between March and November 2021. The first stage involved an online Delphi survey with a purposive and snowball sample of public health experts, to reach consensus on country-level factors for assessing relative needs for COVID-19 vaccines. The second stage involved a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to determine weights for the most important factors. Results Responses were received from 28 experts working across 13 different countries and globally. The most common job titles reported were director and professor, with most based in national public health institutes (n = 9) and universities (n = 8). The Delphi survey found 37 distinct factors related to needs. Nine of the most important factors were included in the DCE. Among these, the most important factor was the ‘proportion of overall population not fully vaccinated’ (with a mean weight of 19.5), followed by ‘proportion of high-risk population not fully vaccinated’ (16.1), ‘health system capacity’ (14.2), ‘capacity to purchase vaccines’ (11.9) and the ‘proportion of the population clinically vulnerable’ (11.3). Conclusions Several factors exist, extending beyond those currently used, which may lead to some countries having a greater need for vaccines compared to others. By assessing relative needs, this scoring tool can build on existing methods to further the role of equity in global COVID-19 vaccine allocation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13948-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vageesh Jain
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, WC1N 1EH, UK.
| | - Rifat Atun
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Paul Hansen
- Department of Economics, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Paula Lorgelly
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.,School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
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Alfano V. Work ethics, stay-at-home measures and COVID-19 diffusion : How is the pandemic affected by the way people perceive work? THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS : HEPAC : HEALTH ECONOMICS IN PREVENTION AND CARE 2022; 23:893-901. [PMID: 34741686 PMCID: PMC8571666 DOI: 10.1007/s10198-021-01402-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Non-pharmaceutical interventions aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19 rely largely on voluntary compliance among the target population to be effective, since such measures, which are aimed at the entire population, are very hard to enforce. In this paper, we focus on the impact of different work ethics on the spread of COVID-19. There are indeed reasons to believe that populations with different attitudes toward work will react differently to stay-at-home orders and other policies that forbid people from working. By means of a quantitative analysis, using hybrid model estimators, we test the impact of different work ethics on COVID-19 diffusion in a sample of 30 European countries. Results show that the more a population holds certain beliefs about work-namely, that it is humiliating to receive money without working, that people who do not work become lazy, and that work always comes first-the higher contagion rates of COVID-19 are, ceteris paribus. On the other hand, the more a population perceives work as a social duty, the lower contagion rates are. All this suggests that different work ethics matter in the containment of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Alfano
- Department of Economics, Westminster International University in Tashkent, Munich, Germany.
- Center for Economic Studies-CESifo, Munich, Germany.
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Yoon S, Noh H, Jin H, Lee S, Han S, Kim SH, Kim J, Seo JS, Kim JJ, Park IH, Oh J, Bae JY, Lee GE, Woo SJ, Seo SM, Kim NW, Lee YW, Jang HJ, Hong SM, An SH, Lyoo KS, Yeom M, Lee H, Jung B, Yoon SW, Kang JA, Seok SH, Lee YJ, Kim SY, Kim YB, Hwang JY, On D, Lim SY, Kim SP, Jang JY, Lee H, Kim K, Lee HJ, Kim HB, Park JW, Jeong DG, Song D, Choi KS, Lee HY, Choi YK, Choi JA, Song M, Park MS, Seo JY, Nam KT, Shin JS, Won S, Yun JW, Seong JK. Laboratory information management system for COVID-19 non-clinical efficacy trial data. Lab Anim Res 2022; 38:17. [PMID: 35765097 PMCID: PMC9238008 DOI: 10.1186/s42826-022-00127-2] [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: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As the number of large-scale studies involving multiple organizations producing data has steadily increased, an integrated system for a common interoperable format is needed. In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a number of global efforts are underway to develop vaccines and therapeutics. We are therefore observing an explosion in the proliferation of COVID-19 data, and interoperability is highly requested in multiple institutions participating simultaneously in COVID-19 pandemic research.
Results In this study, a laboratory information management system (LIMS) approach has been adopted to systemically manage various COVID-19 non-clinical trial data, including mortality, clinical signs, body weight, body temperature, organ weights, viral titer (viral replication and viral RNA), and multiorgan histopathology, from multiple institutions based on a web interface. The main aim of the implemented system is to integrate, standardize, and organize data collected from laboratories in multiple institutes for COVID-19 non-clinical efficacy testings. Six animal biosafety level 3 institutions proved the feasibility of our system. Substantial benefits were shown by maximizing collaborative high-quality non-clinical research.
