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Regev-Yochay G, Lustig Y, Joseph G, Gilboa M, Barda N, Gens I, Indenbaum V, Halpern O, Katz-Likvornik S, Levin T, Kanaaneh Y, Asraf K, Amit S, Rubin C, Ziv A, Koren R, Mandelboim M, Tokayer NH, Meltzer L, Doolman R, Mendelson E, Alroy-Preis S, Kreiss Y. Correlates of protection against COVID-19 infection and intensity of symptomatic disease in vaccinated individuals exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in households in Israel (ICoFS): a prospective cohort study. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2023; 4:e309-e318. [PMID: 36963419 PMCID: PMC10030121 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00012-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying COVID-19 correlates of protection and immunity thresholds is important for policy makers and vaccine development. We aimed to identify correlates of protection of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccination against COVID-19. METHODS In this prospective cohort study, households within a radius of 40 km of the Sheba Medical Center in Israel in which a new SARS-CoV-2 infection (defined as the index case) was detected within the previous 24 h were approached between July 25 and Nov 15, 2021. We included adults (aged >18 years) who had received one or two vaccine doses, had an initial negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR and no previous infection reported, and had a valid IgG and neutralising antibody result. The exposure of interest was baseline immune status, including IgG antibody concentration, neutralising antibody titre, and T-cell activation. The outcomes of interest were PCR-positive SARS-CoV-2 infection between day 2 and day 21 of follow-up and intensity of disease symptoms (self-reported via a telephone questionnaire) among participants who had a confirmed infection. Multivariable logistic and ordered logit ordinal regressions were used for the adjusted analysis. To identify immunological thresholds for clinical protection, we estimated the conditional probability of infection and moderate or severe disease for individuals with pre-exposure IgG and neutralising antibody concentrations above each value observed in the study data. FINDINGS From 16 675 detected index cases in the study region, 5718 household members agreed to participate, 1461 of whom were eligible to be included in our study. 333 (22·8%) of 1461 household members who were not infected with SARS-CoV-2 at baseline were infected within 21 days of follow-up. The baseline (pre-exposure) IgG and neutralising antibodies were higher in participants who remained uninfected than in those who became infected (geometric mean IgG antibody concentration 168·2 binding antibody units [BAU] per mL [95% CI 158·3-178·7] vs 130·5 BAU/mL [118·3-143·8] and geometric mean neutralising antibody titre 197·5 [181·9-214·4] vs 136 ·7 [120·3-155·4]). Increasing IgG and neutralising antibody concentrations were also significantly associated with a reduced probability of increasing disease severity. Odds of infection were significantly reduced each time baseline IgG antibody concentration increased by a factor of ten (odds ratio [OR] 0·43 [95% CI 0·26-0·70]) and each time baseline neutralising antibody titre increased by a factor of two (0·82 [0·74-0·92]). In our cohort, the probability of infection if IgG antibody concentrations were higher than 500 BAU/mL was 11% and the probability of moderate disease severity was 1%; the probability of infection if neutralising antibody titres were above or equal to 1024 was 8% and the probability of moderate disease severity was 2%. T-cell activation rates were not significantly associated with reduced probability of infection (OR 1·04, 95% CI 0·83-1·30). INTERPRETATION Both IgG and neutralising antibodies are correlates of protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our data suggest that IgG concentrations higher than 500 BAU/mL and neutralising antibody titres of 1024 or more are thresholds for immunological protection from SARS-CoV-2 delta variant infection. Potentially, updated protective thresholds against emerging variants of concern could be calculated, which could support decision makers on administration of new vaccination strategies and on the optimal period between vaccine doses. FUNDING Israeli Ministry of Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gili Regev-Yochay
- Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Yaniv Lustig
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Gili Joseph
- Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Mayan Gilboa
- Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Noam Barda
- ARC Innovation Center, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Department of Software and Information Systems Engineering, and Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Community Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Ilana Gens
- Public Health Services, Israeli Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Victoria Indenbaum
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Osnat Halpern
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Shiri Katz-Likvornik
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Tal Levin
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Yara Kanaaneh
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Keren Asraf
- The Dworman Automated-Mega Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Sharon Amit
- Clinical Microbiology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Clinical Microbiology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Carmit Rubin
- Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Arnona Ziv
- Data Management Unit, Gerner Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ravit Koren
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Michal Mandelboim
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Noam H Tokayer
- Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Lilac Meltzer
- Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ram Doolman
- Data Management Unit, Gerner Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ella Mendelson
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | | | - Yitshak Kreiss
- General Management, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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German-Cortés J, Vilar-Hernández M, Rafael D, Abasolo I, Andrade F. Solid Lipid Nanoparticles: Multitasking Nano-Carriers for Cancer Treatment. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15030831. [PMID: 36986692 PMCID: PMC10056426 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite all the advances seen in recent years, the severe adverse effects and low specificity of conventional chemotherapy are still challenging problems regarding cancer treatment. Nanotechnology has helped to address these questions, making important contributions in the oncological field. The use of nanoparticles has allowed the improvement of the therapeutic index of several conventional drugs and facilitates the tumoral accumulation and intracellular delivery of complex biomolecules, such as genetic material. Among the wide range of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems (nanoDDS), solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) have emerged as promising systems for delivering different types of cargo. Their solid lipid core, at room and body temperature, provides SLNs with higher stability than other formulations. Moreover, SLNs offer other important features, namely the possibility to perform active targeting, sustained and controlled release, and multifunctional therapy. Furthermore, with the possibility to use biocompatible and physiologic materials and easy scale-up and low-cost production methods, SLNs meet the principal requirements of an ideal nanoDDS. The present work aims to summarize the main aspects related to SLNs, including composition, production methods, and administration routes, as well as to show the most recent studies about the use of SLNs for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júlia German-Cortés
- Drug Delivery & Targeting Group, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Vilar-Hernández
- Drug Delivery & Targeting Group, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diana Rafael
- Drug Delivery & Targeting Group, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Networking Research Centre for Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Functional Validation & Preclinical Research (FVPR), U20 ICTS Nanbiosis, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (D.R.); (I.A.); (F.A.)
| | - Ibane Abasolo
- Drug Delivery & Targeting Group, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Networking Research Centre for Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Functional Validation & Preclinical Research (FVPR), U20 ICTS Nanbiosis, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Servei de Bioquímica, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (D.R.); (I.A.); (F.A.)
| | - Fernanda Andrade
- Drug Delivery & Targeting Group, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Networking Research Centre for Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Departament de Farmàcia i Tecnologia Farmacèutica i Fisicoquímica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (D.R.); (I.A.); (F.A.)
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Dofuor AK, Quartey NKA, Osabutey AF, Boateng BO, Lutuf H, Osei JHN, Ayivi-Tosuh SM, Aiduenu AF, Ekloh W, Loh SK, Opoku MJ, Aidoo OF. The Global Impact of COVID-19: Historical Development, Molecular Characterization, Drug Discovery and Future Directions. CLINICAL PATHOLOGY (THOUSAND OAKS, VENTURA COUNTY, CALIF.) 2023; 16:2632010X231218075. [PMID: 38144436 PMCID: PMC10748929 DOI: 10.1177/2632010x231218075] [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: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
In December 2019, an outbreak of a respiratory disease called the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by a new coronavirus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) began in Wuhan, China. The SARS-CoV-2, an encapsulated positive-stranded RNA virus, spread worldwide with disastrous consequences for people's health, economies, and quality of life. The disease has had far-reaching impacts on society, including economic disruption, school closures, and increased stress and anxiety. It has also highlighted disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, with marginalized communities disproportionately affected by the SARS-CoV-2. The symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild to severe. There is presently no effective cure. Nevertheless, significant progress has been made in developing COVID-19 vaccine for different therapeutic targets. For instance, scientists developed multifold vaccine candidates shortly after the COVID-19 outbreak after Pfizer and AstraZeneca discovered the initial COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines reduce disease spread, severity, and mortality. The addition of rapid diagnostics to microscopy for COVID-19 diagnosis has proven crucial. Our review provides a thorough overview of the historical development of COVID-19 and molecular and biochemical characterization of the SARS-CoV-2. We highlight the potential contributions from insect and plant sources as anti-SARS-CoV-2 and present directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aboagye Kwarteng Dofuor
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, Ghana
| | - Naa Kwarley-Aba Quartey
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Biosciences, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Belinda Obenewa Boateng
- Coconut Research Program, Oil Palm Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana
| | - Hanif Lutuf
- Crop Protection Division, Oil Palm Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Kade, Ghana
| | - Joseph Harold Nyarko Osei
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Selina Mawunyo Ayivi-Tosuh
