Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

• From Preprints
• From Clinical Trials
• From PubMed
• From Patent Search

From Preprints

• Inhibitory effects of GT0918 on acute lung injury and the molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory response -
  Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused the public health crisis in the whole world. Anti-androgens block severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) entry and protect against severe clinical COVID-19 outcomes. GT0918, a second-generation androgen receptor antagonist, accelerated viral clearance and increased recovery rate in outpatients, reduced mortality rate and shortened hospital stay in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. GT0918 also had an effective trend for severe COVID-19 patient treatment. But the mechanism of GT0918 treatment for severe COVID-19 patient is unknown. Here, we found GT0918 decreased the expression and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines through NF-{kappa}B signaling. The acute lung injury induced by LPS or Poly(I:C) was also attenuated in GT0918-treated mice. Moreover, GT0918 increased the NRF2 protein level. GT0918 induced proinflammatory cytokines downregulation was partially dependent on NRF2. In conclusion, our data showed GT0918 reduced cytokine release and suppressed inflammatory responses through inhibiting NF-{kappa}B signaling and activating NRF2. GT0918 is not only effective for treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 patients, but also a potential therapeutic drug for severe COVID-19 patients.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Inhibitory effects of GT0918 on acute lung injury and the molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory response
• Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination and the risk of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis -

  A number of studies have investigated the potential non-specific effects of some routinely administered vaccines (e.g. influenza, pneumococcal) on COVID-19 related outcomes, with contrasting results. In order to elucidate this discrepancy, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association between seasonal influenza vaccination and pneumococcal vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 infection and its clinical outcomes. PubMed and medRxiv databases were searched, up until November 2021. Random effects model was used in the meta-analysis to pool odds ratio (OR) and adjusted estimates with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was quantitatively assessed using the Cohran9s Q and the I2 index. Sub-group analysis, sensitivity analysis and assessment of publication bias were performed for all outcomes. In total 38 observational studies were included in the meta-analysis and there was substantial heterogeneity. Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination were associated with lower risk of SARS-Cov-2 infection (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.75-0.86 and OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.57-0.88, respectively). Regarding influenza vaccination, it seems that the majority of studies did not properly adjust for all potential confounders, so when the analysis was limited to studies that adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities and socioeconomic indices, the association diminished. This is not the case regarding the pneumococcal vaccination, for which even after adjustment for such factors the association persisted. Regarding harder endpoints such as ICU admission and death, current data do not support the association. Possible explanations are discussed, including trained immunity, inadequate matching for socioeconomic indices and possible coinfection.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination and the risk of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis
• RT-LAMP-CRISPR-Cas13a technology as a promising diagnostic tool for the SARS-CoV-2 virus -

  At the end of 2019, the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, began a pandemic that persists to date and which has caused more than 6.2 million deaths. In the last couple of years, researchers have made great efforts to develop a diagnostic technique that maintains high levels of sensitivity and specificity, since an accurate and early diagnosis is required to minimize the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this context, CRISPR-Cas systems are proposed as promising tools for development in diagnostic techniques due to their high specificity, highlighting that Cas13 endonuclease discriminates single nucleotide changes and displays a collateral activity against single stranded RNA molecules. With the aim of improve the sensitivity of the diagnosis, this technology is usually combined with isothermal pre-amplification reactions (SHERLOCK, DETECTR). Basing on this, we have developed an RT-LAMP-CRISPR-Cas13a for SARS-CoV-2 virus detection in nasopharyngeal samples without using RNA extraction kit that exhibited 100 % specificity and 83 % sensitivity, as well as a positive predictive value of 100 % and a negative predictive value of 100%, 81%, 79.1% and 66.7 % in <20 Ct, 20-30 Ct, >30 Ct and total Ct values, respectively.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: RT-LAMP-CRISPR-Cas13a technology as a promising diagnostic tool for the SARS-CoV-2 virus
• Severity of Omicron (B.1.1.529) and Delta (B.1.1.617.2) SARS-CoV-2 infection among hospitalised adults: a prospective cohort study -

