Uptake and impact of COVID-19 preventive measures amongst migrant populations in the Netherlands

 

Uptake of preventive measures to reduce transmission of viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, is crucial in the control of pandemics. To ensure equitable uptake we explored contextual factors that shaped uptake of COVID-19 preventive measures amongst smaller, albeit substantial, migrant populations in the Netherlands. 39 persons of Eritrean, Ghanaian, Indonesian and Filipino origin, with diverse legal status and length of stay in the Netherlands, participated in five online focus group discussions. Thematic analysis of data was informed by concepts from the Precaution Adoption Process Model and Protection Motivation Theory. Awareness and knowledge of preventive measures was shaped by limited Dutch proficiency, access to understandable information and interference of misinformation. Engagement by preventive measures was subject to COVID-19 threat appraisal and the ease with which complex behavioural messages could be translated to individual situations. Perceived vulnerability of undocumented migrants in particular, motivated information-seeking. A strong social norm to keep with cultural and religious practices, and limited opportunity for preventive behaviour in work and home context hindered uptake of preventive behaviour. Preventive measures brought about job, food, and housing insecurity, and increased barriers in access to healthcare for undocumented migrants. Migration-related, sociocultural, and socioeconomic factors shape uptake of preventive measures. Preventive measures negatively impact work, housing and access to healthcare of undocumented migrants. Our results suggest importance of multilingual information tailored to literacy needs; education and modelling of behaviour; and, regulations to ensure continued access to financial and material resources to minimise negative spill-over effects. Results were incorporated in two policy briefs advising local and national government. Collaboration with municipal health services lead to multilingual public health information.

Key messages

• Migration-related, sociocultural, and socioeconomic factors shape uptake of preventive measures.

• Preventive measures negatively impact work, housing and access to healthcare of undocumented migrants.

A highly sensitive cell-based luciferase assay for high-throughput automated screening of SARS-CoV-2 nsp5/3CLpro inhibitors

Effective drugs against SARS-CoV-2 are urgently needed to treat severe cases of infection and for prophylactic use. The main viral protease (nsp5 or 3CLpro) represents an attractive and possibly broad-spectrum target for drug development as it is essential to the virus life cycle and highly conserved among betacoronaviruses. Sensitive and efficient high-throughput screening methods are key for drug discovery. Here we report the development of a gain-of-signal, highly sensitive cell-based luciferase assay to monitor SARS-CoV-2 nsp5 activity and show that it is suitable for the screening of compounds in a 384-well format. A benefit of miniaturisation and automation is that screening can be performed in parallel on a wild-type and a catalytically inactive nsp5, which improves the selectivity of the assay. We performed molecular docking-based screening on a set of 14,468 compounds from an in-house chemical database, selected 359 candidate nsp5 inhibitors and tested them experimentally. We identified two molecules which show anti-nsp5 activity, both in our cell-based assay and in vitro on purified nsp5 protein, and inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in A549-ACE2 cells with EC₅₀ values in the 4–8 μM range. The here described high-throughput-compatible assay will allow the screening of large-scale compound libraries for SARS-CoV-2 nsp5 inhibitors. Moreover, we provide evidence that this assay can be adapted to other coronaviruses and viruses which rely on a viral protease.

A highly sensitive cell-based luciferase assay for high-throughput automated screening of SARS-CoV-2 nsp5/3CLpro inhibitors

Effective drugs against SARS-CoV-2 are urgently needed to treat severe cases of infection and for prophylactic use. The main viral protease (nsp5 or 3CLpro) represents an attractive and possibly broad-spectrum target for drug development as it is essential to the virus life cycle and highly conserved among betacoronaviruses. Sensitive and efficient high-throughput screening methods are key for drug discovery. Here we report the development of a gain-of-signal, highly sensitive cell-based luciferase assay to monitor SARS-CoV-2 nsp5 activity and show that it is suitable for high-throughput screening of compounds in a 384-well format. A benefit of miniaturisation and automation is that screening can be performed in parallel on a wild-type and a catalytically inactive nsp5, which improves the selectivity of the assay. We performed molecular docking-based screening on a set of 14,468 compounds from an in-house chemical database, selected 359 candidate nsp5 inhibitors and tested them experimentally. We identified four molecules, including the broad-spectrum antiviral merimepodib/VX-497, which show anti-nsp5 activity and inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in A549-ACE2 cells with IC 50 values in the 4-21 µM range. The here described assay will allow the screening of large-scale compound libraries for SARS-CoV-2 nsp5 inhibitors. Moreover, we provide evidence that this assay can be adapted to other coronaviruses and viruses which rely on a viral protease.

