Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

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

From Preprints

• Assessing Self-Other Distinctions Through Decision-making Under Risk in The Era of Covid-19 -
  The current Covid-19 pandemic has demanded a degree of sacrifice from individuals for the sake of the greater good. Individuals have taken costly actions, both volitional and imposed, to reduce harm to strangers. The pandemic oers a unique opportunity to examine a fundamental question: where does the distinction between self and other lie? This question can be framed as a moral dilemma between competing motives of self-serving and pro-social behavior. Given the multifaceted uncer- tainty surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, we propose to assess self-other distinction using models of decision-making under risk. We administered two surveys, where participants selected between sure and risky treatments for fictitious diseases, for themselves, a loved one and a stranger. Choice of treatment option showed risk-seeking tendencies that decreased with expected disease severity, across all targets, suggesting risk preferences for the other parallel those for the self. However, distinctions across targets emerged when decisions were conditioned on treatment cost, with sure treatments cho- sen more often for self and a close other; and sure treatment assigned a higher price for diseases with low expected severity, for self and other. These findings inform on what constitutes a measure of self-other distinction; and the limits of what can be asked of an individual in service to a stranger.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Assessing Self-Other Distinctions Through Decision-making Under Risk in The Era of Covid-19
• Are COVID-19 conspiracies a threat to public health? Psychological characteristics and health protective behaviours of believers -
  The fast-changing COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to many conspiracy theories, and these have the potential to undermine public health measures and safeguarding behaviours. We conducted three studies before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom (UK) (n = 302, 404 and 399) to (i) identify the prevalence of COVID-19 conspiracy theories in the UK, (ii) map their socio-psychological predictors, and (iii) investigate their association with health safeguarding behaviours. We found COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs were prevalent (25% of participants endorsed at least one) and predicted by beliefs in unrelated conspiracies, a conspiracy mind-set, distrust in governmental authorities, education, and cognitive reflection. Unexpectedly, COVID-19 conspiracy believers adhered to basic health guidelines both before and after the lockdown as strictly as non-believers (e.g., washing hands, social distancing) and adopted more advanced health protective behaviours not (yet) officially recommended in the UK (e.g., wearing a mask, washing groceries with soap). Conspiracy believers were also more reluctant to install the contact-tracing app, get tested for and vaccinated against COVID-19 because of the perceived risks associated with these procedures. We discuss psychological characteristics that explain the relationship between conspiracy beliefs and people’s behaviours and intentions, and suggest practical recommendations for public health initiatives.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Are COVID-19 conspiracies a threat to public health? Psychological characteristics and health protective behaviours of believers
• Sibling Conflict during COVID-19 in Families with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities -
  Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SENDs) and their families have been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this longitudinal study, sibling conflict in these families during and after the first lockdown in the United Kingdom was investigated. Online questionnaires were completed by 504 parents of young people with SENDs at four time points between 23rd March 2020 and 22nd October 2020 (over half completed the questionnaire at multiple time points). Young people with SENDs were more likely to be picked on or hurt by their siblings as lockdown progressed but there was no change in the rate at which they harmed or picked on their siblings. After lockdown, both perpetration and victimisation decreased. Young people with SENDs with the most severe needs were somewhat protected from sibling conflict. Findings are discussed with reference to implications for support and planning for future pandemics.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Sibling Conflict during COVID-19 in Families with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
• Socioeconomic Impacts of the COVID-19 Lockdown on the Mental Health and Life Satisfaction of the Japanese Population -
  Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a global challenge ever since its emergence, with reports suggesting negative effects of the pandemic on the mental health and well-being of people worldwide. Thus, in this study, we investigated the associations among the socioeconomic changes driven by the pandemic, mental health, life satisfaction (past, present, and future), and fear of COVID-19 in Japan. In total, 560 Japanese individuals took an online survey that included questions on their self-restraint and changing incomes and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale; Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale; and present, past, and future life satisfaction scale. Two structural equation models were constructed, revealing that fear of COVID-19 brought about reduced times outdoors, reduced incomes, negative symptoms, and negative present, future, and past life satisfaction.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Socioeconomic Impacts of the COVID-19 Lockdown on the Mental Health and Life Satisfaction of the Japanese Population
• Optimal COVID-19 quarantine and testing strategies -