  Limited data exist assessing severity of disease in adults hospitalised with Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant infections, and to what extent patient-factors, including vaccination and pre-existing disease, affect variant-dependent disease severity. This prospective cohort study of all adults (≥18 years of age) hospitalised at acute care hospitals in Bristol, UK assessed disease severity using 3 different measures: FiO2 >28%, World Health Organization (WHO) outcome score >5, and hospital length of stay (LOS) >3 days following admission for Omicron or Delta variant infection. Independent of other variables, including vaccination, Omicron variant infection was associated with a statistically lower severity compared to Delta; risk reductions were 58%, 67%, and 16% for FiO2, WHO score, and LOS, respectively. Younger age and vaccination with two or three doses were also independently associated with lower COVID-19 severity. Despite lower severity relative to Delta, Omicron infection still resulted in substantial patient and public health burden following admission.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Severity of Omicron (B.1.1.529) and Delta (B.1.1.617.2) SARS-CoV-2 infection among hospitalised adults: a prospective cohort study
• Vitamin D and the ability to produce 1,25(OH)2D are critical for protection from viral infection of the lungs. -
  Vitamin D supplementation has been linked to improved outcomes from respiratory virus infection, and the COVID19 pandemic has renewed interest in understanding the potential role of vitamin D in protecting the lung from viral infections. Therefore, we evaluated the role of Vitamin D using animal models of pandemic H1N1 influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infection. In mice, dietary induced vitamin D deficiency resulted in lung inflammation that was present prior to infection. Vitamin D sufficient (D+) and deficient (D-) wildtype (WT) and D+ and D- Cyp27B1 (Cyp) knockout (KO, cannot produce 1,25(OH)2D) mice were infected with pandemic H1N1. D- WT, D+ Cyp KO, and D- Cyp KO mice all exhibited significantly reduced survival compared to D+ WT mice. Importantly, survival was not the result of reduced viral replication as influenza M gene expression in the lungs was similar for all animals. Based on these findings, additional experiments were performed using the mouse and hamster models of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. In these studies, high dose vitamin D supplementation reduced lung inflammation in mice but not hamsters. A trend to faster weight recovery was observed in 1,25(OH)2D treated mice that survived SARS-CoV-2 infection. There was no effect of vitamin D on SARS-CoV-2 N gene expression in the lung of either mice or hamsters. Therefore, vitamin D deficiency enhanced disease severity, while vitamin D sufficient/supplementation reduced inflammation following infections with H1N1 influenza and SARS-CoV-2.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Vitamin D and the ability to produce 1,25(OH)2D are critical for protection from viral infection of the lungs.
• Limitations of models for guiding policy in the COVID-19 pandemic -

  At the outset of the COVID-19 epidemic in the UK, infectious disease modellers advised the government that unless a lockdown was imposed, most of the population would be infected within a few months and critical care capacity would be overwhelmed. This paper investigates the quantitative arguments underlying these predictions, and draws lessons for future policy. The modellers assumed that within age bands all individuals were equally susceptible and equally connected, leading to predictions that more than 80% of the population would be infected in the first wave of an unmitigated epidemic. Models that relax this unrealistic assumption to allow for selective removal of the most susceptible and connected individuals predict much smaller epidemic sizes. In most European countries no more than 10% of the population was infected in the first wave, irrespective of what restrictions were imposed. The modellers assumed that about 2% of those infected would require critical care, far higher than the proportion who entered critical care in the first wave, and failed to identify the key role of nosocomial transmission in overloading health systems. Model-based forecasts that only a lockdown could suppress the epidemic relied on a survey of contact rates in 2006, with no information on the types of contact most relevant to aerosol transmission or on heterogeneity of contact rates. In future epidemics, modellers should communicate the uncertainties associated with their assumptions and data, especially when these models are used to recommend policies that have high societal costs and are hard to reverse. Recognition of the gap between models and reality also implies a need to rebalance in favour of greater reliance on rapid studies of real-world transmission, robust model criticism, and acceptance that when measurements contradict model predictions it is the model that needs to be changed.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Limitations of models for guiding policy in the COVID-19 pandemic
• CASP4/11 contributes to pulmonary inflammation and disease exacerbation in COVID-19 -