Reappraisal of Interpersonal Criticism in Social Anxiety Disorder: A Brain Network Hierarchy Perspective

Emotion regulation is thought to involve communication between and within large-scale brain networks that underlie emotion reactivity and cognitive control. Aberrant network interaction might therefore be a key neural feature of mental disorders that involve emotion dysregulation. Here we tested whether connectivity hierarchies within and between emotion reactivity and cognitive reappraisal networks distinguishes social anxiety disorder (SAD) patients (n = 70) from healthy controls (HC) (n = 25). To investigate network organization, we implemented a graph-theory method called Dependency Network Analysis. Participants underwent fMRI while watching or reappraising video clips involving interpersonal verbal criticism. During reappraisal, the reappraisal network exerted less influence on the reactivity network in SAD participants. Specifically, the influence of the right inferior frontal gyrus on both reappraisal and reactivity networks was significantly reduced in SAD compared with HC, and correlated negatively with negative emotion ratings among SAD participants. Surprisingly, the amygdala exhibited reduced influence on the reappraisal network in SAD relative to HC. Yet, during the watch condition, the left amygdala's influence on the reactivity network increased with greater social anxiety symptoms among SAD participants. These findings refine our understanding of network organization that contributes to efficient reappraisal or to disturbances in applying this strategy in SAD.

Altered brain activation in complex walking conditions in patients with Parkinson's disease

INTRODUCTION

Behavioral studies suggest that deficits in cognitive domains and sensory-motor processes associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) impair the ability to walk in complex environments. However, the neural correlates of locomotion in complex environments are still unclear.

METHODS

Twenty healthy older adults (mean age 69.7 ± 1.3 yrs) and 20 patients with PD (mean age 72.9 ± 1.6 yrs; disease duration: 6.8 ± 1.3 yrs; UPDRSIII: 29.8 ± 2.4) were asked to imagine themselves walking while in the MRI scanner. Three imagined walking tasks, i.e., usual walking, obstacle negotiation, and navigation were performed. Watching the same virtual scenes without imagining walking served as control tasks. Whole brain analyses were used.

RESULTS

Compared to usual walking, both groups had increased activation during obstacle negotiation in middle occipital gyrus (MOG) (pFWEcorr<0.001), middle frontal gyrus (MFG) (pFWEcorr<0.005), and cerebellum (pFWEcorr<0.001). Healthy older adults had higher activation in precuneus and MOG (pFWEcorr<0.023) during navigation, while no differences were observed in patients with PD. Between group comparisons revealed that patients with PD had a significantly higher activation in usual walking and obstacle negotiation (pFWEcorr<0.039) while during navigation task, healthy older adults had higher activation (pFWEcorr<0.047).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with PD require greater activation during imagined usual walking and obstacle negotiation than healthy older adults. This increased activation may reflect a compensatory attempt to overcome inefficient neural activation in patients with PD. This increased activation may reduce the functional reserve needed during more demanding tasks such as during navigation which may contribute to the high prevalence of falls and dual tasking difficulties among patients with PD.

