Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

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

From Preprints

• Video-based messages to reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and nudge uptake -
  Vaccines are highly effective for curbing the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Yet, millions of Americans remain hesitant about getting vaccinated, jeopardizing the collective benefits from potential herd immunity and our ability to end the COVID-19 pandemic. We show that brief video-based messages of encouragement addressing specific COVID-19 vaccine concerns increase vaccination intentions. Intentions, in turn, predict future vaccine uptake in our data. Our experiment also reveals that increased confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and perceived behavioral control to get vaccinated are the key psychological drivers influencing willingness to get vaccinated. Importantly, our messages only increased vaccination intentions among people who identify as conservative or moderates, while liberals are unaffected due to high levels of pre-existing vaccine acceptability. Our findings corroborate the real-world behavioral significance of vaccination intentions, and devise how even short, scalable online messages can provide governments and health authorities an inexpensive, yet effective tool for increasing COVID-19 vaccinations among populations most reluctant to get them.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Video-based messages to reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and nudge uptake
• Maternal depressive symptoms and early childhood temperament before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom -
  The COVID-19 pandemic is an unexpected and major global event, with the potential to have many and varied impacts on child development. However, the implications of the pandemic for maternal depressive symptoms, early childhood temperament dimensions, and their associations, remain largely unknown. To investigate this, questionnaires were completed by mothers (N = 175) before and during the pandemic when their child was 10- and 16-months (Study 1), and by an extended group of mothers with young children (6 – 48 months; 66 additional mothers) during the first and second national lockdowns in the United Kingdom in 2020 (Study 2). Results indicated that whilst maternal pandemic-related stress decreased over the pandemic, the proportion of mothers feeling some level of pandemic-specific depression increased. Despite this, we did not observe an increase in the severity of global maternal depressive symptoms, or any negative impact of the pandemic on the development of temperament in infancy and early childhood.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Maternal depressive symptoms and early childhood temperament before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
• National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic: Results from 67 nations -
  The COVID-19 pandemic is a devastating global health crisis. Until vaccines or effective medications are widely administered within nations, the best hope for mitigating virus transmission is by changing collective behavior and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions. In a large-scale international collaboration (Study 1, N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated why people reported adopting public health behaviors (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the pandemic (April-May, 2020). Respondents who identified more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviors and support for public health policies. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicates the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behavior change during the pandemic (Google mobility report). Higher levels of national identification were associated with lower mobility (r = -.40). We discuss the implications of links between national identity, leadership, and public health for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic: Results from 67 nations
• Doomscrolling during COVID-19: The negative association between daily social and traditional media consumption and mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic -
  Consumption of traditional and social media markedly increased at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as new information about the virus and safety guidelines evolved. Much of the information concerned restrictions on daily living activities and the risk posed by the virus. The term ``doomscrolling’’ was used to describe the phenomenon of elevated negative affect after viewing pandemic-related media. The magnitude and duration of this effect, however, is unclear. Furthermore, the effect of doomscrolling likely varies based on prior vulnerabilities for psychopathology such as a history of childhood maltreatment. It was hypothesized that social and traditional media exposure was related to an increase in depression and PTSD and that this increase was moderated by childhood maltreatment severity. Participants completed a baseline assessment for psychopathology and 30 days of daily assessments of depression and PTSD. Using multilevel modeling on 1,117 daily observations, social media access was associated with increased depression and PTSD. This association was stronger for those with more severe maltreatment histories. Furthermore, those with more severe baseline psychopathology used more social media during this period. These results suggest that doomscrolling is associated with increases in psychopathology for those with existing vulnerabilities.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Doomscrolling during COVID-19: The negative association between daily social and traditional media consumption and mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Influence of social determinants of health and county vaccination rates on machine learning models to predict COVID-19 case growth in Tennessee -

