Quick model-based viscoelastic clot strength predictions from blood protein concentrations for cybermedical coagulation control

Cybermedical systems that regulate patient clotting in real time with personalized blood product delivery will improve treatment outcomes. These systems will harness popular viscoelastic assays of clot strength such as thromboelastography (TEG), which help evaluate coagulation status in numerous conditions: major surgery (e.g., heart, vascular, hip fracture, and trauma); liver cirrhosis and transplants; COVID-19; ICU stays; sepsis; obstetrics; diabetes; and coagulopathies like hemophilia. But these measurements are time-consuming, and thus impractical for urgent care and automated coagulation control. Because protein concentrations in a blood sample can be measured in about five minutes, we develop personalized, phenomenological, quick, control-oriented models that predict TEG curve outputs from input blood protein concentrations, to facilitate treatment decisions based on TEG curves. Here, we accurately predict, experimentally validate, and mechanistically justify curves and parameters for common TEG assays (Functional Fibrinogen, Citrated Native, Platelet Mapping, and Rapid TEG), and verify results with trauma patient clotting data.

Diverse array of neutralizing antibodies elicited upon Spike Ferritin Nanoparticle vaccination in rhesus macaques

The repeat emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoC) with decreased susceptibility to vaccine-elicited antibodies highlights the need to develop next-generation vaccine candidates that confer broad protection. Here we describe the antibody response induced by the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Ferritin Nanoparticle (SpFN) vaccine candidate adjuvanted with the Army Liposomal Formulation including QS21 (ALFQ) in non-human primates. By isolating and characterizing several monoclonal antibodies directed against the Spike Receptor Binding Domain (RBD), N-Terminal Domain (NTD), or the S2 Domain, we define the molecular recognition of vaccine-elicited cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) elicited by SpFN. We identify six neutralizing antibodies with broad sarbecovirus cross-reactivity that recapitulate serum polyclonal antibody responses. In particular, RBD mAb WRAIR-5001 binds to the conserved cryptic region with high affinity to sarbecovirus clades 1 and 2, including Omicron variants, while mAb WRAIR-5021 offers complete protection from B.1.617.2 (Delta) in a murine challenge study. Our data further highlight the ability of SpFN vaccination to stimulate cross-reactive B cells targeting conserved regions of the Spike with activity against SARS CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 variants.

A geopositioned and evidence-graded pan-species compendium of Mayaro virus occurrence

Mayaro Virus (MAYV) is an emerging health threat in the Americas that can cause febrile illness as well as debilitating arthralgia or arthritis. To better understand the geographic distribution of MAYV risk, we developed a georeferenced database of MAYV occurrence based on peer-reviewed literature and unpublished reports. Here we present this compendium, which includes both point and polygon locations linked to occurrence data documented from its discovery in 1954 until 2022. We describe all methods used to develop the database including data collection, georeferencing, management and quality-control. We also describe a customized grading system used to assess the quality of each study included in our review. The result is a comprehensive, evidence-graded database of confirmed MAYV occurrence in humans, non-human animals, and arthropods to-date, containing 262 geo-positioned occurrences in total. This database - which can be updated over time - may be useful for local spill-over risk assessment, epidemiological modelling to understand key transmission dynamics and drivers of MAYV spread, as well as identification of major surveillance gaps.