EVER2 protein binds TRADD to promote TNF-α-induced apoptosis

EVER1 and 2 confer resistance to cutaneous oncogenic human papillomavirus infections by downregulating the activating protein 1 (AP-1) signaling pathway. Defects in their expression are associated with susceptibility to epidermodysplasia verruciformis, which is characterized by persistent β-HPV infection, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) overproduction in keratinocytes and the development of skin cancers. TNF-α-induced apoptosis is a key defense strategy, preventing the persistence of the virus within cells, but the role of EVER proteins in this cell death mechanism triggered by extrinsic stimuli is unknown. We show here that EVER2 induces TNF-α- and TRAIL-dependant apoptosis. It interacts with the N-terminal domain of TRADD, impairs the recruitment of TRAF2 and RIPK1 and promotes apoptosis. The skin cancer-associated EVER2 I306 allele results in an impaired TRADD-EVER2 interaction, with lower levels of cell death following treatment with TNF-α. These data highlight a new, critical function of EVER2 in controlling cell survival in response to death stimuli.

ViralORFeome: an integrated database to generate a versatile collection of viral ORFs

Large collections of protein-encoding open reading frames (ORFs) established in a versatile recombination-based cloning system have been instrumental to study protein functions in high-throughput assays. Such ‘ORFeome’ resources have been developed for several organisms but in virology, plasmid collections covering a significant fraction of the virosphere are still needed. In this perspective, we present ViralORFeome 1.0 (http://www.viralorfeome.com), an open-access database and management system that provides an integrated set of bioinformatic tools to clone viral ORFs in the Gateway® system. ViralORFeome provides a convenient interface to navigate through virus genome sequences, to design ORF-specific cloning primers, to validate the sequence of generated constructs and to browse established collections of virus ORFs. Most importantly, ViralORFeome has been designed to manage all possible variants or mutants of a given ORF so that the cloning procedure can be applied to any emerging virus strain. A subset of plasmid constructs generated with ViralORFeome platform has been tested with success for heterologous protein expression in different expression systems at proteome scale. ViralORFeome should provide our community with a framework to establish a large collection of virus ORF clones, an instrumental resource to determine functions, activities and binding partners of viral proteins.

Rabies: epidemiological tendencies and control tools

Rabies encephalitis still generates 50,000 human deaths/year. It is due to neuron infection by lyssaviruses. Seven genotypes (GT) are currently distinguished within the Lyssavirus genus which segregate in two phylogroups (PG). This classification is constantly evolving due to isolation of new lyssaviruses within bat populations. Functional differences exist between GTs in term of neurotropism, pathogenesis, induction of apoptosis, immunogenicity, and their molecular basis are starting to be elucidated. Lyssavirus vectors are mammals, preferentially from the Carnivora and Chiroptera orders. Phylogenetic reconstruction strongly supports that lyssaviruses evolved in chiropters long before the emergence of carnivoran rabies which very likely occurred through host-switchings from bats to carnivores. If dog rabies control is possible by vaccination and population control, if oral vaccination demonstrated its potential to eliminate rabies from a terrestrial wildlife reservoir (fox in Western Europe), it is unrealistic today to clear lyssaviruses from bats, while bat rabies is a growing concern for both public and animal health. As bat transmit divergent lyssavirus GTs which are not well prevented by available vaccine strains, there is a need to increase the protection spectrum of vaccines. DNA-based immunization with plasmids expressing chimeric G proteins (fusion of two halves from different GTs) was shown to be effective in inducing a complete immune response and to broaden the spectrum of rabies vaccines toward lyssavirus vaccines. Further, the lyssavirus G protein can carry foreign epitopes/antigens in the perspective of multivalent vaccines against various zoonoses of carnivores.

DNA-based immunisation against rabies and rabies-related viruses: towards multivalent vaccines

Prototypes of multivalent DNA vaccines against lyssaviruses (LV: rabies and rabies-related viruses) and other viruses were developed using chimaeric LV glycoprotein (cLVG) DNA and cLVG DNA carrying foreign epitopes. cLVG is composed of the N-terminal half of an LV genotype (GT) containing antigenic site II, the C-terminal half of GT containing antigenic site III, as well as the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the same or a different GT. Both antigenic sites induced virus neutralizing antibodies (VNAb). Foreign B and T cell epitopes inserted between the two halves of cLVG correspond to the B cell C3 neutralisation epitope of poliovirus VP1 protein and to the H2d CMH I restricted T cell epitope of the nucleoprotein of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). In mice and dogs homogenous rabies virus G DNA induced protection against wild-type rabies virus whereas cLVG protected against lyssaviruses. cLVG DNA carrying foreign epitopes induced VNAb against LV and poliovirus and protection against LCMV. The results obtained clearly demonstrate the potential usefulness of cLVG for the development of multivalent vaccines against viral diseases, including rabies and zoonoses.