Conclusions This LIMS platform can be used for future outbreaks, leading to accelerated medical product development through the systematic management of extensive data from non-clinical animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhyeon Yoon
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyuna Noh
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Heejin Jin
- Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungyoung Lee
- Department of Genomic Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.,Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Soyul Han
- RexSoft Corp, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hee Kim
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiseon Kim
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Seon Seo
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Jin Kim
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - In Ho Park
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jooyeon Oh
- Department of Microbiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon-Yong Bae
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Biosafety Center, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Gee Eun Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Biosafety Center, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Je Woo
- Science Unit, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Min Seo
- Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Na-Won Kim
- Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Youn Woo Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Hui Jeong Jang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Min Hong
- Laboratory of Avian Diseases, BK21 Plus Program for Veterinary Science and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Hee An
- Laboratory of Avian Diseases, BK21 Plus Program for Veterinary Science and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang-Soo Lyoo
- Korea Zoonosis Research Institute, Chonbuk National University, Iksan, 54531, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjoo Yeom
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Hanbyeul Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Bud Jung
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Woo Yoon
- Bionanotechnology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Ah Kang
- Bionanotechnology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Hyuk Seok
- Division of Biomedical Convergence, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, ChunCheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu Jin Lee
- Division of Biomedical Convergence, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, ChunCheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Seo Yeon Kim
- Preclinical Research Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Been Kim
- Preclinical Research Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Yeon Hwang
- Preclinical Research Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Dain On
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.,Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Genomics, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Yeon Lim
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sol Pin Kim
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Yun Jang
- Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi, 10408, Republic of Korea.,College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Lee
- Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi, 10408, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoungmi Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Department of Physiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Jung Lee
- Department of Periodontology, Section of Dentistry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13620, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong Bin Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, 13620, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Won Park
- Division of Biomedical Convergence, College of Biomedical Science, Kangwon National University, ChunCheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Gwin Jeong
- Bionanotechnology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Daesub Song
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Kang-Seuk Choi
- Laboratory of Avian Diseases, BK21 Plus Program for Veterinary Science and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho-Young Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Yang-Kyu Choi
- Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Ah Choi
- Science Unit, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Manki Song
- Science Unit, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Man-Seong Park
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Viral Diseases, Biosafety Center, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun-Young Seo
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Taek Nam
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeon-Soo Shin
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.,Department of Microbiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungho Won
- Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea. .,RexSoft Corp, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Public Health Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jun-Won Yun
- Laboratory of Veterinary Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Je Kyung Seong
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea. .,Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Genomics, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea. .,Interdisciplinary Program for Bioinformatics, Program for Cancer Biology, BIO-MAX/N-Bio Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
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Development of a Medium Care Unit Using an Inexperienced Respiratory Staff: Lessons Learned during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19127349. [PMID: 35742601 PMCID: PMC9223691 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The different waves of the COVID-19 pandemic caused dramatic issues regarding the organization of care. In this context innovative solutions have to be developed in a timely manner to adapt to the organization of the care. The establishment of middle care (MC) units is a bright example of such an adaptation. A multidisciplinary MC team, including expert and non-expert respiratory health care personnel, was developed and trained to work in a COVID-19 MC unit. Important educational resources were set up to ensure rapid and effective training of the MC team, limiting the admission or delaying transfers to ICU and ensuring optimal management of palliative care. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patient data in the MC unit during the second COVID-19 wave in Belgium. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of quickly developing an effective respiratory MC unit mixing respiratory expert and non-expert members from outside ICUs. The establishment of an MC unit during a pandemic is feasible and needed. MC units possibly relieve the pressure exerted on ICUs. A highly trained multidisciplinary team is key to ensuring the success of an MC unit during such kind of a pandemic.