  Infection with SARS-CoV-2 induces COVID-19, an inflammatory disease that is usually self-limited, but depending on patient conditions may culminate with critical illness and patient death. The virus triggers activation of intracellular sensors, such as the NLRP3 inflammasome, which promotes inflammation and aggravates the disease. Thus, identification of host components associated with NLRP3 inflammasome is key for understanding the physiopathology of the disease. Here, we reported that SARS-CoV-2 induces upregulation and activation of human Caspase-4/CASP4 (mouse Caspase-11/CASP11) and this process contributes to inflammasome activation in response to SARS-CoV-2. CASP4 was expressed in lung autopsy of lethal cases of COVID-19 and CASP4 expression correlates with expression of inflammasome components and inflammatory mediators such as CASP1, IL1B, IL18 and IL6. In vivo infections performed in transgenic hACE2 humanized mouse, deficient or sufficient for Casp11, indicate that hACE2 Casp11-/- mice were protected from disease development, with reduced body weight loss, reduced temperature variation, increased pulmonary parenchymal area, reduced clinical score of the disease and reduced mortality. Collectively, our data establishes that CASP4/11 contributes to disease pathology and contributes for future immunomodulatory therapeutic interventions to COVID-19.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: CASP4/11 contributes to pulmonary inflammation and disease exacerbation in COVID-19
• Tradeoff between speed and infectivity in pathogen evolution -

  Given the present pandemic and the constantly arising new variants of SARS-CoV-2, there is an urgent need to understand the factors driving disease evolution. Here, we investigate the tradeoff between the speed at which a disease progresses and its reproductive number. Using SEIR and agent-based models, we show that in the exponential growth phase of an epidemic, there will be an optimal duration of new disease variants, balancing the advantage of developing fast with the advantage of infecting many new people. In the endemic state this optimum disappears, and lasting longer is always advantageous for the disease. However, if we take into account the possibility of quarantining the infected, this leads to a new optimum disease duration emerging. This work thereby comments on the observation of ever shorter generation times in the evolution of variants of SARS-CoV-2 from the original strain to the Alpha, Delta, and finally Omicron variants.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Tradeoff between speed and infectivity in pathogen evolution
• Trapping virus-loaded aerosols using granular protein nanofibrils and iron oxyhydroxides nanoparticles -
  The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that developing effective therapeutics against viruses might be outpaced by emerging variants, waning immunity, vaccine skepticism/hesitancy, lack of resources, and the time needed to develop virus-specific therapeutics, emphasizing the importance of non-pharmaceutical interventions as the first line of defense against virus outbreaks and pandemics. However, fighting the spread of airborne viruses has proven extremely challenging, much more if this needs to be achieved on a global scale and in an environmentally-friendly manner. Here, we introduce an aerosol filter made of granular material based on whey protein nanofibrils and iron oxyhydroxides nanoparticles. The material is environmentally-friendly, biodegradable, and composed mainly of a dairy industry byproduct. It features remarkable filtration efficiencies between 95.91% and 99.99% for both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the influenza A virus strain H1N1, enterovirus 71, bacteriophage {Phi}6, and bacteriophage MS2. The developed material is safe to handle and recycle, with a simple baking step sufficient to inactivate trapped viruses. The high filtration efficiency, virtually-zero environmental impact, and low cost of the material illuminate a viable role in fighting current and future pandemics on a global scale.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Trapping virus-loaded aerosols using granular protein nanofibrils and iron oxyhydroxides nanoparticles
• Association of Right Ventricular Dilation and Dysfunction on Echocardiogram with In-Hospital Mortality Among Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 Compared with Other Acute Respiratory Illness -