Functional interaction map of lyssavirus phosphoprotein: identification of the minimal transcription domains

Lyssaviruses, the causative agents of rabies encephalitis, are distributed in seven genotypes. The phylogenetically distant rabies virus (PV strain, genotype 1) and Mokola virus (genotype 3) were used to develop a strategy to identify functional homologous interactive domains from two proteins (P and N) which participate in the viral ribonucleoprotein (RNP) transcription-replication complex. This strategy combined two-hybrid and green fluorescent protein-reverse two-hybrid assays in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to analyze protein-protein interactions and a reverse genetic assay in mammalian cells to study the transcriptional activity of the reconstituted RNP complex. Lyssavirus P proteins contain two N-binding domains (N-BDs), a strong one encompassing amino acid (aa) 176 to the C terminus and a weak one in the 189 N-terminal aa. The N-terminal portion of P (aa 52 to 189) also contains a homomultimerization site. Here we demonstrate that N-P interactions, although weaker, are maintained between proteins of the different genotypes. A minimal transcriptional module of the P protein was obtained by fusing the first 60 N-terminal aa containing the L protein binding site to the C-terminal strong N-BD. Random mutation of the strong N-BD on P protein identified three highly conserved K residues crucial for N-P interaction. Their mutagenesis in full-length P induced a transcriptionally defective RNP. The analysis of homologous interactive domains presented here and previously reported dissections of the P protein allowed us to propose a model of the functional interaction network of the lyssavirus P protein. This model underscores the central role of P at the interface between L protein and N-RNA template.

DNA-based immunization against Lyssaviruses

Rabies is a fatal encephalomyelitis. Most cases occur in developing countries and are transmitted by dogs. Because of their high cost, cell culture vaccines have not totally replaced the unsafe brain-derived vaccines which are still used in many developing countries. Moreover, there will be a need for vaccines against rabies-related viruses against which classical vaccines are not always effective. DNA vaccines would, therefore, be a valuable alternative for the production of cheaper rabies vaccines against a larger spectrum of viruses. In this review we report published data on DNA-based immunization with sequences encoding rabies and rabies-related virus antigens.

Cytoplasmic dynein LC8 interacts with lyssavirus phosphoprotein

Using a yeast two-hybrid human brain cDNA library screen, the cytoplasmic dynein light chain (LC8), a 10-kDa protein, was found to interact strongly with the phosphoprotein (P) of two lyssaviruses: rabies virus (genotype 1) and Mokola virus (genotype 3). The high degree of sequence divergence between these P proteins (only 46% amino acid identity) favors the hypothesis that this interaction is a common property shared by all lyssaviruses. The P protein-dynein LC8 interaction was confirmed by colocalization with laser confocal microscopy in infected cells and by coimmunoprecipitation. The dynein-interacting P protein domain was mapped to the 186 amino acid residues of the N-terminal half of the protein. Dynein LC8 is a component of both cytoplasmic dynein and myosin V, which are involved in a wide range of intracellular motile events, such as microtubule minus-end directed organelle transport in axon "retrograde transport" and actin-based vesicle transport, respectively. Our results provide support for a model of viral nucleocapsid axoplasmic transport. Furthermore, the role of LC8 in cellular mechanisms other than transport, e.g., inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, suggests that the P protein interactions could be involved in physiopathological mechanisms of rabies virus-induced pathogenesis.

