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Lee Y, Lee MK, Lee HR, Kim B, Kim M, Jung S. 3D-printed airway model as a platform for SARS-CoV-2 infection and antiviral drug testing. Biomaterials 2024; 311:122689. [PMID: 38944967 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122689] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
We present a bioprinted three-layered airway model with a physiologically relevant microstructure for the study of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection dynamics. This model exhibited clear cell-cell junctions and mucus secretion with an efficient expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2). Having infected air-exposed epithelial cells in the upper layer with a minimum multiplicity of infection of 0.01, the airway model showed a marked susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 within one-day post-infection (dpi). Furthermore, the unique longevity allowed the observation of cytopathic effects and barrier degradation for 21 dpi. The in-depth transcriptomic analysis revealed dramatic changes in gene expression affecting the infection pathway, viral proliferation, and host immune response which are consistent with COVID-19 patient data. Finally, the treatment of antiviral agents, such as remdesivir and molnupiravir, through the culture medium underlying the endothelium resulted in a marked inhibition of viral replication within the epithelium. The bioprinted airway model can be used as a manufacturable physiological platform to study disease pathogeneses and drug efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunji Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Myoung Kyu Lee
- Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon, 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwa-Rim Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Byungil Kim
- Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon, 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Meehyein Kim
- Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon, 34114, Republic of Korea; Graduate School of New Drug Discovery and Development, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sungjune Jung
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea; Institute for Convergence Research and Education in Advanced Technology, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
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2
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Fujii Y. An Engineering Alternative to Lockdown During COVID-19 and Other Airborne Infectious Disease Pandemics: Feasibility Study. JMIR BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2024; 9:e54666. [PMID: 38875692 PMCID: PMC11134249 DOI: 10.2196/54666] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Now and in the future, airborne diseases such as COVID-19 could become uncontrollable and lead the world into lockdowns. Finding alternatives to lockdowns, which limit individual freedoms and cause enormous economic losses, is critical. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of achieving a society or a nation that does not require lockdown during a pandemic due to airborne infectious diseases through the mass production and distribution of high-performance, low-cost, and comfortable powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs). METHODS The feasibility of a social system using PAPR as an alternative to lockdown was examined from the following perspectives: first, what PAPRs can do as an alternative to lockdown; second, how to operate a social system utilizing PAPR; third, directions of improvement of PAPR as an alternative to lockdown; and finally, balancing between efficiency of infection control and personal freedom through the use of Internet of Things (IoT). RESULTS PAPR was shown to be a possible alternative to lockdown through the reduction of airborne and droplet transmissions and through a temporary reduction of infection probability per contact. A social system in which individual constraints imposed by lockdown are replaced by PAPRs was proposed, and an example of its operation is presented in this paper. For example, the government determines the type and intensity of the lockdown and activates it. At that time, the government will also indicate how PAPR can be substituted for the different activity and movement restrictions imposed during a lockdown, for example, a curfew order may be replaced with the permission to go outside if wearing a PAPR. The following 7 points were raised as directions for improvement of PAPR as an alternative method to lockdown: flow optimization, precise differential pressure control, design improvement, maintenance method, variation development such as booth type, information terminal function, and performance evaluation method. In order to achieve the effectiveness and efficiency in controlling the spread of infection and the individual freedom at a high level in a social system that uses PAPRs as an alternative to lockdown, it was considered effective to develop a PAPR wearing rate network management system utilizing IoT. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that using PAPR with infection control ability and with less economic and social damage as an alternative to nationwide lockdown is possible during a pandemic due to airborne infectious diseases. Further, the efficiency of the government's infection control and each citizen's freedom can be balanced by using the PAPR wearing rate network management system utilizing an IoT system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusaku Fujii
- School of Science and Technology, Gunma University, Kiryu, Japan
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3
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Sinclair P, Zhao L, Beggs CB, Illingworth CJR. The airborne transmission of viruses causes tight transmission bottlenecks. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3540. [PMID: 38670957 PMCID: PMC11053022 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47923-z] [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: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The transmission bottleneck describes the number of viral particles that initiate an infection in a new host. Previous studies have used genome sequence data to suggest that transmission bottlenecks for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 involve few viral particles, but the general principles of virus transmission are not fully understood. Here we show that, across a broad range of circumstances, tight transmission bottlenecks are a simple consequence of the physical process of airborne viral transmission. We use mathematical modelling to describe the physical process of the emission and inhalation of infectious particles, deriving the result that that the great majority of transmission bottlenecks involve few viral particles. While exceptions to this rule exist, the circumstances needed to create these exceptions are likely very rare. We thus provide a physical explanation for previous inferences of bottleneck size, while predicting that tight transmission bottlenecks prevail more generally in respiratory virus transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Sinclair
- MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Lei Zhao
- Section for GeoGenetics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Clive B Beggs
- Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
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Patel DR, Minns AM, Sim DG, Field CJ, Kerr AE, Heinly TA, Luley EH, Rossi RM, Bator CM, Moustafa IM, Norton EB, Hafenstein SL, Lindner SE, Sutton TC. Intranasal SARS-CoV-2 RBD decorated nanoparticle vaccine enhances viral clearance in the Syrian hamster model. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0499822. [PMID: 38334387 PMCID: PMC10923206 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04998-22] [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: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple vaccines have been developed and licensed for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). While these vaccines reduce disease severity, they do not prevent infection. To prevent infection and limit transmission, vaccines must be developed that induce immunity in the respiratory tract. Therefore, we performed proof-of-principle studies with an intranasal nanoparticle vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine candidate consisted of the self-assembling 60-subunit I3-01 protein scaffold covalently decorated with the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) using the SpyCatcher-SpyTag system. We verified the intended antigen display features by reconstructing the I3-01 scaffold to 3.4 A using cryogenicelectron microscopy. Using this RBD-grafted SpyCage scaffold (RBD + SpyCage), we performed two intranasal vaccination studies in the "gold-standard" pre-clinical Syrian hamster model. The initial study focused on assessing the immunogenicity of RBD + SpyCage combined with the LTA1 intranasal adjuvant. These studies showed RBD + SpyCage vaccination induced an antibody response that promoted viral clearance but did not prevent infection. Inclusion of the LTA1 adjuvant enhanced the magnitude of the antibody response but did not enhance protection. Thus, in an expanded study, in the absence of an intranasal adjuvant, we evaluated if covalent bonding of RBD to the scaffold was required to induce an antibody response. Covalent grafting of RBD was required for the vaccine to be immunogenic, and animals vaccinated with RBD + SpyCage more rapidly cleared SARS-CoV-2 from both the upper and lower respiratory tract. These findings demonstrate the intranasal SpyCage vaccine platform can induce protection against SARS-CoV-2 and, with additional modifications to improve immunogenicity, is a versatile platform for the development of intranasal vaccines targeting respiratory pathogens.IMPORTANCEDespite the availability of efficacious COVID vaccines that reduce disease severity, SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread. To limit SARS-CoV-2 transmission, the next generation of vaccines must induce immunity in the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract. Therefore, we performed proof-of-principle, intranasal vaccination studies with a recombinant protein nanoparticle scaffold, SpyCage, decorated with the RBD of the S protein (SpyCage + RBD). We show that SpyCage + RBD was immunogenic and enhanced SARS-CoV-2 clearance from the nose and lungs of Syrian hamsters. Moreover, covalent grafting of the RBD to the scaffold was required to induce an immune response when given via the intranasal route. These proof-of-concept findings indicate that with further enhancements to immunogenicity (e.g., adjuvant incorporation and antigen optimization), the SpyCage scaffold has potential as a versatile, intranasal vaccine platform for respiratory pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devanshi R. Patel
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Allen M. Minns
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Huck Center for Malaria Research, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Derek G. Sim
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Cassandra J. Field
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Abigail E. Kerr
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Talia A. Heinly
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Erin H. Luley
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Randall M. Rossi
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Carol M. Bator
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ibrahim M. Moustafa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Elizabeth B. Norton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Susan L. Hafenstein
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Scott E. Lindner
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Huck Center for Malaria Research, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Troy C. Sutton
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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Srikrishna D. Pentagon Found Daily, Metagenomic Detection of Novel Bioaerosol Threats to Be Cost-Prohibitive: Can Virtualization and AI Make It Cost-Effective? Health Secur 2024; 22:108-129. [PMID: 38625036 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2023.0048] [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] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
In 2022, the Pentagon Force Protection Agency found threat agnostic detection of novel bioaerosol threats to be "not feasible for daily operations" due to the cost of reagents used for metagenomics, cost of sequencing instruments, and cost of labor for subject matter experts to analyze bioinformatics. Similar operational difficulties might extend to many of the 280,000 buildings (totaling 2.3 billion square feet) at 5,000 secure US Department of Defense military sites, 250 Navy ships, as well as many civilian buildings. These economic barriers can still be addressed in a threat agnostic manner by dynamically pooling samples from dry filter units, called spike-triggered virtualization, whereby pooling and sequencing depth are automatically modulated based on novel biothreats in the sequencing output. By running at a high average pooling factor, the daily and annual cost per dry filter unit can be reduced by 10 to 100 times depending on the chosen trigger thresholds. Artificial intelligence can further enhance the sensitivity of spike-triggered virtualization. The risk of infection during the 12- to 24-hour window between a bioaerosol incident and its detection remains, but in some cases it can be reduced by 80% or more with high-speed indoor air cleaning exceeding 12 air changes per hour, which is similar to the rate of air cleaning in passenger airplanes in flight. That level of air changes per hour or higher is likely to be cost-prohibitive using central heating ventilation and air conditioning systems, but it can be achieved economically by using portable air filtration in rooms with typical ceiling heights (less than 10 feet) for a cost of approximately $0.50 to $1 per square foot for do-it-yourself units and $2 to $5 per square foot for high-efficiency particulate air filters.