  As economic woes of the COVID-19 pandemic deepen, strategies are being formulated to avoid the need for prolonged stay-at-home orders, while implementing risk-based quarantine, testing, contact tracing and surveillance protocols. Given limited resources and the significant economic, public health, and operational challenges of the current 14-day quarantine recommendation, it is vital to understand if shorter but equally effective quarantine and testing strategies can be deployed. To quantify the probability of post-quarantine transmission upon isolation of a positive test, we developed a mathematical model in which we varied quarantine duration and the timing of molecular tests for three scenarios of entry into quarantine. Specifically, we consider travel quarantine, quarantine of traced contacts with an unknown time if infection, and quarantine of cases with a known time of exposure. With a one-day delay between test and result, we found that testing on exit (or entry and exit) can reduce the duration of a 14-day quarantine by 50%, while testing on entry shortened quarantine by at most one day. Testing on exit more effectively reduces post-quarantine transmission than testing upon entry. Furthermore, we identified the optimal testing date within quarantines of varying duration, finding that testing on exit was most effective for quarantines lasting up to seven days. As a real-world validation of these principles, we analyzed the results of 4,040 SARS CoV-2 RT-PCR tests administered to offshore oil rig employees. Among the 47 positives obtained with a testing on entry and exit strategy, 16 cases that previously tested negative at entry were identified, with no further cases detected among employees following quarantine exit. Moreover, this strategy successfully prevented an expected nine offshore transmission events stemming from cases who had tested negative on the entry test, each one a serious concern for initiating rapid spread and a disabling outbreak in the close quarters of an offshore rig. This successful outcome highlights that appropriately timed testing can make shorter quarantines more effective, thereby minimizing economic impacts, disruptions to operational integrity, and COVID-related public health risks.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Optimal COVID-19 quarantine and testing strategies
• Structural basis of the activation of the CC chemokine receptor 5 by a chemokine agonist -
  The human CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that plays a major role in inflammation and is involved in the pathology of cancer, HIV, and COVID-19. Despite its significance as a drug target, the activation mechanism of CCR5, i.e. how chemokine agonists transduce the activation signal through the receptor, is yet unknown. Here, we report the cryo-EM structure of wild-type CCR5 in an active conformation bound to the chemokine super-agonist [6P4]CCL5 and the heterotrimeric Gi protein. The structure provides the rationale for the sequence-activity relation of agonist and antagonist chemokines. The N-terminus of agonist chemokines pushes onto an aromatic connector that transmits activation to the canonical GPCR microswitch network. This activation mechanism differs significantly from other CC chemokine receptors that bind shorter chemokines in a shallow binding mode and have unique sequence signatures and a specialized activation mechanism.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Structural basis of the activation of the CC chemokine receptor 5 by a chemokine agonist
• Unheeded SARS-CoV-2 protein? Look deep into negative-sense RNA -
  SARS-CoV-2 is a novel ssRNA+ virus from the Coronaviridae family, which has caused the global COVID-19 pandemic. The genome of SARS-CoV-2 is one of the largest of RNA viruses, comprising of 26 known protein-coding loci. This study aimed to explore the coding potential of negative-strand RNA intermediate for its potential to contain additional protein coding-loci. Surprisingly, we have found several putative ORFs and one brandt new functional SARS-CoV-2 protein-coding loci and called it Avo1 (Ambient viral ORF1). This sequence is located on negative-sense RNA intermediate and bona fide coding for 81 amino acid residues long protein and contains strong Kozak sequence for translation on eukaryotic ribosomes. In silico translated protein Avo1 has a predominantly alpha-helical structure. The existence of Avo1 gene is supported also by its evolutionarily and structural conservation in RaTG13 bat coronavirus. The nucleotide sequence of Avo1 also contains a unique SREBP2 binding site which is closely related to the so-called cytokine storm in severe COVID-19 patients. Altogether, our results suggest the existence of still undescribed SARS-CoV-2 protein, which may play an important role in the viral lifecycle and COVID-19 pathogenesis.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Unheeded SARS-CoV-2 protein? Look deep into negative-sense RNA
• Highly functional virus-specific cellular immune response in asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection -
  The efficacy of virus-specific T cells in clearing pathogens involves a fine balance between their antiviral and inflammatory features. SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in individuals who clear SARS-CoV-2 infection without symptoms or disease could reveal non-pathological yet protective characteristics. We therefore compared the quantity and function of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in a cohort of asymptomatic individuals (n=85) with that of symptomatic COVID-19 patients (n=76), at different time points after antibody seroconversion. We quantified T cells reactive to structural proteins (M, NP and Spike) using ELISpot assays, and measured the magnitude of cytokine secretion (IL-2, IFN-{gamma}, IL-4, IL-6, IL-1{beta}, TNF- and IL-10) in whole blood following T cell activation with SARS-CoV-2 peptide pools as a functional readout. Frequencies of T cells specific for the different SARS-CoV-2 proteins in the early phases of recovery were similar between asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. However, we detected an increased IFN-{gamma} and IL-2 production in asymptomatic compared to symptomatic individuals after activation of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in blood. This was associated with a proportional secretion of IL-10 and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF- and IL-1{beta}) only in asymptomatic infection, while a disproportionate secretion of inflammatory cytokines was triggered by SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell activation in symptomatic individuals. Thus, asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals are not characterized by a weak antiviral immunity; on the contrary, they mount a robust and highly functional virus-specific cellular immune response. Their ability to induce a proportionate production of IL-10 might help to reduce inflammatory events during viral clearance.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Highly functional virus-specific cellular immune response in asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection
• A Novel Cell Therapy for COVID-19 and Potential Future Pandemics: Virus Induced Lymphocytes (VIL) -
  The a priori T cell repertoire and immune response against SARS-CoV-2 viral antigens may explain the varying clinical course and prognosis of patients having a mild COVID-19 infection as opposed to those developing more fulminant multisystem organ failure and associated mortality. Using a novel SARS-Cov-2-specific artificial antigen presenting cell (aAPC), coupled with a rapid expansion protocol (REP) as practiced in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) therapy, we generate an immune catalytic quantity of Virus Induced Lymphocytes (VIL). Using T cell receptor (TCR)-specific aAPCs carrying co-stimulatory molecules and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-I immunodominant SARS-CoV-2 peptide-pentamer complexes, we expand virus-specific VIL derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of convalescent COVID-19 patients up to 1,000-fold. This is achieved in a clinically relevant 7-day vein-to-vein time-course as a potential adoptive cell therapy (ACT) for COVID-19. We also evaluate this approach for other viral pathogens using Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific VIL from donors as a control. Rapidly expanded VIL are enriched in virus antigen-specificity and show an activated, polyfunctional cytokine profile and T effector memory phenotype which may contribute to a robust immune response. Virus-specific T cells can also be delivered allogeneically via MHC-typing and patient human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matching to provide pragmatic treatment in a large-scale therapeutic setting. These data suggest that VIL may represent a novel therapeutic option that warrants further clinical investigation in the armamentarium against COVID-19 and other possible future pandemics.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: A Novel Cell Therapy for COVID-19 and Potential Future Pandemics: Virus Induced Lymphocytes (VIL)
• Comparative analysis of three point-of-care lateral flow immunoassays for detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in COVID-19 confirmed healthcare workers -