Immunization of dogs with a DNA vaccine induces protection against rabies virus

Rabies is a fatal encephalomyelitis which is transmitted to man, mostly by dogs in developing countries. This zoonosis can be prevented by vaccination of humans before or after exposure. However, a more radical approach is possible, involving the elimination of the principal vector/reservoir by vaccinating dogs. The vaccine must be effective, safe and inexpensive. Mass production of plasmids is possible and DNA-based immunization with a plasmid encoding the antigen responsible for inducing protection seems to be more cost-effective than classical techniques involving cell culture. Beagles were immunized by intramuscular (i.m.) injection with a plasmid encoding the rabies virus (PV strain) glycoprotein. Neutralizing antibodies against both wild-type rabies virus and European Bat Lyssaviruses (EBL1 and EBL2) were detected after a single injection and a boost, but levels of neutralizing antibodies against EBL1 were low. Moreover, all vaccinated dogs were protected against a lethal challenge with a wild-type dog rabies strain. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate that dogs can be protected by DNA vaccines, and opens important perspectives for rabies control.

Chimeric lyssavirus glycoproteins with increased immunological potential

The rabies virus glycoprotein molecule (G) can be divided into two parts separated by a flexible hinge: the NH2 half (site II part) containing antigenic site II up to the linear region (amino acids [aa] 253 to 275 encompassing epitope VI [aa 264]) and the COOH half (site III part) containing antigenic site III and the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. The structural and immunological roles of each part were investigated by cell transfection and mouse DNA-based immunization with homogeneous and chimeric G genes formed by fusion of the site II part of one genotype (GT) with the site III part of the same or another GT. Various site II-site III combinations between G genes of PV (Pasteur virus strain) rabies (GT1), Mokola (GT3), and EBL1 (European bat lyssavirus 1 [GT5]) viruses were tested. Plasmids pGPV-PV, pGMok-Mok, pGMok-PV, and pGEBL1-PV induced transient expression of correctly transported and folded antigens in neuroblastoma cells and virus-neutralizing antibodies against parental viruses in mice, whereas, pG-PVIII (site III part only) and pGPV-Mok did not. The site III part of PV (GT1) was a strong inducer of T helper cells and was very effective at presenting the site II part of various GTs. Both parts are required for correct folding and transport of chimeric G proteins which have a strong potential value for immunological studies and development of multivalent vaccines. Chimeric plasmid pGEBL1-PV broadens the spectrum of protection against European lyssavirus genotypes (GT1, GT5, and GT6).

DNA-based immunization for exploring the enlargement of immunological cross-reactivity against the lyssaviruses

DNA-based immunization was used for studying the cross-reactivity of lyssavirus neutralizing antibodies and for exploring the induction of a wider range of protection against lyssaviruses. In order to immunize mice with homogeneous and chimeric genes of glycoproteins (G) from two divergent lyssaviruses, we used for the first time a new plasmid (pCI-neo) known to be a highly efficient vector for in vitro expression. The homogeneous plasmids pGPV and pGMok encoded the Pasteur virus (PV: genotype 1-GT-) and Mokola virus (Mok: GT 3) G, respectively. The chimeric pGMokPV encoded the NH2 part of GMok and the COOH part of GPV. These plasmids elicited full protection against intracerebral challenges with various lyssaviruses and a range of antigen-specific and non-specific immune responses. Virus neutralizing antibody (VNAb) levels were dose dependent and a single intramuscular (i.m.) injection of plasmids was sufficient to induce continuous high levels of VNAb. Production of antigen-specific T helper (Th), cytotoxic T cells (Tc) and non-specific natural killer cells was observed. Cross-reactivity studies showed that VNAb are obtained by immunizing with: (i) pGPV against GT 1 (classical rabies), GT 4 (Duvenhage: Duv), GT 5 (European Bat Lyssavirus: EBL-1) and GT 6 (European Bat Lyssavirus: EBL-2); (ii) pGMok against GT 2 (Lagos Bat: LB) and GT 3 (Mokola: Mok); (iii) pGMokPV against all GTs except GT 4 which is weakly neutralized. Therefore, the DNA-based immunization with the chimeric pGMokPV, could be very interesting to enlarge protection to all the lyssaviruses. According to the cross-reactivity of VNAb induced by the G genes, the lyssavirus GTs could be classified into two groups: the first including GT 1, 4, 5 and 6; the second including GT 2 and 3.