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Alsved M, Nyström K, Thuresson S, Nygren D, Patzi-Churqui M, Hussein T, Fraenkel CJ, Medstrand P, Löndahl J. Infectivity of exhaled SARS-CoV-2 aerosols is sufficient to transmit covid-19 within minutes. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21245. [PMID: 38040798 PMCID: PMC10692216 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47829-8] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Exhaled SARS-CoV-2-containing aerosols contributed significantly to the rapid and vast spread of covid-19. However, quantitative experimental data on the infectivity of such aerosols is missing. Here, we quantified emission rates of infectious viruses in exhaled aerosol from individuals within their first days after symptom onset from covid-19. Six aerosol samples from three individuals were culturable, of which five were successfully quantified using TCID50. The source strength of the three individuals was highest during singing, when they exhaled 4, 36, or 127 TCID50/s, respectively. Calculations with an indoor air transmission model showed that if an infected individual with this emission rate entered a room, a susceptible person would inhale an infectious dose within 6 to 37 min in a room with normal ventilation. Thus, our data show that exhaled aerosols from a single person can transmit covid-19 to others within minutes at normal indoor conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin Alsved
- Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, Box 118, 22100, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Kristina Nyström
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, 41346, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 41346, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sara Thuresson
- Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, Box 118, 22100, Lund, Sweden
| | - David Nygren
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, 22100, Lund, Sweden
| | - Marianela Patzi-Churqui
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, 41346, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 41346, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tareq Hussein
- Environmental and Atmospheric Research Laboratory (EARL), Department of Physics, School of Science, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR/Physics), University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Carl-Johan Fraenkel
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, 22100, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control, Region Skåne, 22185, Lund, Sweden
| | - Patrik Medstrand
- Department of Translational Medicine, Clinical Virology, Lund University, 22100, Lund, Sweden
- SciLifeLab, Lund University, 22100, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jakob Löndahl
- Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, Box 118, 22100, Lund, Sweden.
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7
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Ijaz MK, Sattar SA, Nims RW, Boone SA, McKinney J, Gerba CP. Environmental dissemination of respiratory viruses: dynamic interdependencies of respiratory droplets, aerosols, aerial particulates, environmental surfaces, and contribution of viral re-aerosolization. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16420. [PMID: 38025703 PMCID: PMC10680453 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
During the recent pandemic of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), influential public health agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have favored the view that SARS CoV-2 spreads predominantly via droplets. Many experts in aerobiology have openly opposed that stance, forcing a vigorous debate on the topic. In this review, we discuss the various proposed modes of viral transmission, stressing the interdependencies between droplet, aerosol, and fomite spread. Relative humidity and temperature prevailing determine the rates at which respiratory aerosols and droplets emitted from an expiratory event (sneezing, coughing, etc.) evaporate to form smaller droplets or aerosols, or experience hygroscopic growth. Gravitational settling of droplets may result in contamination of environmental surfaces (fomites). Depending upon human, animal and mechanical activities in the occupied space indoors, viruses deposited on environmental surfaces may be re-aerosolized (re-suspended) to contribute to aerosols, and can be conveyed on aerial particulate matter such as dust and allergens. The transmission of respiratory viruses may then best be viewed as resulting from dynamic virus spread from infected individuals to susceptible individuals by various physical states of active respiratory emissions, instead of the current paradigm that emphasizes separate dissemination by respiratory droplets, aerosols or by contaminated fomites. To achieve the optimum outcome in terms of risk mitigation and infection prevention and control (IPAC) during seasonal infection peaks, outbreaks, and pandemics, this holistic view emphasizes the importance of dealing with all interdependent transmission modalities, rather than focusing on one modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Khalid Ijaz
- Global Research & Development for Lysol and Dettol, Reckitt Benckiser LLC, Montvale, NJ, United States of America
| | - Syed A. Sattar
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Stephanie A. Boone
- Water & Energy Sustainable Technology Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
| | - Julie McKinney
- Global Research & Development for Lysol and Dettol, Reckitt Benckiser LLC, Montvale, NJ, United States of America
| | - Charles P. Gerba
- Water & Energy Sustainable Technology Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