  The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed health disparities throughout the United States, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities. As a result, there is a need for data-driven approaches to pinpoint the unique constellation of clinical and social determinants of health (SDOH) risk factors that give rise to poor patient outcomes following infection in US communities. We combined county-level COVID-19 testing data, COVID-19 vaccination rates, and SDOH information in Tennessee. Between February-May 2021, we trained machine learning models on a semi-monthly basis using these datasets to predict COVID-19 incidence in Tennessee counties. We then analyzed SDOH data features at each time point to rank the impact of each feature on model performance. Our results indicate that COVID-19 vaccination rates play a crucial role in determining future COVID-19 disease risk. Beginning in mid-March 2021, higher vaccination rates significantly correlated with lower COVID-19 case growth predictions. Further, as the relative importance of COVID-19 vaccination data features grew, demographic SDOH features such as age, race, and ethnicity decreased while the impact of socioeconomic and environmental factors, including access to healthcare and transportation, increased. Incorporating a data framework to track the evolving patterns of community-level SDOH risk factors could provide policymakers with additional data resources to improve health equity and resilience to future public health emergencies.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Influence of social determinants of health and county vaccination rates on machine learning models to predict COVID-19 case growth in Tennessee
• COVID-ONE-humoral immune: The One-stop Database for COVID-19-specific Antibody Responses and Clinical Parameters -
  Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by SARS-CoV-2, varies with regard to symptoms and mortality rates among populations. Humoral immunity plays critical roles in SARS-CoV-2 infection and recovery from COVID-19. However, differences in immune responses and clinical features among COVID-19 patients remain largely unknown. Here, we report a database for COVID-19-specific IgG/IgM immune responses and clinical parameters (COVID-ONE humoral immune). COVID-ONE humoral immunity is based on a dataset that contains the IgG/IgM responses to 21 of 28 known SARS-CoV-2 proteins and 197 spike protein peptides against 2,360 COVID-19 samples collected from 783 patients. In addition, 96 clinical parameters for the 2,360 samples and information for the 783 patients are integrated into the database. Furthermore, COVID-ONE humoral immune provides a dashboard for defining samples and a one-click analysis pipeline for a single group or paired groups. A set of samples of interest is easily defined by adjusting the scale bars of a variety of parameters. After the START button is clicked, one can readily obtain a comprehensive analysis report for further interpretation. COVID-ONE-humoral immune is freely available at www.COVID-ONE.cn.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: COVID-ONE-humoral immune: The One-stop Database for COVID-19-specific Antibody Responses and Clinical Parameters
• SARS-CoV-2 introduction and lineage dynamics across three epidemic peaks in Southern Brazil: massive spread of P.1 -
  Background: Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 is paramount for understanding viral dynamics, contributing to disease control. This study analyzed SARS-CoV-2 genomic diversity in Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil, including the first case of each Regional Health Coordination and cases from three epidemic peaks. Methods: Ninety SARS-CoV-2 genomes from RS were sequenced and analyzed against SARS-CoV-2 datasets available in GISAID for phylogenetic inference and mutation analysis. Results: SARS-CoV-2 lineages among the first cases in RS were B.1 (33.3%), B.1.1.28 (26.7%), B.1.1 (13.3%), B.1.1.33 (10.0%), and A (6.7%), evidencing SARS-CoV-2 introduction by both international origin and community-driven transmission. We found predominance of B.1.1.33 (50.0%) and B.1.1.28 (35.0%) during the first epidemic peak (July- August, 2020), emergence of P.2 (55.6%) in the second peak (November-December, 2020), and massive spread of P.1 and related sequences (78.4%), such as P.1-like-II, P.1.1 and P.1.2 in the third peak (February-April, 2021). Eighteen novel mutation combinations were found among P.1 genomes, and 22 different spike mutations and/or deletions among P.1 and related sequences. Conclusions: This study shows the dispersion of SARS-CoV-2 lineages in Southern Brazil, and describes SARS-CoV-2 diversity during three epidemic peaks, highlighting the spread of P.1 and the high genetic diversity of currently circulating lineages. Genomic monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 is essential to guide health authorities’ decisions to control COVID-19 in Brazil.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: SARS-CoV-2 introduction and lineage dynamics across three epidemic peaks in Southern Brazil: massive spread of P.1
• 3D printed cobalt-chromium-molybdenum porous superalloy with superior antiviral activity -
  COVID-19 pandemic and associated supply-chain disruptions emphasise the requirement for antimicrobial materials for on-demand manufacturing. Besides aerosol transmission, SARS-CoV-2 is also propagated through contact with virus- contaminated surfaces. As such, the development of effective biofunctional materials that can inactivate SARS-CoV-2 is critical for pandemic preparedness. Such materials will enable the rational development of antiviral devices with prolonged serviceability, reducing the environmental burden of disposable alternatives. This research reveals the novel use of Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) to 3D print porous Cobalt-Chromium-Molybdenum (Co-Cr-Mo) superalloy with potent antiviral activity (100% viral inactivation in 30 mins). The porous material was rationally conceived using a multi- objective surrogate model featuring track thickness (tt) and pore diameter ({phi}d) as responses. The regression analysis found the most significant parameters for Co-Cr-Mo track formation to be the interaction effects of scanning rate (Vs) and laser power (Pl) in the order PlVs>Vs>Pl. Contrastively, the pore diameter was found to be primarily driven by the hatch spacing (Sh). The study is the first to demonstrate the superior antiviral properties of 3D printed Co-Cr-Mo superalloy against an enveloped virus used as biosafe viral model of SARS CoV 2. The material significantly outperforms the viral inactivation time of other broadly used antiviral metals such as copper and silver from 5 hours to 30 minutes. As such, the study goes beyond the current state-of-the-art in antiviral alloys to provide extra protection to combat the SARS-COV-2 viral spread. The evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic brings new and unpredictable challenges where on-demand 3D printing of antiviral materials can achieve rapid solutions while reducing the environmental impact of disposable devices.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: 3D printed cobalt-chromium-molybdenum porous superalloy with superior antiviral activity
• Diagnostic performance of a novel digital immunoassay (RapidTesta SARS-CoV-2): a prospective observational study with 1,127 nasopharyngeal samples -