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Albert Fynn Aiduenu
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - William Ekloh
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Seyram Kofi Loh
- Department of Built Environment, School of Sustainable Development, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, Ghana
| | - Maxwell Jnr Opoku
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, Ghana
| | - Owusu Fordjour Aidoo
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, Ghana
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Messerian KO, Zverev A, Kramarczyk JF, Zydney AL. Pressure-dependent fouling behavior during sterile filtration of mRNA-containing lipid nanoparticles. Biotechnol Bioeng 2022; 119:3221-3229. [PMID: 35906785 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has generated growing interest in the development of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics. However, the size and properties of the lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) used to deliver the nucleic acids can lead to unique phenomena during manufacturing that are not typical of other biologics. The objective of this study was to develop a more fundamental understanding of the factors controlling the performance of sterile filtration of mRNA-LNPs. Experimental filtration studies were performed with a Moderna mRNA-LNP solution using a commercially available dual-layer polyethersulfone sterile filter, the Sartopore 2 XLG. Unexpectedly, increasing the transmembrane pressure (TMP) from 2 to 20 psi provided more than a two-fold increase in filter capacity. Also surprisingly, the effective resistance of the fouled filter decreased with increasing TMP, in contrast to the pressure-independent behavior expected for an incompressible media and the increase in resistance typically seen for a compressible fouling deposit. The mRNA-LNPs appear to foul the dual-layer filter by blocking the pores in the downstream sterilizing-grade membrane layer, as demonstrated both by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and derivative analysis of filtration data collected for the two layers independently. These results provide important insights into the mechanisms governing the filtration of mRNA-LNP vaccines and therapeutics. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevork Oliver Messerian
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802
| | | | | | - Andrew L Zydney
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802
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Schmid MB, Bächinger D, Pangalu A, Straumann D, Dlugaiczyk J. Acute Unilateral Peripheral Vestibulopathy After COVID-19 Vaccination: Initial Experience in a Tertiary Neurotology Center. Front Neurol 2022; 13:917845. [PMID: 35847228 PMCID: PMC9283640 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.917845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to identify patients who developed acute unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy (AUPVP) after COVID-19 vaccination.MethodsFor this single-center, retrospective study, we screened the medical records of our tertiary interdisciplinary neurotology center for patients who had presented with AUPVP within 30 days after COVID-19 vaccination (study period: 1 June−31 December 2021). The initial diagnosis of AUPVP was based on a comprehensive bedside neurotological examination. Laboratory vestibular testing (video head impulse test, cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, dynamic visual acuity, subjective visual vertical, video-oculography, caloric testing) was performed 1–5 months later.ResultsTwenty-six patients were diagnosed with AUPVP within the study period. Of those, n = 8 (31%) had developed acute vestibular symptoms within 30 days after COVID-19 vaccination (mean interval: 11.9 days, SD: 4.8, range: 6–20) and were thus included in the study. The mean age of the patients (two females, six males) was 46 years (SD: 11.7). Seven patients had received the Moderna mRNA vaccine and one the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine. All patients displayed a horizontal(-torsional) spontaneous nystagmus toward the unaffected ear and a pathological clinical head impulse test toward the affected ear on initial clinical examination. Receptor-specific laboratory vestibular testing performed 1–5 months later revealed recovery of vestibular function in two patients, and heterogeneous lesion patterns of vestibular endorgans in the remaining six patients.Discussion and ConclusionsThe present study should raise clinicians' awareness for AUPVP after COVID-19 vaccination. The relatively high fraction of such cases among our AUPVP patients may be due to a certain selection bias at a tertiary neurotology center. Patients presenting with acute vestibular symptoms should be questioned about their vaccination status and the date of the last vaccination dose. Furthermore, cases of AUPVP occurring shortly after a COVID-19 vaccination should be reported to the health authorities to help determining a possible causal relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Basil Schmid
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David Bächinger
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Athina Pangalu
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dominik Straumann
- Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Julia Dlugaiczyk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Julia Dlugaiczyk