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Blatchley ER, Cui H. Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Quantification of the Effects of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation on COVID-19 Transmission. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:17393-17403. [PMID: 37922235 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03026] [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: 11/05/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) is presented as a tool for evaluation of the effectiveness of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) systems for the disinfection of indoor air. The QMRA is developed in the context of UVGI system implementation for control of SARS-CoV-2 infection and comprises submodels to address problem formulation, exposure assessment, and health effects assessment, all of which provide input to a risk characterization submodel. The model simulations indicate that UVGI systems can effectively control the risk of infection associated with SARS-CoV-2 for low to moderate virus emission rates. The risk of disease transmission is strongly influenced by the rate of pathogen emission by an infected individual, the output power of UVGI fixtures and their configuration, the source of UV-C radiation implemented in the UVGI fixtures, and the characteristics of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The QMRA framework provides a quantitative link between UVGI/HVAC system characteristics and changes in the risk of disease transmission. The framework can be adapted to other airborne pathogens and provides a rational basis for the design, testing, and validation of UVGI systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernest R Blatchley
- Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, 550 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2051, United States
- Division of Environmental & Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Haiying Cui
- Division of Environmental & Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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Lane G, Zhou G, Hultquist JF, Simons LM, Redondo RL, Ozer EA, McCarthy DM, Ison MG, Achenbach CJ, Wang X, Wai CM, Wyatt E, Aalsburg A, Yang Q, Noto T, Alisoltani A, Ysselstein D, Awatramani R, Murphy R, Theron G, Zelano C. Quantity of SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies exhaled per minute during natural breathing over the course of COVID-19 infection. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.09.06.23295138. [PMID: 37732212 PMCID: PMC10508818 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.06.23295138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is spread through exhaled breath of infected individuals. A fundamental question in understanding transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is how much virus an individual is exhaling into the environment while they breathe, over the course of their infection. Research on viral load dynamics during COVID-19 infection has focused on internal swab specimens, which provide a measure of viral loads inside the respiratory tract, but not on breath. Therefore, the dynamics of viral shedding on exhaled breath over the course of infection are poorly understood. Here, we collected exhaled breath specimens from COVID-19 patients and used RTq-PCR to show that numbers of exhaled SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies during COVID-19 infection do not decrease significantly until day 8 from symptom-onset. COVID-19-positive participants exhaled an average of 80 SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA copies per minute during the first 8 days of infection, with significant variability both between and within individuals, including spikes over 800 copies a minute in some patients. After day 8, there was a steep drop to levels nearing the limit of detection, persisting for up to 20 days. We further found that levels of exhaled viral RNA increased with self-rated symptom-severity, though individual variation was high. Levels of exhaled viral RNA did not differ across age, sex, time of day, vaccination status or viral variant. Our data provide a fine-grained, direct measure of the number of SARS-CoV-2 viral copies exhaled per minute during natural breathing-including 312 breath specimens collected multiple times daily over the course of infection-in order to fill an important gap in our understanding of the time course of exhaled viral loads in COVID-19.
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Pilipenco A, Forinová M, Mašková H, Hönig V, Palus M, Lynn Jr. NS, Víšová I, Vrabcová M, Houska M, Anthi J, Spasovová M, Mustacová J, Štěrba J, Dostálek J, Tung CP, Yang AS, Jack R, Dejneka A, Hajdu J, Vaisocherová-Lísalová H. Negligible risk of surface transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in public transportation. J Travel Med 2023; 30:taad065. [PMID: 37133444 PMCID: PMC10481417 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taad065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to pathogens in public transport systems is a common means of spreading infection, mainly by inhaling aerosol or droplets from infected individuals. Such particles also contaminate surfaces, creating a potential surface-transmission pathway. METHODS A fast acoustic biosensor with an antifouling nano-coating was introduced to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on exposed surfaces in the Prague Public Transport System. Samples were measured directly without pre-treatment. Results with the sensor gave excellent agreement with parallel quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) measurements on 482 surface samples taken from actively used trams, buses, metro trains and platforms between 7 and 9 April 2021, in the middle of the lineage Alpha SARS-CoV-2 epidemic wave when 1 in 240 people were COVID-19 positive in Prague. RESULTS Only ten of the 482 surface swabs produced positive results and none of them contained virus particles capable of replication, indicating that positive samples contained inactive virus particles and/or fragments. Measurements of the rate of decay of SARS-CoV-2 on frequently touched surface materials showed that the virus did not remain viable longer than 1-4 h. The rate of inactivation was the fastest on rubber handrails in metro escalators and the slowest on hard-plastic seats, window glasses and stainless-steel grab rails. As a result of this study, Prague Public Transport Systems revised their cleaning protocols and the lengths of parking times during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that surface transmission played no or negligible role in spreading SARS-CoV-2 in Prague. The results also demonstrate the potential of the new biosensor to serve as a complementary screening tool in epidemic monitoring and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Pilipenco
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michala Forinová
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Mašková
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1645/31a, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Václav Hönig
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Palus
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Nicholas Scott Lynn Jr.