  Background: Although right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is associated with mortality in acute COVID-19, the role of RV dilation is uncertain. The prognostic significance of RV dilation and dysfunction among hospitalized patients with acute COVID-19 compared to other respiratory illnesses. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine 225 consecutive adults admitted for acute COVID-19 and 6,150 control adults admitted for influenza, pneumonia or ARDS who had a clinical echocardiogram performed. We used logistic regression models to assess associations between RV parameters and in-hospital mortality adjusted for confounders. Results: Among those with COVID-19, 48/225 (21.3%) died during the index hospitalization compared to 727/6150 (11.8%) with other respiratory illness (p=0.001). Independent of COVID-19, mild and moderate to severe RV dilation were associated with 1.4 and 2.0 times higher risk of inpatient mortality, respectively (95%CI 1.17 to 1.69; p=0.0003; 95%CI 1.62 to 2.47; p<0.0001, respectively). Similarly, mild and moderate RV dysfunction were associated with 1.4 and 1.7 times higher risk of inpatient mortality (95%CI 1.10 to 1.77; p=0.007; 95%CI 1.17 to 2.42; p=0.005, respectively). Relative to normal RV size and non-COVID-19 acute respiratory illness, mild and moderate RV dilation were associated with 1.4 times and 2.0 times higher risk among those without COVID-19 and 1.9 times higher and 3.0 times higher risk among those with COVID-19, with similar findings for RV dysfunction. Having both RV dilation and dysfunction or RV dilation alone were associated with 1.7 times higher risk while RV dysfunction alone was associated with 1.4 times higher risk compared to normal RV size and function. Conclusions: RV dilation and dysfunction are associated with increased risk of inpatient mortality among those with COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. Abnormal RV findings may identify those at higher risk of short-term mortality from acute respiratory illness including COVID-19 beyond other risk markers.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Association of Right Ventricular Dilation and Dysfunction on Echocardiogram with In-Hospital Mortality Among Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 Compared with Other Acute Respiratory Illness
• Missing Americans: Early Death in the United States, 1933-2021 -

  We assessed how many U.S. deaths would have been averted each year, 1933-2021, if U.S. age-specific mortality rates had equaled those of other wealthy nations. The annual number of excess deaths in the U.S. increased steadily beginning in the late 1970s, reaching 626,353 in 2019. Excess deaths surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, there were 1,092,293 “Missing Americans” and 25 million years of life lost due to excess mortality relative to peer nations. In 2021, half of all deaths under 65 years and 91% of the increase in under-65 mortality since 2019 would have been avoided if the U.S. had the mortality rates of its peers. Black and Native Americans made up a disproportionate share of Missing Americans, although the majority were White. One-Sentence Summary: In 2021, 1.1 million U.S. deaths – including 1 in 2 deaths under age 65 years – would have been averted if the U.S. had the mortality rates of other wealthy nations.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Missing Americans: Early Death in the United States, 1933-2021
• Primary exposure to SARS-CoV-2 variants elicits convergent epitope specificities, immunoglobulin V gene usage and public B cell clones -
  An important consequence of infection with a SARS-CoV-2 variant is protective humoral immunity against other variants. The basis for such cross-protection at the molecular level is incompletely understood. Here we characterized the repertoire and epitope specificity of antibodies elicited by Beta, Gamma and ancestral variant infection and assessed their cross-reactivity to these and the more recent Delta and Omicron variants. We developed a high-throughput approach to obtain immunoglobulin sequences and produce monoclonal antibodies for functional assessment from single B cells. Infection with any variant elicited similar cross-binding antibody responses exhibiting a remarkably conserved hierarchy of epitope immunodominance. Furthermore, convergent V gene usage and similar public B cell clones were elicited regardless of infecting variant. These convergent responses despite antigenic variation may represent a general immunological principle that accounts for the continued efficacy of vaccines based on a single ancestral variant.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Primary exposure to SARS-CoV-2 variants elicits convergent epitope specificities, immunoglobulin V gene usage and public B cell clones
• Increasing SARS-CoV2 cases, hospitalizations and deaths among the vaccinated elderly populations during the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant surge in UK. -