  Since the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Brazil has the third-highest number of confirmed cases and the second-highest number of recovered patients. SARS-CoV-2 detection by real-time RT-PCR is the gold standard in certified infrastructured laboratories. However, for large-scale testing, diagnostics should be fast, cost-effective, widely available, and deployed for the community, such as serological tests based on lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for IgM/IgG detection. We evaluated three different commercial point-of-care (POC) LFIAs for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG detection in capillary whole blood of 100 healthcare workers (HCW) previously tested by RT-PCR: 1) COVID-19 IgG/IgM BIO (Bioclin, Brazil), 2) Diagnostic kit for IgM/IgG Antibody to Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) (Livzon, China); and 3) SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Test (Wondfo, China). A total of 84 positives and 16 negatives HCW were tested. The data was also analyzed by the number of days after symptoms (DAS) in three groups: <30 (n=26), 30-59 (n=42), and >59 (n=16). Overall detection was 85.71%, 47.62%, and 44.05% for Bioclin, Livzon, and Wondfo, respectively, with a specificity of 100%, and 98.75% for Livzon on storage serum samples. Bioclin was more sensitive (p<0.01), regardless of the DAS. Thus, the Bioclin can be used as a POC test to monitor SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in HCW.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Comparative analysis of three point-of-care lateral flow immunoassays for detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in COVID-19 confirmed healthcare workers
• Emergence and spread of a SARS-CoV-2 variant through Europe in the summer of 2020 -

  Following its emergence in late 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has caused a global pandemic resulting in unprecedented efforts to reduce transmission and develop therapies and vaccines. Rapidly generated viral genome sequences have allowed the spread of the virus to be tracked via phylogenetic analysis. While the virus spread globally in early 2020 before borders closed, intercontinental travel has since been greatly reduced, allowing continent-specific variants to emerge. However, within Europe travel resumed in the summer of 2020, and the impact of this travel on the epidemic is not well understood. Here we report on a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant, 20A.EU1, that emerged in Spain in early summer, and subsequently spread to multiple locations in Europe, accounting for the majority of sequences by autumn. We find no evidence of increased transmissibility of this variant, but instead demonstrate how rising incidence in Spain, resumption of travel across Europe, and lack of effective screening and containment may explain the variant9s success. Despite travel restrictions and quarantine requirements, we estimate 20A.EU1 was introduced hundreds of times to countries across Europe by summertime travellers, likely undermining local efforts to keep SARS-CoV-2 cases low. Our results demonstrate how genomic surveillance is critical to understanding how travel can impact SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and thus for informing future containment strategies as travel resumes.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Emergence and spread of a SARS-CoV-2 variant through Europe in the summer of 2020
• Lack of protective effect of chloroquine derivatives on COVID-19 disease in a Spanish sample of chronically treated patients -