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Alagheband Bahrami A, Azargoonjahromi A, Sadraei S, Aarabi A, Payandeh Z, Rajabibazl M. An overview of current drugs and prophylactic vaccines for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Cell Mol Biol Lett 2022; 27:38. [PMID: 35562685 PMCID: PMC9100302 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-022-00339-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Designing and producing an effective vaccine is the best possible way to reduce the burden and spread of a disease. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies invested a great deal of time and money in trying to control and combat the disease. In this regard, due to the urgent need, many vaccines are now available earlier than scheduled. Based on their manufacturing technology, the vaccines available for COVID-19 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SAR-CoV2)) infection can be classified into four platforms: RNA vaccines, adenovirus vector vaccines, subunit (protein-based) vaccines, and inactivated virus vaccines. Moreover, various drugs have been deemed to negatively affect the progression of the infection via various actions. However, adaptive variants of the SARS-CoV-2 genome can alter the pathogenic potential of the virus and increase the difficulty of both drug and vaccine development. In this review, along with drugs used in COVID-19 treatment, currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines as well as variants of the virus are described and evaluated, considering all platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armina Alagheband Bahrami
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Samin Sadraei
- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aryan Aarabi
- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Payandeh
- Department Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division Medical Inflammation Research, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Masoumeh Rajabibazl
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Ardizzone A, Capra AP, Campolo M, Filippone A, Esposito E, Briuglia S. Neurofibromatosis: New Clinical Challenges in the Era of COVID-19. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10050940. [PMID: 35625677 PMCID: PMC9138859 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10050940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Rare diseases constitute a wide range of disorders thus defined for their low prevalence. However, taken together, rare diseases impact a considerable percentage of the world population, thus representing a public healthcare problem. In particular, neurofibromatoses are autosomal-dominant genetic disorders that include type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1), type 2 neurofibromatosis (NF2) and schwannomatosis. Each of the three types is a genetically distinct disease with an unpredictable clinical course and for which there is still no resolutive cure. Therefore, a personalized therapeutic approach directed at improving the symptomatology as well as the search for new pharmacological strategies for the management of neurofibromatosis represents a priority for positive outcomes for affected patients. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has severely affected health systems around the world, impacting the provision of medical care and modifying clinical surveillance along with scientific research procedures. COVID-19 significantly worsened exchanges between healthcare personnel and neurofibromatosis patients, precluding continuous clinical monitoring in specialized clinic centers. In this new scenario, our article presents, for the first time, a comprehensive literature review on the clinical challenges for neurofibromatosis clinical care and research during the COVID-19 pandemic health emergency. The review was performed through PubMed (Medline) and Google Scholar databases until December 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Ardizzone
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (A.A.); (A.P.C.); (M.C.); (A.F.)
| | - Anna Paola Capra
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (A.A.); (A.P.C.); (M.C.); (A.F.)
| | - Michela Campolo
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (A.A.); (A.P.C.); (M.C.); (A.F.)
| | - Alessia Filippone
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (A.A.); (A.P.C.); (M.C.); (A.F.)
| | - Emanuela Esposito
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (A.A.); (A.P.C.); (M.C.); (A.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-090-676-5208
| | - Silvana Briuglia
- Department of Biomedical, Dental, Morphological and Functional Imaging Sciences, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy;
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Developing an Effective Peptide-Based Vaccine for COVID-19: Preliminary Studies in Mice Models. Viruses 2022; 14:v14030449. [PMID: 35336856 PMCID: PMC8954996 DOI: 10.3390/v14030449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused massive health and economic disasters worldwide. Although several vaccines have effectively slowed the spread of the virus, their long-term protection and effectiveness against viral variants are still uncertain. To address these potential shortcomings, this study proposes a peptide-based vaccine to prevent COVID-19. A total of 15 B cell epitopes of the wild-type severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) protein were selected, and their HLA affinities predicted in silico. Peptides were divided into two groups and tested in C57BL/6 mice with either QS21 or Al(OH)3 as the adjuvant. Our results demonstrated that the peptide-based vaccine stimulated high and durable antibody responses in mice, with the T and B cell responses differing based on the type of adjuvant employed. Using epitope mapping, we showed that our peptide-based vaccine produced antibody patterns similar to those in COVID-19 convalescent individuals. Moreover, plasma from vaccinated mice and recovered COVID-19 humans had the same neutralizing activity when tested with a pseudo particle assay. Our data indicate that this adjuvant peptide-based vaccine can generate sustainable and effective B and T cell responses. Thus, we believe that our peptide-based vaccine can be a safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19, particularly because of the flexibility of including new peptides to prevent emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and avoiding unwanted autoimmune responses.