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Liu L, Iketani S, Guo Y, Casner RG, Reddem ER, Nair MS, Yu J, Chan JFW, Wang M, Cerutti G, Li Z, Morano NC, Castagna CD, Corredor L, Chu H, Yuan S, Poon VKM, Chan CCS, Chen Z, Luo Y, Cunningham M, Chavez A, Yin MT, Perlin DS, Tsuji M, Yuen KY, Kwong PD, Sheng Z, Huang Y, Shapiro L, Ho DD. An antibody class with a common CDRH3 motif broadly neutralizes sarbecoviruses. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabn6859. [PMID: 35438546 PMCID: PMC9017343 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abn6859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The devastation caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has made clear the importance of pandemic preparedness. To address future zoonotic outbreaks due to related viruses in the sarbecovirus subgenus, we identified a human monoclonal antibody, 10-40, that neutralized or bound all sarbecoviruses tested in vitro and protected against SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV in vivo. Comparative studies with other receptor-binding domain (RBD)-directed antibodies showed 10-40 to have the greatest breadth against sarbecoviruses, suggesting that 10-40 is a promising agent for pandemic preparedness. Moreover, structural analyses on 10-40 and similar antibodies not only defined an epitope cluster in the inner face of the RBD that is well conserved among sarbecoviruses but also uncovered a distinct antibody class with a common CDRH3 motif. Our analyses also suggested that elicitation of this class of antibodies may not be overly difficult, an observation that bodes well for the development of a pan-sarbecovirus vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihong Liu
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Sho Iketani
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Yicheng Guo
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Ryan G. Casner
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Eswar R. Reddem
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Manoj S. Nair
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jian Yu
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jasper F-W. Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Health@InnoHK, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Maple Wang
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Gabriele Cerutti
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Zhiteng Li
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Nicholas C. Morano
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Candace D. Castagna
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Laura Corredor
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Hin Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Health@InnoHK, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Shuofeng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Health@InnoHK, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Vincent Kwok-Man Poon
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Health@InnoHK, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Chris Chun-Sing Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Health@InnoHK, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Zhiwei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Health@InnoHK, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- AIDS Institute, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Yang Luo
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Marcus Cunningham
- Hackensack Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA
- Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA
| | - Alejandro Chavez
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Michael T. Yin
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - David S. Perlin
- Hackensack Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA
- Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA
| | - Moriya Tsuji
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Kwok-Yung Yuen
- Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, Health@InnoHK, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Peter D. Kwong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Zizhang Sheng
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Yaoxing Huang
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Lawrence Shapiro
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - David D. Ho
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
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Dzuvor CKO, Tettey EL, Danquah MK. Aptamers as promising nanotheranostic tools in the COVID-19 pandemic era. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 14:e1785. [PMID: 35238490 PMCID: PMC9111085 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of SARS‐COV‐2, the causative agent of new coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) has become a pandemic threat. Early and precise detection of the virus is vital for effective diagnosis and treatment. Various testing kits and assays, including nucleic acid detection methods, antigen tests, serological tests, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), have been implemented or are being explored to detect the virus and/or characterize cellular and antibody responses to the infection. However, these approaches have inherent drawbacks such as nonspecificity, high cost, are characterized by long turnaround times for test results, and can be labor‐intensive. Also, the circulating SARS‐COV‐2 variant of concerns, reduced antibody sensitivity and/or neutralization, and possible antibody‐dependent enhancement (ADE) have warranted the search for alternative potent therapeutics. Aptamers, which are single‐stranded oligonucleotides, generated artificially by SELEX (Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) may