  Background: The search for a SARS-CoV-2 treatment has emerged as a worldwide priority. We evaluated the role of chloroquine and its derivatives in COVID-19 in Spanish individuals. Methods: We performed a survey addressed to patients regularly taking chloroquine and its derivatives for the control of their autoimmune diseases. The survey was distributed with special attention to Spanish patient associations centred on autoimmune diseases and rheumatology and to the general population. A sample of untreated subjects was matched to the treated group according to sex, age range and incidence region. COVID-19 disease prevalence was compared between treated and untreated-matched control sample. Results: A total of 319 surveys of patients regularly taking chloroquine and its derivatives were recovered for further analysis. The prevalence of declared COVID-19 status in the treated group was 5.3% and the mean prevalence among the untreated-matched groups was 3.4%. A community exposition to COVID-19 was associated with a greater prevalence of COVID-19 in both, treated (17.0% vs. 3.2%; p-value<0.001) and untreated groups (13.4% vs. 1.1%; p-value=0.027). Conclusion: We did not find differences of reported COVID-19 cases between treated and untreated groups, indicating a lack of protection by regular administration of chloroquine and its derivative drugs on COVID-19 infection. Of relevance, data indicates that patients that regularly take chloroquine derivatives are exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection and must take the same protection measures as the general population.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Lack of protective effect of chloroquine derivatives on COVID-19 disease in a Spanish sample of chronically treated patients
• Screening of FDA-approved drugs using a MERS-CoV clinical isolate from South Korea identifies potential therapeutic options for COVID-19 -
  In 2015, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) reached the Republic of Korea through nosocomial transmission and was the largest epidemic outside of the Arabian Peninsula. To date, despite various strategies to identify CoV interventions, only limited therapeutic options are available. To address these unmet medical needs, we used a South Korean MERS-CoV clinical isolate and screened 5,406 compounds, including United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs and bioactive molecules, for their activity against the isolate. The primary assay confirmed 221 hits by dose-response curve analysis and identified 54 hits with a therapeutic index (TI) greater than 6. Time-of-addition studies with 12 FDA-approved drugs demonstrated that 8 and 4 therapeutics act on the early and late stages of the viral life cycle, respectively. Among the drugs were e.g., three cardiotonic agents (ouabain, digitoxin, digoxin) with a TI greater than 100, an anti-malaria drug (atovaquone; TI >34), an inhalable corticosteroid (ciclesonide; TI >6), etc. Together, our results identify potential therapeutic options for treating MERS-CoV infections and could provide a basis for agents against a wider range of coronavirus-related illnesses, including the currently emerging Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Screening of FDA-approved drugs using a MERS-CoV clinical isolate from South Korea identifies potential therapeutic options for COVID-19
• Characteristics, outcomes, and mortality amongst 133,589 patients with prevalent autoimmune diseases diagnosed with, and 48,418 hospitalised for COVID-19: a multinational distributed network cohort analysis -

  Objective: Patients with autoimmune diseases were advised to shield to avoid COVID-19, but information on their prognosis is lacking. We characterised 30-day outcomes and mortality after hospitalisation with COVID-19 among patients with prevalent autoimmune diseases, and compared outcomes after hospital admissions among similar patients with seasonal influenza. Design: Multinational network cohort study Setting: Electronic health records data from Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) (NYC, United States [US]), Optum [US], Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) (US), Information System for Research in Primary Care-Hospitalisation Linked Data (SIDIAP-H) (Spain), and claims data from IQVIA Open Claims (US) and Health Insurance and Review Assessment (HIRA) (South Korea). Participants: All patients with prevalent autoimmune diseases, diagnosed and/or hospitalised between January and June 2020 with COVID-19, and similar patients hospitalised with influenza in 2017-2018 were included. Main outcome measures: 30-day complications during hospitalisation and death Results: We studied 133,589 patients diagnosed and 48,418 hospitalised with COVID-19 with prevalent autoimmune diseases. The majority of participants were female (60.5% to 65.9%) and aged ≥50 years. The most prevalent autoimmune conditions were psoriasis (3.5 to 32.5%), rheumatoid arthritis (3.9 to 18.9%), and vasculitis (3.3 to 17.6%). Amongst hospitalised patients, Type 1 diabetes was the most common autoimmune condition (4.8% to 7.5%) in US databases, rheumatoid arthritis in HIRA (18.9%), and psoriasis in SIDIAP-H (26.4%). Compared to 70,660 hospitalised with influenza, those admitted with COVID-19 had more respiratory complications including pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome, and higher 30-day mortality (2.2% to 4.3% versus 6.3% to 24.6%). Conclusions: Patients with autoimmune diseases had high rates of respiratory complications and 30-day mortality following a hospitalization with COVID-19. Compared to influenza, COVID-19 is a more severe disease, leading to more complications and higher mortality. Future studies should investigate predictors of poor outcomes in COVID-19 patients with autoimmune diseases.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Characteristics, outcomes, and mortality amongst 133,589 patients with prevalent autoimmune diseases diagnosed with, and 48,418 hospitalised for COVID-19: a multinational distributed network cohort analysis
• Ten considerations for conservation policy makers for the post-COVID-19 transition -
  Public health and safety concerns around the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have greatly changed human behaviour. Such shifts in behaviours including travel patterns, consumerism, and energy use, are variously impacting biodiversity during the human-dominated geological epoch known as the Anthropocene. Indeed, the dramatic reduction in human mobility and activity has been termed the “Anthropause”. COVID-19 has highlighted the current environmental and biodiversity crisis and has provided an opportunity to redefine our relationship with nature. Here we share 10 considerations for conservation policy makers to support and rethink the development of impactful and effective policies in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are opportunities to leverage societal changes as a result of COVID-19, focus on the need for collaboration and engagement, and address lessons learned through the development of policies (including those related to public health) during the pandemic. The pandemic has had devastating impacts on humanity that should not be understated, but it is also a warning that we need to redefine our relationship with nature and restore biodiversity. The considerations presented here will support the development of robust, evidence-based, and transformative policies for biodiversity conservation in a post-COVID-19 world.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Ten considerations for conservation policy makers for the post-COVID-19 transition