  BACKGROUND There were increased SARS-CoV2 hospitalizations and deaths noted during Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant surge in UK despite decreased cases, and the reasons are unclear. METHODS In this observational study, we analyzed reported SARS-CoV2 cases, hospitalizations and deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. We also analyzed variables that can affect the outcomes. The vaccine effectiveness among those ≥18 years of age (August 16, 2021 to March 27, 2022) was analyzed. RESULTS Of the total cases (n= 22,072,550), hospitalizations (n=848,911) and deaths (n=175,070) due to COVID-19 in UK; 51.3% of cases (n=11,315,793), 28.8% of hospitalizations (n=244,708) and 16.4% of deaths (n=28,659) occurred during Omicron variant surge. When comparing the period of February 28-May 1, 2022 with the prior 12-weeks, we observed a significant increase in the case fatality rate (0.19% vs 0.41%; RR 2.11[ 2.06-2.16], p<0.001) and odds of hospitalization (1.58% vs 3.72%; RR 2.36[2.34-2.38]; p<0.001). During the same period a significant increase in cases (23.7% vs 40.3%; RR1.70 [1.70-1.71]; p<0.001) among ≥50 years of age and hospitalizations (39.3% vs 50.3%;RR1.28 [1.27-1.30]; p<0.001) and deaths (67.89% vs 80.07%;RR1.18 [1.16-1.20]; p<0.001) among ≥75 years of age was observed. The vaccine effectiveness (VE) for the third dose was in negative since December 20, 2021, with a significantly increased proportion of SARS-CoV2 cases hospitalizations and deaths among the vaccinated; and a decreased proportion of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths among the unvaccinated. The pre-existing conditions were present in 95.6% of all COVID-19 deaths, various ethnic, deprivation score and vaccination rate disparities noted that can adversely affect hospitalization and deaths among compared groups. CONCLUSIONS There is no discernable vaccine effectiveness among ≥18 years of age, vaccinated third dose population since the beginning of the Omicron variant surge. Pre-existing conditions, ethnicity, deprivation score, and vaccination rate disparities data need to be adjusted for evaluating VE for hospitalizations and deaths. The increased cases with significantly increased hospitalizations and deaths among the elderly population during the Omicron variant surge underscores the need to prevent infections in the elderly irrespective of vaccination status with uniform screening protocols and protective measures.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Increasing SARS-CoV2 cases, hospitalizations and deaths among the vaccinated elderly populations during the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant surge in UK.
• How many relevant SARS-CoV-2 variants might we expect in the future? -

  Objectives. The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants is a major challenge in the management of Covid-19 pandemic. A crucial issue is to quantify the number of variants which may represent a potential risk for public health in the future. Methods. We fitted the data on the most relevant SARS-CoV-2 variants recorded by the World Health Organization (WHO). The function exploited for the fit is related to the total number of infected subjects in the world since the start of the epidemic. Results. We found that the number of new relevant variants per ten million cases diminished by 30.4% between March 2020 and March 2022 (from 1.25 to 0.87). However, the decrease is now very slow and a further reduction by 10% would happen only for 5.6 billion infections in the world, i.e. ten times the cases from the beginning of the epidemic up to June 2022. Conclusions. Our simple mathematical model can provide an estimate of the number of relevant SARS-CoV-2 variants as the cumulative number of cases increases worldwide and may represent a useful tool in planning strategies to effectively contrast the pandemic.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: How many relevant SARS-CoV-2 variants might we expect in the future?
• IMPACT OF USING SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION IN THE COMMUNITY OF THE COVID-19 VACCINATION IN THE DISTRICT OF ULUJAMI-PEMALANG -
  As social beings, humans who live in society from opening their eyes to closing their eyes again, of course, cannot be separated from communication. This is a form of the character that he is a social being who cannot be separated from communicating with each other. Small group communication is communication that takes place face-to-face, meaning that the communicant and communicator are in the same situation, namely facing each other and seeing each other. Vaccines are antigens given to healthy people to produce specific antibodies against microorganisms so that when exposed to them they are immune and do not cause disease. Vaccination is the process of introducing vaccines by injecting them into the body which aims to stimulate the body’s immune system so that it is immune to infectious diseases. People are reluctant to vaccinate for COVID-19 because they are afraid of the side effects of vaccination and doubt the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine, due to a large number of hoax news about vaccines that are spread in various media. Therefore, the purpose of writing this article is to make people interested in the covid-19 vaccination so that it can reduce the number of deaths caused by the coronavirus. The research method used is qualitative. Meanwhile, the type of research used is structured and semi-structured interviews as well as observation. From the results of interviews with informants, it can be concluded that the public’s unwillingness was triggered by the circulation of hoax news in various communities.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: IMPACT OF USING SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION IN THE COMMUNITY OF THE COVID-19 VACCINATION IN THE DISTRICT OF ULUJAMI-PEMALANG