  Introduction: Digital immunoassays are generally regarded as superior tests for the detection of infectious disease pathogens, but there have been insufficient data concerning SARS-CoV-2 immunoassays. Methods: We prospectively evaluated a novel digital immunoassay (RapidTesta SARS-CoV-2). Two nasopharyngeal samples were simultaneously collected for antigen tests and RT-PCR. Real-time RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2, using a method developed by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan, served as the reference RT-PCR method. Results: During the study period, 1,127 nasopharyngeal samples (symptomatic patients: 802, asymptomatic patients: 325) were evaluated. For digital immunoassay antigen tests, the sensitivity was 78.3% (95% CI: 67.3%-87.1%) and the specificity was 97.6% (95% CI: 96.5%-98.5%). When technicians visually analyzed the antigen test results, the sensitivity was 71.6% (95% CI: 59.9%-81.5%) and the specificity was 99.2% (95% CI: 98.5%-99.7%). Among symptomatic patients, the sensitivity was 89.4% (95% CI; 76.9%-96.5%) with digital immunoassay antigen tests, and 85.1% (95% CI; 71.7%-93.8%) with visually analyzed the antigen test, respectively. Conclusions: The findings indicated that RapidTesta SARS-CoV-2 analysis with the DIA device had sufficient analytical performance for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal samples. When positive DIA results are recorded without a visually recognizable red line at the positive line location on the test cassette, additional RT-PCR evaluation should be performed.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Diagnostic performance of a novel digital immunoassay (RapidTesta SARS-CoV-2): a prospective observational study with 1,127 nasopharyngeal samples
• Estimation of the onset rate and the number of asymptomatic patients of COVID-19 from the proportion of untraceable patients -

  A simple method is devised to estimate the onset rate of COVID-19 from the proportion of untraceable patients tested positive, which allows us to obtain the number of asymptomatic patients, the number of infectious patients and the effective reproduction number. The recent data in Tokyo indicate that there are about six times as many infectious patients in the city as the daily confirmed new cases. It is shown that a quarantine measure on non-symptomatic patients is critically important in controlling the pandemic.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Estimation of the onset rate and the number of asymptomatic patients of COVID-19 from the proportion of untraceable patients
• Can Vaccine Prioritization Reduce Disparities in Covid-19 Burden for Historically Marginalized Populations? -