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Monreal-Escalante E, Ramos-Vega A, Angulo C, Bañuelos-Hernández B. Plant-Based Vaccines: Antigen Design, Diversity, and Strategies for High Level Production. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:100. [PMID: 35062761 PMCID: PMC8782010 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10010100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines for human use have conventionally been developed by the production of (1) microbial pathogens in eggs or mammalian cells that are then inactivated, or (2) by the production of pathogen proteins in mammalian and insect cells that are purified for vaccine formulation, as well as, more recently, (3) by using RNA or DNA fragments from pathogens. Another approach for recombinant antigen production in the last three decades has been the use of plants as biofactories. Only have few plant-produced vaccines been evaluated in clinical trials to fight against diseases, of which COVID-19 vaccines are the most recent to be FDA approved. In silico tools have accelerated vaccine design, which, combined with transitory antigen expression in plants, has led to the testing of promising prototypes in pre-clinical and clinical trials. Therefore, this review deals with a description of immunoinformatic tools and plant genetic engineering technologies used for antigen design (virus-like particles (VLP), subunit vaccines, VLP chimeras) and the main strategies for high antigen production levels. These key topics for plant-made vaccine development are discussed and perspectives are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Monreal-Escalante
- Immunology and Vaccinology Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Instituto PoliItécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz 23096, BCS, Mexico; (A.R.-V.); (C.A.)
- CONACYT—Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz 23096, BCS, Mexico
| | - Abel Ramos-Vega
- Immunology and Vaccinology Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Instituto PoliItécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz 23096, BCS, Mexico; (A.R.-V.); (C.A.)
| | - Carlos Angulo
- Immunology and Vaccinology Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Instituto PoliItécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz 23096, BCS, Mexico; (A.R.-V.); (C.A.)
| | - Bernardo Bañuelos-Hernández
- Escuela de Veterinaria, Universidad De La Salle Bajío, Avenida Universidad 602, Lomas del Campestre, Leon 37150, GTO, Mexico
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Kim KH. Timing of musculoskeletal steroid injections in pain practice during Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine administration. Korean J Pain 2022; 35:1-3. [PMID: 34966006 PMCID: PMC8728550 DOI: 10.3344/kjp.2022.35.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Hoon Kim
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea
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Initial Screening of Poly(ethylene glycol) Amino Ligands for Affinity Purification of Plasmid DNA in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11111138. [PMID: 34833014 PMCID: PMC8619368 DOI: 10.3390/life11111138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy and DNA vaccination are among the most expected biotechnological and medical advances for the coming years. However, the lack of cost-effective large-scale production and purification of pharmaceutical-grade plasmid DNA (pDNA) still hampers their wide application. Downstream processing, which is mainly chromatography-based, of pDNA remains the key manufacturing step. Despite its high resolution, the scaling-up of chromatography is usually difficult and presents low capacity, resulting in low yields. Alternative methods that are based on aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) have been studied. Although higher yields may be obtained, its selectivity is often low. In this work, modified polymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivatisation with amino groups (PEG–amine) or conjugation with positively charged amino acids (PEG–lysine, PEG–arginine, and PEG–histidine) were studied to increase the selectivity of PEG–dextran systems towards the partition of a model plasmid. A two-step strategy was employed to obtain suitable pure formulations of pDNA. In the first step, a PEG–dextran system with the addition of the affinity ligand was used with the recovery of the pDNA in the PEG-rich phase. Then, the pDNA was re-extracted to an ammonium-sulphate-rich phase in the second step. After removing the salt, this method yielded a purified preparation of pDNA without RNA and protein contamination.
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