From Clinical Trials

• Ivermectin for Severe COVID-19 Management - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Drug: Ivermectin
  Sponsors:   Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University;   NeuTec Pharma
  Completed

• A Phase Ⅱ Clinical Trial of Recombinant Corona Virus Disease-19 (COVID-19) Vaccine (Sf9 Cells) - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: Low-dose Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) (18-59 years) & Two dose regimen;   Biological: Low-dose Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) (18-59 years) & Three dose regimen;   Biological: High-dose Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) (18-59 years) & Two dose regimen;   Biological: High-dose Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) (18-59 years) & Three dose regimen;   Biological: Low-dose Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) (60-85 years) & Two dose regimen;   Biological: Low-dose Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) (60-85 years) & Three dose regimen;   Biological: High-dose Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) (60-85 years) & Two dose regimen;   Biological: High-dose Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) (60-85 years) & Three dose regimen;   Biological: Low-dose placebo (18-59 years) & Two dose regimen;   Biological: Low-dose placebo (18-59 years) & Three dose regimen;   Biological: High-dose placebo (18-59 years) & Two dose regimen;   Biological: High-dose placebo (18-59 years) & Three dose regimen;   Biological: Low-dose placebo (60-85 years) & Two dose regimen;   Biological: Low-dose placebo (60-85 years) & Three dose regimen;   Biological: High-dose placebo (60-85 years) & Two dose regimen;   Biological: High-dose placebo (60-85 years) & Three dose regimen
  Sponsors:   Jiangsu Province Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;   West China Hospital
  Recruiting

• Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial 4 (ACTT-4) - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: Baricitinib;   Drug: Dexamethasone;   Other: Placebo;   Drug: Remdesivir
  Sponsor:   National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
  Recruiting

• Vitamin D and Zinc Supplementation for Improving Treatment Outcomes Among COVID-19 Patients in India - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Dietary Supplement: Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol);   Dietary Supplement: Zinc (zinc gluconate);   Dietary Supplement: Zinc (zinc gluconate) & Vitamin D (cholecalciferol);   Other: Placebo
  Sponsors:   Harvard School of Public Health;   Foundation for Medical Research;   University Health Network, Toronto
  Not yet recruiting

• A Study to Compare the Efficacy of GNS561 Versus Standard of Care in Patients With SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Infection - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Drug: GNS561
  Sponsor:   Genoscience Pharma
  Recruiting

• A Study of Immune System Proteins in Participants With Mild to Moderate COVID-19 Illness - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: LY3819253;   Drug: LY3832479;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsors:   Eli Lilly and Company;   AbCellera Biologics Inc.;   Shanghai Junshi Bioscience Co., Ltd.
  Recruiting

• A Synthetic MVA-based SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine, COH04S1, for the Prevention of COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: Placebo Administration;   Biological: Vaccine Therapy
  Sponsors:   City of Hope Medical Center;   National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  Recruiting

• Early Versus Delayed Intubation of Patients With COVID-19 - Conditions:   COVID-19;   Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure
  Intervention:   Other: Endotracheal intubation
  Sponsor:   Evangelismos Hospital
  Not yet recruiting

• Phase I Trial of a Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (CHO Cell) - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: Two doses of middle-dose recombinant SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CHO Cell) at the schedule of day 0, 14;   Biological: Three doses of middle-dose recombinant SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CHO Cell) at the schedule of day 0, 14, 28;   Biological: Two doses of high-dose recombinant SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CHO Cell) at the schedule of day 0, 14;   Biological: Three doses of high-dose recombinant SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CHO Cell) at the schedule of day 0, 14, 28;   Biological: Two doses of placebo at the schedule of day 0, 14 #middle-dose group#;   Biological: Three doses of placebo at the schedule of day 0, 14, 28 #middle-dose group#;   Biological: Two doses of placebo at the schedule of day 0, 14 #High-dose group#;   Biological: Three doses of placebo at the schedule of day 0, 14, 28 #High-dose group#
  Sponsors:   Jiangsu Province Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;   Academy of Military Medical Sciences，Academy of Military Sciences，PLA;   ZHONGYIANKE Biotech Co, Ltd.;   LIAONINGMAOKANGYUAN Biotech Co, Ltd
  Recruiting

• Convalescent Plasma Transfusion in Severe COVID-19 Patients in Jamaica - Condition:   COVID-19, Convalescent Plasma Treatment
  Intervention:   Biological: Convalescent Plasma Infusion
  Sponsor:   The University of The West Indies
  Not yet recruiting

• Losartan and Spironolactone Treatment for ICU Patients With COVID-19 Suffering From ARDS - Conditions:   COVID-19;   ARDS
  Intervention:   Drug: Losartan 50 mg and Spironolactone 25 mg pillules oral use
  Sponsor:   Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Marseille
  Recruiting