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ivana Víšová
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Vrabcová
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Houska
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Judita Anthi
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Spasovová
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Johana Mustacová
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1645/31a, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ján Štěrba
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1645/31a, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Dostálek
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Chao-Ping Tung
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Rd., Sec.2, Nankang Dist., Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - An-Suei Yang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Rd., Sec.2, Nankang Dist., Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Rachael Jack
- The European Extreme Light Infrastructure, ERIC, Za Radnici 835, 25241 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
| | - Alexandr Dejneka
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Slovance 2, 182 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Janos Hajdu
- The European Extreme Light Infrastructure, ERIC, Za Radnici 835, 25241 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
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11
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Iwamura N, Tsutsumi K. SARS-CoV-2 airborne infection probability estimated by using indoor carbon dioxide. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27944-9. [PMID: 37286835 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27944-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Airborne transmission is one of the main routes of SARS-CoV-2 spread. It is important to determine the circumstances under which the risk of airborne transmission is increased as well as the effective strategy to reduce such risk. This study aimed to develop a modified version of the Wells-Riley model with indoor CO2 to estimate the probability of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strains with a CO2 monitor and to evaluate the validity of this model in actual clinical practices. We used the model in three suspected cases of airborne transmission presented to our hospital to confirm its validity. Next, we estimated the required indoor CO2 concentration at which R0 does not exceed 1 based on the model. The estimated R0 (R0, basic reproduction number) based on the model in each case were 3.19 in three out of five infected patients in an outpatient room, 2.00 in two out of three infected patients in the ward, and 0.191 in none of the five infected patients in another outpatient room. This indicated that our model can estimate R0 with an acceptable accuracy. In a typical outpatient setting, the required indoor CO2 concentration at which R0 does not exceed 1 is below 620 ppm with no mask, 1000 ppm with a surgical mask and 16000 ppm with an N95 mask. In a typical inpatient setting, on the other hand, the required indoor CO2 concentration is below 540 ppm with no mask, 770 ppm with a surgical mask, and 8200 ppm with an N95 mask. These findings facilitate the establishment of a strategy for preventing airborne transmission in hospitals. This study is unique in that it suggests the development of an airborne transmission model with indoor CO2 and application of the model to actual clinical practice. Organizations and individuals can efficiently recognize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 airborne transmission in a room and thus take preventive measures such as maintaining good ventilation, wearing masks, or shortening the exposure time to an infected individual by simply using a CO2 monitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narumichi Iwamura
- Sasebo Chuo Hospital, 15, Yamato-Cho, Sasebo-Shi, Nagasaki, 857-1165, Japan.
| | - Kanako Tsutsumi
- Sasebo Chuo Hospital, 15, Yamato-Cho, Sasebo-Shi, Nagasaki, 857-1165, Japan
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12
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Hamilton AN, Chandran S, Baker CA, Gibson KE. Surface Inactivation of a SARS-CoV-2 Surrogate with Hypochlorous Acid is Impacted by Surface Type, Contact Time, Inoculum Matrix, and Concentration. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2023; 15:116-122. [PMID: 36680664 PMCID: PMC9862229 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-023-09549-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Indirect contact with contaminated surfaces is a potential transmission route for COVID-19. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate convenient and inexpensive surface sanitization methods, such as HOCl, against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The SARS-CoV-2 surrogate, Phi6 (~ 7 log PFU/mL), was prepared in artificial saliva and tripartite matrices, spot inoculated on coupons of either stainless steel or vinyl, and allowed to dry. The coupons were sprayed with either 500 ppm or 1000 ppm HOCl, and remained on the surface for 0 s (control), 5 s, 30 s, or 60 s. Samples were enumerated via the double agar overlay assay. Statistical analysis was completed in R using a generalized linear model with Quasipoisson error approximations. Time, concentration, surface type, and inoculum matrix were all significant contributors to log reduction at P = 0.05. Significant three-way interactions were observed for 1000 ppm, vinyl, and 60 s (P = 0.03) and 1000 ppm, tripartite, and 60 s (P = 0.0121). A significant two-way interaction between vinyl and 60 s was also observed (P = 0.0168). Overall, increased HOCl concentration and exposure time led to increased Phi6 reduction. Notably, the highest estimated mean log reduction was 3.31 (95% CI 3.14, 3.49) for stainless steel at 60 s and 1000 ppm HOCl in artificial saliva, indicating that this method of sanitization may not adequately reduce enveloped viruses to below infective thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allyson N Hamilton
- Department of Food Science, Center for Food Safety, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, 1371 West Altheimer Dr., Fayetteville, AR, 72704, USA
| | - Sahaana Chandran
- Department of Food Science, Center for Food Safety, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, 1371 West Altheimer Dr., Fayetteville, AR, 72704, USA
| | - Christopher A Baker
- Department of Food Science, Center for Food Safety, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, 1371 West Altheimer Dr., Fayetteville, AR, 72704, USA
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 5001 Campus Drive, College Park, MD, 20740, USA
| | - Kristen E Gibson
- Department of Food Science, Center for Food Safety, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, 1371 West Altheimer Dr., Fayetteville, AR, 72704, USA.