From Clinical Trials

• Immuno-bridging Study of COVID-19 Protein Subunit Recombinant Vaccine - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: COVID-19 Protein Subunit Recombinant Vaccine;   Biological: Active Comparator
  Sponsors:   PT Bio Farma;   Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia;   Faculty of Medicine Universitas Diponegoro;   Faculty of Medicine Universitas Andalas;   Faculty of Medicine Universitas Hassanudin
  Recruiting

• A Study to Learn About the Study Medicines (Called Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir) in People 12 Years Old or Older With COVID-19 Who Are Immunocompromised - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: Nirmatrelvir;   Drug: Ritonavir;   Drug: Placebo for nirmatrelvir;   Drug: Placebo for ritonavir
  Sponsor:   Pfizer
  Not yet recruiting

• A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Digital, Self-testing Strategy for COVID-19 Infection in South Africa. - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Device: Abbott Panbio rapid antigen self-tests;   Other: COVIDSmart CARE! app
  Sponsors:   McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre;   University of Cape Town Lung Institute
  Not yet recruiting

• Discussing COVID-19 Vaccines in Private Facebook Groups - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Behavioral: Gist messages on COVID-19 vaccination;   Behavioral: COVID-19 vaccine information
  Sponsor:   George Washington University
  Completed

• Immunogenicity and Safety Study of One Booster Dose of Trivalent COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: Trivalent COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated, Prototype Strain, Delta Strain and Omicron Strain;   Biological: COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated
  Sponsors:   Sinovac Biotech (Colombia) S.A.S.;   Sinovac Life Sciences Co., Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• Home-Based Exercise Tele-Rehabilitation After COVID-19 - Condition:   Post SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19)
  Intervention:   Other: Tele-exercise
  Sponsors:   VA Office of Research and Development;   Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center;   Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center
  Not yet recruiting

• IMM-BCP-01 in Mild to Moderate COVID-19 - Conditions:   SARS-CoV2 Infection;   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: IMM-BCP-01;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsors:   Immunome, Inc.;   United States Department of Defense
  Recruiting

• A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Variant (COVID-19 Omicron) mRNA Vaccine (Phase 1) - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Biological: ABO1009-DP
  Sponsor:   Suzhou Abogen Biosciences Co., Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• A Study to Evaluate Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Variant (COVID-19) mRNA Vaccines - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: ABO1009-DP;   Biological: ABO-CoV.617.2;   Other: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Suzhou Abogen Biosciences Co., Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for the Treatment of Patients With COVID-19. - Conditions:   COVID-19 Pneumonia;   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: Mesenchymal stem cell;   Other: Placebo
  Sponsors:   Paulo Brofman;   Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
  Recruiting

• A Study to Evaluate Immunogenicity and Safety of MVC-COV1901 Vaccine Compared With AZD1222 - Condition:   COVID-19 Vaccine
  Interventions:   Biological: MVC-COV1901;   Biological: AZD1222
  Sponsor:   Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp.
  Not yet recruiting

• Laser Therapy on Tension-type Cephalea and Orofacial Pain in Post-covid-19 Patients - Conditions:   Tension-Type Headache;   Orofacial Pain;   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Radiation: Photobimodulation
  Sponsor:   University of Nove de Julho
  Recruiting