• Study to Assess Adverse Events and How Intravenous (IV) ABBV-47D11 Moves Through the Body of Adult Participants Hospitalized With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Condition:   CoronaVirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19)
  Interventions:   Drug: ABBV-47D11;   Drug: Placebo for ABBV-47D11
  Sponsor:   AbbVie
  Not yet recruiting

• BCG Vaccination to Prevent COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: Tice® BCG (for intravesical use) BCG LIVE strain of the BCG (Merck) vaccine;   Drug: Preservative-free saline
  Sponsors:   Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine;   Harvard Medical School;   Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences;   United States Department of Defense;   Defense Health Agency
  Not yet recruiting

• Application of Convalescent Plasma in the Treatment of SARS CoV-2 Disease (COVID-19) With Evaluation of Therapy Effectiveness - Condition:   COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Treatment
  Intervention:   Biological: COVID-19 convalescent plasma treatment
  Sponsors:   Wroclaw Medical University;   Medical Research Agency
  Not yet recruiting

• Fase I Clinical Trial on NK Cells for COVID-19 - Conditions:   Covid19;   Sars-cov 2
  Intervention:   Biological: Natural Killer Cells infusion
  Sponsor:   Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre
  Not yet recruiting

From PubMed

• MEK inhibitors reduce cellular expression of ACE2, pERK, pRb while stimulating NK-mediated cytotoxicity and attenuating inflammatory cytokines relevant to SARS-CoV-2 infection - COVID-19 affects vulnerable populations including elderly individuals and patients with cancer. Natural Killer (NK) cells and innate-immune TRAIL suppress transformed and virally-infected cells. ACE2, and TMPRSS2 protease promote SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, while inflammatory cytokines IL-6, or G-CSF worsen COVID-19 severity. We show MEK inhibitors (MEKi) VS-6766, trametinib and selumetinib reduce ACE2 expression in human cells. In some human cells, remdesivir increases ACE2-promoter…

• N-Glycan Modification in Covid-19 Pathophysiology: In vitro Structural Changes with Limited Functional Effects - In 2014, we reported two siblings with a rare congenital disorder of glycosylation due to mutations in mannosyl-oligosaccharide glucosidase (MOGS). The glycan alteration derived from this disease resulted in an in vitro infection resistance to particular enveloped, N-glycosylation-dependent viruses as influenza and HIV. As part of the global effort to find safe and effective antiviral therapies for Covid-19, we assessed the in vitro activity of the FDA-approved α-glucosidase inhibitor miglustat…

• JAK-STAT pathway inhibition and their implications in COVID-19 therapy - As the incidence of COVID-19 increases with time, more and more efforts are made to pave a way out for the therapeutic strategies to deal with the disease progression. Inflammation being a significant influencer has implicated us to re-look into its signaling cascades drawing attention towards the JAK/STAT pathway. Considered as a major signaling mediator of cytokines and chemokines, the JAK/STAT pathway has significantly contributed to the worsening of COVID-19. JAK phosphorylation mediated by…

• A Case-Control Study of the 2019 Influenza Vaccine and Incidence of COVID-19 Among Healthcare Workers - CONCLUSIONS: Significant findings suggest that the 2019 influenza vaccine may have a protective association against COVID-19 among HCW.

• HDL-scavenger receptor B type 1 facilitates SARS-CoV-2 entry - Responsible for the ongoing coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects host cells through binding of the viral spike protein (SARS-2-S) to the cell-surface receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Here we show that the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) scavenger receptor B type 1 (SR-B1) facilitates ACE2-dependent entry of SARS-CoV-2. We find that the S1 subunit of SARS-2-S binds to cholesterol and possibly to HDL…

• Analysis of the efficacy of HIV protease inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2’s main protease - CONCLUSION: Targeting of SARS-CoV-2 M^(pro) by some of the HIV PIs might be of limited clinical potential, given the high concentration of the drugs required to achieve significant inhibition. Therefore, given their weak inhibition of the viral protease, any potential beneficial effect of the PIs in COVID-19 context might perhaps be attributed to acting on other molecular target(s), rather than SARS-CoV-2 M^(pro).

• Can Host Cell Proteins Like ACE2, ADAM17, TMPRSS2, Androgen Receptor be the Efficient Targets in SARS-CoV-2 Infection? - A novel betacoronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which caused a large disease outbreak in Wuhan, China in December 2019, is currently spreading across world’s many of the countries. Along with binding of the virus spike with the host cell receptor, fusion of the viral envelope with host cell membranes is a critical step in establishing successful infection of SARS-CoV-2. In this entry process, a diversity of host cell proteases and andro-gen receptor play a…

• A novel COVID-19 epidemiological model with explicit susceptible and asymptomatic isolation compartments reveals unexpected consequences of timing social distancing - Motivated by the current COVID-19 epidemic, this work introduces an epidemiological model in which separate compartments are used for susceptible and asymptomatic “socially distant” populations. Distancing directives are represented by rates of flow into these compartments, as well as by a reduction in contacts that lessens disease transmission. The dynamical behavior of this system is analyzed, under various different rate control strategies, and the sensitivity of the basic reproduction number…