The complete Mokola virus genome sequence: structure of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

The genome sequence of the rabies-related virus Mokola virus (genus Lyssavirus) has been completed by sequencing the L gene, which consists of 6384 nucleotides encoding a 2127 amino acid polymerase. Alignment of the Mokola virus L protein with other polymerases from the virus order Mononegavirales defined three domains: a divergent NH2-terminal domain, a highly conserved central domain carrying most of the functional motifs and a COOH-terminal domain with alternating conserved and divergent regions. A statistical study outlined the stringency of conservation of glycine, acidic (D, E) and basic (K, R, H) amino acids in polymerases, particularly as key residues of the conserved motifs.

Analysis of Krüppel control elements reveals that localized expression results from the interaction of multiple subelements

The Drosophila gap gene Krüppel (Kr) displays a complex spatiotemporal pattern of expression during embryogenesis. Using P-element transformation experiments, we demonstrate that control elements guiding Kr expression in the central or in the anterior domain at the blastoderm stage are each composed of multiple subelements that interact synergistically. We provide evidence that bicoid (bcd) and hunch-back (hb) gene products, as well as at least one other activator, are needed to activate Kr expression in the central domain. We localize and describe regulatory elements within the 4.1-kilobase region proximal to the Kr promoter that are responsible for expression in the ectoderm, mesoderm, amnioserosa, and nervous system. Finally, a protein instability motif encoded in the second exon appears to be important for resetting the dynamic Kr pattern.

Cloning and sequencing of a rat CuZn superoxide dismutase cDNA. Correlation between CuZn superoxide dismutase mRNA level and enzyme activity in rat and mouse tissues

The molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone (pR SOD) for rat CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) is reported. Nucleotide sequence homology with human superoxide dismutase is 86% for the coding region and 71% for the 3' untranslated region. The deduced amino acid sequence is given and the homologies with the sequences reported for other species are presented. Northern blot analysis of total RNA from various rat and mouse tissues and from two mouse cell lines show that pR SOD hybridizes with one mRNA species of about 0.7 kb. The amount of CuZnSOD mRNA in each tissue, measured by densitometry of the Northern blot autoradiograms, correlates with the enzymatic activity based on protein content. These results indicate that the control of CuZnSOD activity in mammalian tissues is largely dependent on the regulation of CuZnSOD mRNA levels. In human liver, fibroblasts and FG2 hepatoma cells, two CuZnSOD mRNAs (0.7 kb and 0.9 kb) are observed. The level of CuZnSOD mRNA in FG2 is 25% that of the liver and four times more abundant than in fibroblasts.

The smaller helical repeat of poly(dA) . poly(dT) relative to DNA may reflect the wedge property of the dA . dT base pair

A simple geometric approach is described which suggests that the smaller helical repeat of the homopolymer poly(dA) . poly(dT) relative to DNA (10.1 against 10.6 base pairs/turn) quantitatively reflects the property of the dA . dT base pair to behave like a wedge, of angle 11 degrees, pointing towards dA.

[The Chinese anti-brachial radial flap: anatomic study]

Concerning twenty forearms of fresh cadavers, the authors describe a cutaneous flap irrigated by a radial artery whose ligature is without consequence on the vascularization of the hand. They specify the margins of the flap, its vascularization and innervation. They also specify the anatomical sacrifices necessary to its dissection and the different bony and tendinous elements which it is possible to include to form a complex osteo-musculo-cutaneous flap.

[Lateral calcaneal flaps]

The authors have studied the cutaneous vascularization of the lateral side of the ankle. Different technics of vascular injection have identified a cutaneous flap based on the lateral calcaneal artery, a collateral branch of the posterior peroneal artery. This flap can be used to cover the chronic ulceration of the achilleen region.