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13
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Adams LE, Leist SR, Dinnon KH, West A, Gully KL, Anderson EJ, Loome JF, Madden EA, Powers JM, Schäfer A, Sarkar S, Castillo IN, Maron JS, McNamara RP, Bertera HL, Zweigert MR, Higgins JS, Hampton BK, Premkumar L, Alter G, Montgomery SA, Baxter VK, Heise MT, Baric RS. Fc-mediated pan-sarbecovirus protection after alphavirus vector vaccination. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112326. [PMID: 37000623 PMCID: PMC10063157 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Group 2B β-coronaviruses (sarbecoviruses) have caused regional and global epidemics in modern history. Here, we evaluate the mechanisms of cross-sarbecovirus protective immunity, currently less clear yet important for pan-sarbecovirus vaccine development, using a panel of alphavirus-vectored vaccines covering bat to human strains. While vaccination does not prevent virus replication, it protects against lethal heterologous disease outcomes in both severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and clade 2 bat sarbecovirus challenge models. The spike vaccines tested primarily elicit a highly S1-specific homologous neutralizing antibody response with no detectable cross-virus neutralization. Rather, non-neutralizing antibody functions, mechanistically linked to FcgR4 and spike S2, mediate cross-protection in wild-type mice. Protection is lost in FcR knockout mice, further supporting a model for non-neutralizing, protective antibodies. These data highlight the importance of FcR-mediated cross-protective immune responses in universal pan-sarbecovirus vaccine designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily E Adams
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sarah R Leist
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kenneth H Dinnon
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ande West
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kendra L Gully
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Division of Comparative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Anderson
- Division of Comparative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jennifer F Loome
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Emily A Madden
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - John M Powers
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Alexandra Schäfer
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sanjay Sarkar
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Izabella N Castillo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jenny S Maron
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ryan P McNamara
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Harry L Bertera
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Mark R Zweigert
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jaclyn S Higgins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Brea K Hampton
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Lakshmanane Premkumar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Galit Alter
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Stephanie A Montgomery
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Dallas Tissue Research, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Victoria K Baxter
- Division of Comparative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Mark T Heise
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Discovery Initiative, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Ralph S Baric
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Discovery Initiative, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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14
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Nairz M, Todorovic T, Gehrer CM, Grubwieser P, Burkert F, Zimmermann M, Trattnig K, Klotz W, Theurl I, Bellmann-Weiler R, Weiss G. Single-Center Experience in Detecting Influenza Virus, RSV and SARS-CoV-2 at the Emergency Department. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020470. [PMID: 36851685 PMCID: PMC9958692 DOI: 10.3390/v15020470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on respiratory tract swabs has become the gold standard for sensitive and specific detection of influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this retrospective analysis, we report on the successive implementation and routine use of multiplex RT-PCR testing for patients admitted to the Internal Medicine Emergency Department (ED) at a tertiary care center in Western Austria, one of the hotspots in the early coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Europe. Our description focuses on the use of the Cepheid® Xpert® Xpress closed RT-PCR system in point-of-care testing (POCT). Our indications for RT-PCR testing changed during the observation period: From the cold season 2016/2017 until the cold season 2019/2020, we used RT-PCR to diagnose influenza or RSV infection in patients with fever and/or respiratory symptoms. Starting in March 2020, we used the RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 and a multiplex version for the combined detection of all these three respiratory viruses to also screen subjects who did not present with symptoms of infection but needed in-hospital medical treatment for other reasons. Expectedly, the switch to a more liberal RT-PCR test strategy resulted in a substantial increase in the number of tests. Nevertheless, we observed an immediate decline in influenza virus and RSV detections in early 2020 that coincided with public SARS-CoV-2 containment measures. In contrast, the extensive use of the combined RT-PCR test enabled us to monitor the re-emergence of influenza and RSV detections, including asymptomatic cases, at the end of 2022 when COVID-19 containment measures were no longer in place. Our analysis of PCR results for respiratory viruses from a real-life setting at an ED provides valuable information on the epidemiology of those infections over several years, their contribution to morbidity and need for hospital admission, the risk for nosocomial introduction of such infection into hospitals from asymptomatic carriers, and guidance as to how general precautions and prophylactic strategies affect the dynamics of those infections.
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15
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Aganovic A, Cao G, Kurnitski J, Wargocki P. New dose-response model and SARS-CoV-2 quanta emission rates for calculating the long-range airborne infection risk. BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT 2023; 228:109924. [PMID: 36531865 PMCID: PMC9747236 DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Predictive models for airborne infection risk have been extensively used during the pandemic, but there is yet still no consensus on a common approach, which may create misinterpretation of results among public health experts and engineers designing building ventilation. In this study we applied the latest data on viral load, aerosol droplet sizes and removal mechanisms to improve the Wells Riley model by introducing the following novelties i) a new model to calculate the total volume of respiratory fluid exhaled per unit time ii) developing a novel viral dose-based generation rate model for dehydrated droplets after expiration iii) deriving a novel quanta-RNA relationship for various strains of SARS-CoV-2 iv) proposing a method to account for the incomplete mixing conditions. These new approaches considerably changed previous estimates and allowed to determine more accurate average quanta emission rates including omicron variant. These quanta values for the original strain of 0.13 and 3.8 quanta/h for breathing and speaking and the virus variant multipliers may be used for simple hand calculations of probability of infection or with developed model operating with six size ranges of aerosol droplets to calculate the effect of ventilation and other removal mechanisms. The model developed is made available as an open-source tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amar Aganovic
- Department of Automation and Process Engineering, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Guangyu Cao
- Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology - NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jarek Kurnitski
- REHVA Technology and Research Committee, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Pawel Wargocki
- Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
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16
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The Skagit County choir COVID-19 outbreak - have we got it wrong? Public Health 2023; 214:85-90. [PMID: 36525760 PMCID: PMC9659549 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Over time, papers or reports may come to be taken for granted as evidence for some phenomenon. Researchers cite them without critically re-examining findings in the light of subsequent work. This can give rise to misleading or erroneous results and conclusions. We explore whether this has occurred in the widely reported outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 at a rehearsal of the Skagit Valley Chorale in March 2020, where it was assumed, and subsequently asserted uncritically, that the outbreak was due to a single infected person. STUDY DESIGN Review of original report and subsequent modelling and interpretations. METHODS We reviewed and analysed original outbreak data in relation to published data on incubation period, subsequent modelling drawing on the data, and interpretations of transmission characteristics of this incident. RESULTS We show it is vanishingly unlikely that this was a single point source outbreak as has been widely claimed and on which modelling has been based. CONCLUSION An unexamined assumption has led to erroneous policy conclusions about the risks of singing, and indoor spaces more generally, and the benefits of increased levels of ventilation. Although never publicly identified, one individual bears the moral burden of knowing what health outcomes have been attributed to their actions. We call for these claims to be re-examined and for greater ethical responsibility in the assumption of a point source in outbreak investigations.