• Translation of Mycobacterium Survival Strategy to Develop a Lipo-peptide based Fusion Inhibitor - The entry of enveloped viruses requires the fusion of viral and host cell membranes. An effective fusion inhibitor aiming at impeding such membrane fusion may emerge as a broad-spectrum antiviral agent against a wide range of viral infections. Mycobacterium survives inside the phagosome by inhibiting phagosome-lysosome fusion with the help of a coat protein coronin 1. Structural analysis of coronin 1 and other WD40-repeat protein suggest that the trp-asp (WD) sequence is placed at distorted…

• Repurposing Anti-Cancer Drugs for COVID-19 Treatment - The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused catastrophic damage to human life across the globe along with social and financial hardships. According to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, more than 41.3 million people worldwide have been infected, and more than 1,133,000 people have died as of October 22, 2020. At present, there is no available vaccine and a scarcity of efficacious therapies. However, there is tremendous ongoing effort towards…

• Gammacoronavirus Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus and Alphacoronavirus Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Exploit a Cell-Survival Strategy via Upregulation of cFOS to Promote Viral Replication - Coronaviruses have evolved a variety of strategies to optimize cellular microenvironment for efficient replication. In this study, we report the induction of AP-1 transcription factors by coronavirus infection based on genome-wide analyses of differentially expressed genes in cells infected with avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). Most members of the AP-1 transcription factors were subsequently found to be upregulated during the course of IBV and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus…

• Hypothesis: Alpha-1-antitrypsin is a promising treatment option for COVID-19 - No definitive treatment for COVID-19 exists although promising results have been reported with remdesivir and glucocorticoids. Short of a truly effective preventive or curative vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, it is becoming increasingly clear that multiple pathophysiologic processes seen with COVID-19 as well as SARS-CoV-2 itself should be targeted. Because alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) embraces a panoply of biologic activities that may antagonize several pathophysiologic mechanisms induced by…

• Development of a nano-luciferase based assay to measure the binding of SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain to ACE-2 - To identify drugs that could potentially be used to treat infection with SARS-CoV-2, a high throughput 384-well assay was developed to measure the binding of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the viral S1 protein to its main receptor, angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The RBD was fused to both a HiBIT tag and an IL6 secretion signal to enable facile collection from the cell culture media. The addition of culture media containing this protein, termed HiBIT-RBD, to cells expressing ACE2…

• Decline in SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies After Mild Infection Among Frontline Health Care Personnel in a Multistate Hospital Network - 12 States, April-August 2020 - Most persons infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), develop virus-specific antibodies within several weeks, but antibody titers might decline over time. Understanding the timeline of antibody decline is important for interpreting SARS-CoV-2 serology results. Serum specimens were collected from a convenience sample of frontline health care personnel at 13 hospitals and tested for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 during April 3-June 19, 2020, and again…

• Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination Policy and Consumption of Ammonium Chloride-Enriched Confectioneries May Be Factors Reducing COVID-19 Death Rates in Europe - CONCLUSIONS: The results seem to confirm an association between BCG-positive vaccination policy and salmiak consumption, and lower death rates from COVID-19. Implementing BCG vaccination policy and fortification of foods with salmiak (NH4Cl) may have a significant impact on the control of SARS-CoV epidemic.

From Patent Search

• AN EFFICIENT METHODOLOGY TO MANAGE THE ADMISSIONS IN HOSPITALS DURING THE PANDEMICS SUCH AS COVID 19 -

• SARS-CoV-2 예방을 위한 mRNA기반 항원보강제 혼합물 합성 방법 - 본 발명은 SARS-CoV-2(코로나 바이러스) 예방을 위한 mRNA 항원보강제에 관한 것으로 코로나 바이러스에 대한 백신으로서 상기의 항원에 대한 예방을 목적으로 하고 있다. 아이디어에는 보강제에 해당하는 완전프로인트항원보강제(CFA)와 불완전프로인트항원보강제(IFA), 번역과 안정성의 최적화가 된 mRNA, mRNA 운반체, 양이온성 지질 나노입자(lipid nanoparticles)로 구성되며 기존의 백신에 비해 효율성과 안정성의 측면에서 더 향상된 효과를 가지고 있다.

• Vorrichtung zum Reinigen und/oder Desinfizieren von Objekten -

  Vorrichtung (1) zum Desinfizieren von Objekten mit einer Basiseinheit (2), mit einem Aufnahmebehälter (4) für Wasser, welcher an der Basiseinheit (2) montierbar und von der Basiseinheit demontierbar ist, mit einer Objekthalterung (6) zum Halten und/oder Stützen der Objekte (10), wobei diese Objekthalterung (6) in dem Aufnahmebehälter montierbar ist und mit einer elektrisch betriebenen Reinigungseinrichtung (8), welche in dem Wasser befindliche Objekte zumindest mittelbar reinigt oder desinfiziert, wobei diese Reinigungseinrichtung in der Basiseinheit befindliche Erzeugungsmittel zum Erzeugen einer elektrischen Spannung aufweist sowie einen Plasmagenerator und/oder eine Ultraschallerzeugungseinheit.