offer the capacity to generate high‐affinity neutralizers and/or bioprobes for monitoring relevant SARS‐COV‐2 and COVID‐19 biomarkers. This article reviews and discusses the prospects of implementing aptamers for rapid point‐of‐care detection and treatment of SARS‐COV‐2. We highlight other SARS‐COV‐2 targets (N protein, spike protein stem‐helix), SELEX augmented with competition assays and in silico technologies for rapid discovery and isolation of theranostic aptamers against COVID‐19 and future pandemics. It further provides an overview on site‐specific bioconjugation approaches, customizable molecular scaffolding strategies, and nanotechnology platforms to engineer these aptamers into ultrapotent blockers, multivalent therapeutics, and vaccines to boost both humoral and cellular immunity against the virus. This article is categorized under:Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Infectious Disease Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Respiratory Disease
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian K O Dzuvor
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Michael K Danquah
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
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Finding a chink in the armor: Update, limitations, and challenges toward successful antivirals against flaviviruses. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010291. [PMID: 35482672 PMCID: PMC9049358 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses have caused large epidemics and ongoing outbreaks for centuries. They are now distributed in every continent infecting up to millions of people annually and may emerge to cause future epidemics. Some of the viruses from this group cause severe illnesses ranging from hemorrhagic to neurological manifestations. Despite decades of research, there are currently no approved antiviral drugs against flaviviruses, urging for new strategies and antiviral targets. In recent years, integrated omics data-based drug repurposing paired with novel drug validation methodologies and appropriate animal models has substantially aided in the discovery of new antiviral medicines. Here, we aim to review the latest progress in the development of both new and repurposed (i) direct-acting antivirals; (ii) host-targeting antivirals; and (iii) multitarget antivirals against flaviviruses, which have been evaluated both in vitro and in vivo, with an emphasis on their targets and mechanisms. The search yielded 37 compounds that have been evaluated for their efficacy against flaviviruses in animal models; 20 of them are repurposed drugs, and the majority of them exhibit broad-spectrum antiviral activity. The review also highlighted the major limitations and challenges faced in the current in vitro and in vivo evaluations that hamper the development of successful antiviral drugs for flaviviruses. We provided an analysis of what can be learned from some of the approved antiviral drugs as well as drugs that failed clinical trials. Potent in vitro and in vivo antiviral efficacy alone does not warrant successful antiviral drugs; current gaps in studies need to be addressed to improve efficacy and safety in clinical trials.
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Amini R, Zhang Z, Li J, Gu J, Brennan J, Li Y. Aptamers for SARS-CoV-2: Isolation, Characterization, and Diagnostic and Therapeutic Developments. ANALYSIS & SENSING 2022; 2:e202200012. [PMID: 35574520 PMCID: PMC9082509 DOI: 10.1002/anse.202200012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The SARS‐CoV‐2 virus and COVID‐19 pandemic continue to demand effective diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. Finding these solutions requires highly functional molecular recognition elements. Nucleic acid aptamers represent a possible solution. Characterized by their high affinity and specificity, aptamers can be rapidly identified from random‐sequence nucleic acid libraries. Over the past two years, many labs around the world have rushed to create diverse aptamers that target two important structural proteins of SARS‐CoV‐2: the spike (S) protein and nucleocapsid (N) protein. These have led to the identification of many aptamers that show real promise for the development of diagnostic tests and therapeutic agents for SARS‐CoV‐2. Herein we review all these developments, with a special focus on the development of diverse aptasensors for detecting SARS‐CoV‐2. These include electrochemical and optical sensors, lateral flow devices, and aptamer‐linked immobilized sorbent assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Amini
- McMaster University Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences CANADA
| | - Zijie Zhang
- McMaster University Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences CANADA
| | - Jiuxing Li
- McMaster University Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences CANADA
| | - Jimmy Gu
- McMaster University Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences CANADA
| | - John Brennan
- McMaster University Biointerfaces Institute CANADA
| | - Yingfu Li
- McMaster University Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences 1280 Main Street West L8S4K1 Hamilton CANADA
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Ryan MC, Kim E, Cao X, Reichard W, Ogorek TJ, Das P, Jonsson CB, Baudry J, Chung D, Golden JE. Piperazinobenzodiazepinones: New Encephalitic Alphavirus Inhibitors via Ring Expansion of 2-Dichloromethylquinazolinones. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:546-553. [PMID: 35450382 PMCID: PMC9014857 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
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Venezuelan and eastern
equine encephalitis viruses are disease-causing,
neuropathic pathogens with no approved treatment options in humans.