• Study of Self-Amplifying Messenger Ribonucleic Acid (samRNA) Vaccines Against COVID-19 in Healthy Adults and People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) - Conditions:   COVID-19;   SARS-CoV-2
  Interventions:   Drug: GRT-R912, samRNA-Spikebeta-TCE11;   Drug: GRT-R914, samRNA-Spikebeta-TCE9;   Drug: GRT-R918, samRNA-SpikeOmicron-N-TCE11
  Sponsor:   Gritstone bio, Inc.
  Recruiting

• A Phase 1b Study of a Q-Griffithsin Intranasal Spray for Broad-spectrum Coronavirus Prophylaxis - Condition:   COVID-19 Prevention
  Interventions:   Drug: Q-Griffithsin 3.0;   Drug: Q-Griffithsin 6.0
  Sponsors:   Kenneth Palmer;   United States Department of Defense
  Recruiting

• Real World Evaluation of the Effectiveness of AZD7442 for Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 - Condition:   SARS-CoV-2 Infection
  Intervention:   Drug: Evusheld (tixagevimab+cilgavimab) IM or IV
  Sponsor:   MediMergent, LLC
  Recruiting

From PubMed

• Therapeutic role of traditionally used Indian medicinal plants and spices in combating COVID-19 pandemic situation - The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 is a big challenge and burning issue to the scientific community and doctors worldwide. Globally, COVID-19 has created a health disaster and adversely affects the economic growth. Although some vaccines have already emerged, no therapeutic medication has yet been approved by FDA for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Traditionally, we have been using different medicinal plants like neem, tulsi, tea, and many spices like garlic, ginger,…

• Structure basis for inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 by the feline drug GC376 - No abstract

• Artemisinin inhibits neutrophil and macrophage chemotaxis, cytokine production and NET release - Immune cell chemotaxis to the sites of pathogen invasion is critical for fighting infection, but in life-threatening conditions such as sepsis and Covid-19, excess activation of the innate immune system is thought to cause a damaging invasion of immune cells into tissues and a consequent excessive release of cytokines, chemokines and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). In these circumstances, tempering excessive activation of the innate immune system may, paradoxically, promote recovery. Here…

• Effect of a 2-week interruption in methotrexate treatment versus continued treatment on COVID-19 booster vaccine immunity in adults with inflammatory conditions (VROOM study): a randomised, open label, superiority trial - BACKGROUND: Immunosuppressive treatments inhibit vaccine-induced immunity against SARS-CoV-2. We evaluated whether a 2-week interruption of methotrexate treatment immediately after the COVID-19 vaccine booster improved antibody responses against the S1 receptor-binding domain (S1-RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein compared with uninterrupted treatment in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

• The adverse inflammatory response of tobacco smoking in COVID-19 patients: biomarkers from proteomics and metabolomics - Whether tobacco smoking affects the occurrence and development of COVID-19 is still a controversial issue, and potential biomarkers to predict the adverse outcomes of smoking in the progression of COVID-19 patients have not yet been elucidated. To further uncover their linkage and explore the effective biomarkers, three proteomics and metabolomics databases (i.e. smoking status, COVID-19 status, and basic information of population) from human serum proteomic and metabolomic levels were…

• The many facets of CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase 4 and its inhibitors in disorders of the CNS - a critical overview - Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 is a serine protease that cleaves X-proline or X-alanine in the penultimate position. Natural substrates of the enzyme are glucagon-like peptide-1, glucagon inhibiting peptide, glucagon, neuropeptide Y, secretin, substance P, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide, endorphins, endomorphins, brain natriuretic peptide, beta-melanocyte stimulating hormone and amyloid peptides as well as some cytokines and chemokines. The enzyme is involved in the maintenance of…

• Identification of repurposing therapeutics toward SARS-CoV-2 main protease by virtual screening - SARS-CoV-2 causes the current global pandemic coronavirus disease 2019. Widely-available effective drugs could be a critical factor in halting the pandemic. The main protease (3CLpro) plays a vital role in viral replication; therefore, it is of great interest to find inhibitors for this enzyme. We applied the combination of virtual screening based on molecular docking derived from the crystal structure of the peptidomimetic inhibitors (N3, 13b, and 11a), and experimental verification revealed…