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17
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Patel DR, Minns AM, Sim DG, Field CJ, Kerr AE, Heinly T, Luley EH, Rossi RM, Bator C, Moustafa IM, Hafenstein SL, Lindner SE, Sutton TC. Intranasal SARS-CoV-2 RBD decorated nanoparticle vaccine enhances viral clearance in the Syrian hamster model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.10.27.514054. [PMID: 36324809 PMCID: PMC9628200 DOI: 10.1101/2022.10.27.514054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Multiple vaccines have been developed and licensed for SARS-CoV-2. While these vaccines reduce disease severity, they do not prevent infection, and SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread and evolve. To prevent infection and limit transmission, vaccines must be developed that induce immunity in the respiratory tract. Therefore, we performed proof-of-principle vaccination studies with an intranasal nanoparticle vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine candidate consisted of the self-assembling 60-subunit I3-01 protein scaffold covalently decorated with the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) using the SpyCatcher-SpyTag system. We verified the intended antigen display features by reconstructing the I3-01 scaffold to 3.4A using cryo-EM, and then demonstrated that the scaffold was highly saturated when grafted with RBD. Using this RBD-grafted SpyCage scaffold (RBD+SpyCage), we performed two unadjuvanted intranasal vaccination studies in the "gold-standard" preclinical Syrian hamster model. Hamsters received two vaccinations 28 days apart, and were then challenged 28 days post-boost with SARS-CoV-2. The initial study focused on assessing the immunogenicity of RBD+SpyCage, which indicated that vaccination of hamsters induced a non-neutralizing antibody response that enhanced viral clearance but did not prevent infection. In an expanded study, we demonstrated that covalent bonding of RBD to the scaffold was required to induce an antibody response. Consistent with the initial study, animals vaccinated with RBD+SpyCage more rapidly cleared SARS-CoV-2 from both the upper and lower respiratory tract. These findings demonstrate the intranasal SpyCage vaccine platform can induce protection against SARS-CoV-2 and, with additional modifications to improve immunogenicity, is a versatile platform for the development of intranasal vaccines targeting respiratory pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- D R Patel
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
| | - A M Minns
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
- The Huck Center for Malaria Research
| | - D G Sim
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
| | - C J Field
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University
| | - A E Kerr
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
| | - T Heinly
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
| | - E H Luley
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
- Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University
| | - R M Rossi
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
| | - C Bator
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
| | - I M Moustafa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University
| | - S L Hafenstein
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
- Department of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University
| | - S E Lindner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
- The Huck Center for Malaria Research
| | - T C Sutton
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
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18
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Adams LE, Leist SR, Dinnon KH, West A, Gully KL, Anderson EJ, Loome JF, Madden EA, Powers JM, Schäfer A, Sarkar S, Castillo IN, Maron JS, McNamara RP, Bertera HL, Zweigert MR, Higgins JS, Hampton BK, Premkumar L, Alter G, Montgomery SA, Baxter VK, Heise MT, Baric RS. Fc mediated pan-sarbecovirus protection after alphavirus vector vaccination. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.11.28.518175. [PMID: 36482964 PMCID: PMC9727761 DOI: 10.1101/2022.11.28.518175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Two group 2B β-coronaviruses (sarbecoviruses) have caused regional and global epidemics in modern history. The mechanisms of cross protection driven by the sarbecovirus spike, a dominant immunogen, are less clear yet critically important for pan-sarbecovirus vaccine development. We evaluated the mechanisms of cross-sarbecovirus protective immunity using a panel of alphavirus-vectored vaccines covering bat to human strains. While vaccination did not prevent virus replication, it protected against lethal heterologous disease outcomes in both SARS-CoV-2 and clade 2 bat sarbecovirus HKU3-SRBD challenge models. The spike vaccines tested primarily elicited a highly S1-specific homologous neutralizing antibody response with no detectable cross-virus neutralization. We found non-neutralizing antibody functions that mediated cross protection in wild-type mice were mechanistically linked to FcgR4 and spike S2-binding antibodies. Protection was lost in FcR knockout mice, further supporting a model for non-neutralizing, protective antibodies. These data highlight the importance of FcR-mediated cross-protective immune responses in universal pan-sarbecovirus vaccine designs.