While expanding the pharmacophoric model of antialphaviral amidines
prepared via a quinazolinone rearrangement, we discovered that diamine-treated,
2-dihalomethylquinolinones unexpectedly afforded ring-expanded piperazine-fused
benzodiazepinones. Notably, this new chemotype (19 examples) showed
potent, submicromolar inhibition of virus-induced cell death, >7-log
reduction of viral yield, and tractable structure–activity
relationships across both viruses. Antiviral activity was confirmed
in primary human neuronal cells. A mechanistic rationale for product
formation is proposed, and key structural elements were comparatively
modeled between a similarly substituted antiviral amidine and piperazinobenzodiazepinone
prototypes to guide future antiviral development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C. Ryan
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
| | - Eunjung Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, United States
| | - Xufeng Cao
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
| | - Walter Reichard
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
| | - Tyler J. Ogorek
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Pronay Das
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
| | - Colleen B. Jonsson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
- College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
| | - Jerome Baudry
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama 35899, United States
| | - Donghoon Chung
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, United States
| | - Jennifer E. Golden
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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Laatikainen K, Mesilaakso M, Kulmala I, Mäkelä E, Ruutu P, Lyytikäinen O, Tella S, Humppi T, Salo S, Haataja T, Helminen K, Karppinen H, Kähkönen H, Vainiola T, Blomqvist K, Laitinen S, Peltonen K, Laaksonen M, Ristimäki T, Koivisto J. Large-scale decontamination of disposable FFP2 and FFP3 respirators by hydrogen peroxide vapour, Finland, April to June 2020. EURO SURVEILLANCE : BULLETIN EUROPEEN SUR LES MALADIES TRANSMISSIBLES = EUROPEAN COMMUNICABLE DISEASE BULLETIN 2022; 27. [PMID: 35301980 PMCID: PMC8971915 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2022.27.11.2100119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background The shortage of FFP2 and FFP3 respirators posed a serious threat to the operation of the healthcare system at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aim Our aim was to develop and validate a large-scale facility that uses hydrogen peroxide vapour for the decontamination of used respirators. Methods A multidisciplinary and multisectoral ad hoc group of experts representing various organisations was assembled to implement the collection and transport of used FFP2 and FFP3 respirators from hospitals covering 86% of the Finnish population. A large-scale decontamination facility using hydrogen peroxide vapour was designed and constructed. Microbiological tests were used to confirm efficacy of hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination together with a test to assess the effect of decontamination on the filtering efficacy and fit of respirators. Bacterial and fungal growth in stored respirators was determined by standard methods. Results Large-scale hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination of a range of FFP2 and FFP3 respirator models effectively reduced the recovery of biological indicators: Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus atrophaeus spores, as well as model virus bacteriophage MS2. The filtering efficacy and facial fit after hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination were not affected by the process. Microbial growth in the hydrogen peroxide vapour-treated respirators indicated appropriate microbial cleanliness. Conclusions Large-scale hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination was validated. After effective decontamination, no significant changes in the key properties of the respirators were detected. European Union regulations should incorporate a facilitated pathway to allow reuse of appropriately decontaminated respirators in a severe pandemic when unused respirators are not available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katri Laatikainen
- LAB University of Applied Science, Lappeenranta and Lahti, Finland.,Department of Separation Science, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, Lappeenranta, Finland
| | | | - Ilpo Kulmala
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Espoo and Tampere, Finland
| | - Erja Mäkelä
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Kuopio and Oulu, Finland
| | - Petri Ruutu
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Susanna Tella
- LAB University of Applied Science, Lappeenranta and Lahti, Finland
| | - Tarmo Humppi
- Finnish Defense Research Agency, Ylöjärvi, Finland
| | - Satu Salo
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Espoo and Tampere, Finland
| | | | | | - Henri Karppinen
- LAB University of Applied Science, Lappeenranta and Lahti, Finland
| | - Heli Kähkönen
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Kuopio and Oulu, Finland
| | | | - Kirsimarja Blomqvist
- LUT School of Business and Management, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, Lappeenranta, Finland
| | - Sirpa Laitinen
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Kuopio and Oulu, Finland
| | - Kati Peltonen
- LAB University of Applied Science, Lappeenranta and Lahti, Finland
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Alfano V. Fighting COVID in Central Asia: Governance Quality and Non-Pharmaceutical Effectiveness in the 'stans. Health Policy Plan 2022; 37:952-962. [PMID: 35260888 PMCID: PMC9047151 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czac023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
To fight coronavirus disease 2019, non-pharmaceutical interventions were adopted all over the world. Non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) effectiveness also depends on governments’ capacity to implement sound policies. Stay-at-home orders are binding measures that can raise serious concerns among the population. The perceived quality and effective need for these measures are therefore crucial for the willingness of the citizens to accept NPIs. This study investigates the relationship between the efficacy of NPIs and governance quality in Central Asia. Results suggest that overall governance quality matters and that in this relationship regulatory quality is more important than rule of law, which matters more than government effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Alfano