• Spatially Patterned Neutralizing Icosahedral DNA Nanocage for Efficient SARS-CoV-2 Blocking - Broad-spectrum anti-SARS-CoV-2 strategies that can inhibit the infection of wild-type and mutant strains would alleviate their threats to global public health. Here, we propose an icosahedral DNA framework for the assembly of up to 30 spatially arranged neutralizing aptamers (IDNA-30) to inhibit viral infection. Each triangular plane of IDNA-30 is composed of three precisely positioned aptamers topologically matching the SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer, thus forming a multivalent spatially patterned…

• An Overview on Immunity Booster Foods in Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) - The present COVID-19 pandemic is highly terrible for the respiratory system and is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It has affected millions of people globally and over 511.9 million cases and 6.2 million deaths have been reported across the world. Various drugs have been repurposed, however, no specific medicine has been approved by the FDA to combat this disease till date. In this condition, researchers have attracted to natural and safe products to…

• C910 chemical compound inhibits the traffiking of several bacterial AB toxins with cross-protection against influenza virus - The development of anti-infectives against a large range of AB-like toxin-producing bacteria includes the identification of compounds disrupting toxin transport through both the endolysosomal and retrograde pathways. Here, we performed a high-throughput screening of compounds blocking Rac1 proteasomal degradation triggered by the Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor-1 (CNF1) toxin, which was followed by orthogonal screens against two toxins that hijack the endolysosomal (diphtheria toxin) or retrograde…

• Epidemiological and virological surveillance of influenza viruses in China during 2020-2021 - CONCLUSIONS: Influenza activity increased in the mainland of China in 2021, and caused flu season in the winter of 2021-2022. Although the diversity of influenza (sub)type decreases, B/Victoria lineage viruses show increased genetic and antigenic diversity. The world needs to be fully prepared for the co-epidemic of influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus globally.

• A trifunctional peptide broadly inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants in hamsters - The emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants has led to the waves of the resurgence of COVID-19 cases. Effective antivirals against variants are required. Here we demonstrate that a human-derived peptide 4H30 has broad antiviral activity against the ancestral virus and four Variants of Concern (VOCs) in vitro. Mechanistically, 4H30 can inhibit three distinct steps of the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle. Specifically, 4H30 blocks viral entry by clustering SARS-CoV-2 virions; prevents membrane…

• The Zinc Proteome of SARS-CoV-2 - Zinc is an essential element for human health. Among its many functions, zinc(II) modulates the immune response to infections and, at high concentrations or in the presence of ionophores, inhibits the replication of various RNA viruses. Structural biology studies on SARS-CoV-2 revealed that zinc(II) is the most common metal ion that binds to viral proteins. However, the number of zinc(II)-binding sites identified by experimental methods is far from exhaustive, as metal ions may be lost during…

• Sec61 Inhibitor Apratoxin S4 Potently Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 and Exhibits Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Activity - There is a pressing need for host-directed therapeutics that elicit broad-spectrum antiviral activities to potentially address current and future viral pandemics. Apratoxin S4 (Apra S4) is a potent Sec61 inhibitor that prevents cotranslational translocation of secretory proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), leading to anticancer and antiangiogenic activity both in vitro and in vivo. Since Sec61 has been shown to be an essential host factor for viral proteostasis, we tested Apra S4 in…

• Electrospun nanofibrous membrane with antibacterial and antiviral properties decorated with Myoporum bontioides extract and silver-doped carbon nitride nanoparticles for medical masks application - Public health safety issues have been plaguing the world since the pandemic outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, most personal protective equipments (PPE) do not have antibacterial and anti- toxicity effects. In this work, we designed and prepared a reusable, antibacterial and anti-toxicity Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based nanofibrous membrane cooperated with Ag/g-C(3)N(4) (Ag-CN), Myoporum.bontioides (M.bontioides) plant extracts and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) by an…

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