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19
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Featherstone AB, Brown AC, Chitlapilly Dass S. Murine Hepatitis Virus, a Biosafety Level 2 Model for SARS-CoV-2, Can Remain Viable on Meat and Meat Packaging Materials for at Least 48 Hours. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0186222. [PMID: 36069589 PMCID: PMC9603800 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01862-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2020 and 2021, many meat processing plants faced temporary closures due to outbreaks of COVID-19 cases among the workers. There are several factors that could potentially contribute to the increased numbers of COVID-19 cases in meat processing plants: the survival of viable SARS-CoV-2 on meat and meat packaging materials, difficulties in maintaining workplace physical distancing, personal hygiene, and crowded living and transportation conditions. In this study, we used murine hepatitis virus (MHV) as a biosafety level 2 (BSL2) surrogate for SARS-CoV-2 to determine viral survival on the surface of meat, namely, stew-cut beef and ground beef, and commonly used meat packaging materials, such as plastic wrap, meat-absorbent material, and Styrofoam. From our studies, we observed the infectivity of MHV inoculated on ground beef and stew-cut beef for 48 h and saw no significant loss in infectivity for MHV from 0 to 6 h postinoculation (hpi) (unpaired t test). However, beginning at 9 hpi, viral infectivity steadily decreased, resulting in a 1.12-log reduction for ground beef and a 0.46-log reduction for stew-cut beef by 48 hpi. We also observed a significant persistence of MHV on meat packaging materials, with Styrofoam supporting the highest viability (3.25 × 103 ± 9.57 × 102 PFU/mL, a 0.91-log reduction after 48 hpi), followed by meat-absorbent material (75 ± 50 PFU/mL, a 1.10-log reduction after 48 hpi), and lastly, plastic wrap (no detectable PFU after 3 hpi, a 3.12-log reduction). Despite a notable reduction in infectivity, the virus was able to survive and remain infectious for up to 48 h at 7°C on four of the five test surfaces. Our results provide evidence that coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, could potentially survive on meat, meat-absorbent materials. and Styrofoam for up to 2 days, and potentially longer. IMPORTANCE The meat industry has been faced with astronomical challenges with the rampant spread of COVID-19 among meat processing plant workers. This has resulted in meat processing and packaging plant closures, creating bottlenecks everywhere in the chain, from farms to consumers, subsequently leading to much smaller production outputs and higher prices for all parties involved. This study tested the viability of meat and meat packaging materials as potential reservoirs for SARS-CoV-2, allowing the virus to survive and potentially spread among the workers. We used murine hepatitis virus (MHV) as a biosafety level 2 (BSL2) surrogate for SARS-CoV-2. Our results suggest that ground beef, stew-cut beef, meat-absorbent material, and Styrofoam can harbor coronavirus particles, which can remain viable for at least 48 h. Furthermore, our study provides evidence that the environmental and physical conditions within meat processing facilities can facilitate the survival of viable virus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amanda Claire Brown
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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20
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Ozaki J, Shida Y, Takayasu H, Takayasu M. Direct modelling from GPS data reveals daily-activity-dependency of effective reproduction number in COVID-19 pandemic. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17888. [PMID: 36284166 PMCID: PMC9595098 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22420-9] [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: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments faced difficulties in implementing mobility restriction measures, as no clear quantitative relationship between human mobility and infection spread in large cities is known. We developed a model that enables quantitative estimations of the infection risk for individual places and activities by using smartphone GPS data for the Tokyo metropolitan area. The effective reproduction number is directly calculated from the number of infectious social contacts defined by the square of the population density at each location. The difference in the infection rate of daily activities is considered, where the 'stay-out' activity, staying at someplace neither home nor workplace, is more than 28 times larger than other activities. Also, the contribution to the infection strongly depends on location. We imply that the effective reproduction number is sufficiently suppressed if the highest-risk locations or activities are restricted. We also discuss the effects of the Delta variant and vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun’ichi Ozaki
- grid.32197.3e0000 0001 2179 2105Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503 Japan
| | - Yohei Shida
- grid.32197.3e0000 0001 2179 2105Department of Mathematical and Computing Science, School of Computing, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503 Japan
| | - Hideki Takayasu
- grid.32197.3e0000 0001 2179 2105Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503 Japan ,grid.452725.30000 0004 1764 0071Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc., 3-14-13, Higashigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 141-0022 Japan
| | - Misako Takayasu
- grid.32197.3e0000 0001 2179 2105Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503 Japan ,grid.32197.3e0000 0001 2179 2105Department of Mathematical and Computing Science, School of Computing, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503 Japan
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