- Department of Economics, University of Messina.,Center for Economic Studies CES-ifo
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Edwards CM, Suliman AAA, Taylor-Robinson S, Corrah T. Rebalancing the research equation in Africa: principles and process. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e049781. [PMID: 35193900 PMCID: PMC8882655 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many examples of research excellence in Africa have been driven by partnerships led by the global North and have involved localised infrastructure improvements to support the best of international research practice. OBJECTIVE In this article, we explore a possible mechanism by which local research networks, appropriately governed, could begin to support national African research programmes by allying research delivery to clinical service. SUMMARY This article explores the concept that sustainable research effort needs a well-trained and mentored workforce, working to common standards, but which is practically supported by a much developed information technology (IT) infrastructure throughout the continent. CONCLUSIONS The balance of investment and ownership of such a research programme needs to be shared between local and international funding, with the emphasis on developing global South-South collaborations and research strategies which address the environmental impact of medical research activity and mitigate the impact of climate change on African populations. Healthcare must be embedded in the post-COVID-19 approach to research development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathryn M Edwards
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Torbay Hospital, Torquay, UK
- Department of Medicine, Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine, Plymouth, UK
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49
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Alfano V. Does social capital enforce social distancing? The role of bridging and bonding social capital in the evolution of the pandemic. ECONOMIA POLITICA (BOLOGNA, ITALY) 2022; 39:839-859. [PMID: 35422590 PMCID: PMC8791696 DOI: 10.1007/s40888-021-00255-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
By shaping the way people look at members of their networks as well as strangers, social capital affects the behavior of a population during a pandemic. Over the course of 2020, various countries implemented non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI), imposing restrictions that were difficult to enforce (due to the scale of the policies) in order to protect the public from the threat of COVID-19. This is an interesting quasi-experimental setting in which to test the compliance of populations with different levels of social capital with government suggestions and prescriptions. With the help of European Social Survey data, and the John Hopkins University dataset on the spread of COVID-19 around the world, the present work aims to test the impact within a sample of European countries with different social capital stocks on the spread of coronavirus. The results show that countries with higher social capital have fewer COVID-19 cases, ceteris paribus for NPI. This is especially true if this capital is of the bonding kind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Alfano
- Department of Economics, Westminster International University in Tashkent, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Center for Economic Studies-CESifo, Munich, Germany
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50
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Morales JS, Valenzuela PL, Castillo-García A, Butragueño J, Jiménez-Pavón D, Carrera-Bastos P, Lucia A. The Exposome and Immune Health in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Nutrients 2021; 14:24. [PMID: 35010900 PMCID: PMC8746533 DOI: 10.3390/nu14010024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence supports the importance of lifestyle and environmental exposures-collectively referred to as the 'exposome'-for ensuring immune health. In this narrative review, we summarize and discuss the effects of the different exposome components (physical activity, body weight management, diet, sun exposure, stress, sleep and circadian rhythms, pollution, smoking, and gut microbiome) on immune function and inflammation, particularly in the context of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We highlight the potential role of 'exposome improvements' in the prevention-or amelioration, once established-of this disease as well as their effect on the response to vaccination. In light of the existing evidence, the promotion of a healthy exposome should be a cornerstone in the prevention and management of the COVID-19 pandemic and other eventual pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier S. Morales
- MOVE-IT Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, Universidad de Cádiz, 11519 Cadiz, Spain;
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cádiz (INiBICA) Research Unit, Puerta del Mar University Hospital, University of Cádiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain
| | - Pedro L. Valenzuela
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain; (P.L.V.); (A.L.)
- Physical Activity and Health Research Group (‘PaHerg’), Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre (‘imas12′), 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Javier Butragueño
- LFE Research Group, Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - David Jiménez-Pavón
- MOVE-IT Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, Universidad de Cádiz, 11519 Cadiz, Spain;
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cádiz (INiBICA) Research Unit, Puerta del Mar University Hospital, University of Cádiz, 11009 Cadiz, Spain
- CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Carrera-Bastos
- Centre for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Skane University Hospital, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden;
- Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Lucia
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain; (P.L.V.); (A.L.)
- Physical Activity and Health Research Group (‘PaHerg’), Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre (‘imas12′), 28041 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), 28029 Madrid, Spain
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