• Methods for treating Arenaviridae and Coronaviridae virus infections - Provided are methods for treating Arenaviridae and Coronaviridae virus infections by administering nucleosides and prodrugs thereof, of Formula I:

wherein the ’ position of the nucleoside sugar is substituted. The compounds, compositions, and methods provided are particularly useful for the treatment of Lassa virus and Junin virus infections.

• Atemschutz-Baukastensystem -

  Atemschutz-Baukastensystem, das aufweist:

• eine auf zumindest Mund und Nase einer Person aufsetzbare Maske (1), die einen Eingang (11) und einen Ausgang (12) aufweist, und
• mindestens einen Schlauch (3, 31, 32),
• wobei sämtliche Komponenten des Atemschutz-Baukastensystems modular ausgebildet und über Steckverbindungen oder Schraubverbindungen (115, 125, 155, 165, 175, 215, 315, 75, 915) miteinander verbindbar sind, um der Maske (1) Luft über deren Eingang (11) zuzuführen und/oder ausgeatmete Luft vom Ausgang (12) der Maske (1) wegzuführen.

• Vorrichtung zur Übergabe und Dekontamination von mit Krankheitserregern kontaminierten Gegenständen oder Erzeugnissen -

  Vorrichtung zur Übergabe von mit Krankheitserregern kontaminierten Gegenständen oder Erzeugnissen nach einer Dekontamination, umfassend eine Einrichtung zur Dekontamination der mit Krankheitserregern kontaminierten Gegenstände oder Erzeugnisse mit mindestens einer UV-Strahlungsquelle (24), eine Durchzugseinrichtung mit Ein- und/oder Ausgabebereichen für die kontaminierten bzw. dekontaminierten Gegenstände oder Erzeugnisse, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Durchzugseinrichtung im Eingang bzw. im Ausgang zum Ein- und/oder Ausgabebereich angeordnete sich paarweise gegenüberliegende Walzen (17) und Räder (4) umfasst, die zum Einzug bzw. zur Ausgabe der kontaminierten bzw. dekontaminierten Gegenstände oder Erzeugnisse vorgesehen sind, wobei die Walzen (17) und die Räder (4) durch im Ein- und/oder Ausgabebereich angeordnete Sensoren (23) und einer elektronische Kontrolleinheit (27) in Bewegung bringbar sind, wobei die Gegenstände oder Erzeugnisse in den Bereich der Einrichtung zur Dekontamination förderbar sind, der zwischen den paarweise angeordneten Walzen (17) und Rädern (4) vorgesehen ist, welcher sich gegenüberliegende Platten (25) aus Quarzglas oder einem UV-transparenten Polymermaterial, wie Graphen oder Kunstglas umfasst, über bzw. unter welchen die UV-Strahlungsquelle (24) angeordnet ist, welche als UVC-LED-Leiste und/oder Modul mit mindestens einer LED-Lampe ausgebildet ist.

• 제2형 중증급성호흡기증후군 코로나바이러스 감염 질환의 예방 또는 치료용 조성물 - 본 발명은 화학식 1로 표시되는 화합물, 또는 이의 약학적으로 허용가능한 염을 유효성분으로 포함하는 제2형 중증급성호흡기증후군 코로나바이러스 감염 질환 예방 또는 치료용 약학적 조성물을 제공한다. [화학식 1] .

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• 新型冠状病毒中和性抗体滴度检测ELISA试剂盒 - 本发明提供一种新型冠状病毒中和性抗体滴度检测ELISA试剂盒，其中包括：包被有生物素‑链霉亲和素标记的人ACE2蛋白的酶标板、辣根过氧化酶标记的新型冠状病毒RBD蛋白、新型冠状病毒中和性抗体阳性对照、包被液、洗涤液、稀释液、封闭液、显色液和终止液等。该试剂盒具有成本低，操作简单，高灵敏度、高特异性、高准确度的特点，可用于新型冠状病毒中和抗体的批量、快速检测。

• Reagenzien und Verwendungen zur Diagnose einer SARS-CoV-2-Infektion -

  Diagnostisch nützlicher Träger umfassend ein Polypeptid umfassend SEQ ID NO1 oder eine Variante davon, die an einen Antikörper gegen SEQ ID NO1 aus einer Probe von einem Patienten binden kann, der an einer SARS-CoV-2-Infektion leidet, wobei das Polypeptid bevorzugt auf der Festphase des Trägers immobilisiert ist.

• Reagenzien und Verwendungen zur Diagnose einer SARS-CoV-2-Infektion -

  Verwendung eines Polypeptides umfassend SEQ ID NO1 oder eine Variante davon, die an einen Antikörper gegen SED ID NO1 aus einer Probe von einem Patienten binden kann, zur Herstellung eines diagnostischen Kits.