  Importance: Nationally stated goals for distributing SARS-CoV-2 vaccines included to reduce COVID-19 mortality, morbidity, and inequity using prioritization groups. However, the impact of these prioritization strategies is not well understood, particularly their effect on health inequity in COVID-19 burden for historically marginalized racial and ethnic populations. Objective: To assess the impact of vaccination prioritization and operational strategies on disparities in COVID-19 burden among historically marginalized populations, and on mortality and morbidity by race and ethnicity. Design: We use an agent-based simulation model of North Carolina to project SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19-associated deaths (mortality), hospitalizations (morbidity), and cases over 18 months (7/1/2020-12/31/2021) with vaccine distribution beginning 12/13/2020 to frontline medical and people 75+, assuming initial uptake similar to influenza vaccine. We study two-stage subsequent prioritization including essential workers (essential), adults 65+ (age), adults with high-risk health conditions, HMPs, or people in low income tracts, with eligibility for the general population in the third stage. For age-essential and essential-age strategies, we also simulated maximal uptake (100% for HMP or 100% for everyone), and we allowed for distribution to susceptible-only people. Results: Prioritizing Age then Essential had the largest impact on mortality (2.5% reduction from no prioritization); Essential then Age had the lowest morbidity and reduced infections (4.2% further than Age-Essential) without significantly impacting mortality. Under each prioritization scenario, the age-adjusted mortality burden for HMPs is higher (e.g., 33.3-34.1% higher for the Black population, 13.3%-17.0% for the Hispanic population) compared to the White population, and the gap grew under some prioritizations. In the Age-Essential strategy, the burden on HMPs decreases only when uptake is increased to 100% in HMPs. However, the Black population still had the highest mortality rate even with the Susceptible-Only distribution. Conclusions and Relevance: Simulation results show that prioritization strategies have differential impact on mortality, morbidity, and disparities overall and by race and ethnicity. If prioritization schemes were not paired with increased uptake in HMPs, disparities did not improve and could worsen. Although equity was one of the tenets of vaccine distribution, the vaccination strategies publicly outlined are insufficient to remove and may exacerbate disparities between racial and ethnic groups, thus targeted strategies are needed for the future.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Can Vaccine Prioritization Reduce Disparities in Covid-19 Burden for Historically Marginalized Populations?
• Photosensitized Electrospun Nanofibrous Filters for Capturing and Killing Airborne Coronaviruses under Visible Light Irradiation -
  To address the challenge of the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, photosensitized electrospun nanofibrous membranes were fabricated to effectively capture and inactivate coronavirus aerosols. With an ultrafine fiber diameter (~ 200 nm) and a small pore size (~ 1.5 m), the optimized membranes caught 99.2% of the aerosols of the murine hepatitis virus A59 (MHV-A59), a coronavirus surrogate for SARS-CoV-2. In addition, rose bengal was used as the photosensitizer for the membranes because of its excellent reactivity in generating virucidal singlet oxygen, and the membranes rapidly inactivated 98.9% of MHV-A59 in virus-laden droplets only after 15 min irradiation of simulated reading light. Singlet oxygen damaged the virus genome and impaired virus binding to host cells, which elucidated the mechanism of disinfection at a molecular level. Membrane robustness was also evaluated, and no efficiency reduction for filtering MHV-A59 aerosols was observed after the membranes being exposed to both indoor light and sunlight for days. Nevertheless, sunlight exposure photobleached the membranes, reduced singlet oxygen production, and compromised the performance of disinfecting MHV-A59 in droplets. In contrast, the membranes after simulated indoor light exposure maintained their excellent disinfection performance. In summary, photosensitized electrospun nanofibrous membranes have been developed to capture and kill airborne environmental pathogens under ambient conditions, and they hold promise for broad applications as personal protective equipment and indoor air filters.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Photosensitized Electrospun Nanofibrous Filters for Capturing and Killing Airborne Coronaviruses under Visible Light Irradiation
• A method for the generation of pseudotyped virus particles bearing SARS coronavirus spike protein in high yields -
  The ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has threatened human health and the global economy. Development of additional vaccines and therapeutics is urgently required, but such development with live virus must be conducted with biosafety level 3 confinement. Pseudotyped viruses have been widely adopted for studies of virus entry and pharmaceutical development to overcome this restriction. Here we describe a modified protocol to generate vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudotyped with SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein in high yield. We found that pseudovirions produced with the conventional transient expression system lacked coronavirus Spike protein at their surface as a result of inhibition of parental VSV infection by overexpression of this protein. Establishment of stable cell lines with an optimal expression level of coronavirus Spike protein allowed the efficient production of progeny pseudoviruses decorated with Spike protein. This improved VSV pseudovirus production method should facilitate studies of coronavirus entry and development of antiviral agents.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: A method for the generation of pseudotyped virus particles bearing SARS coronavirus spike protein in high yields
• Vaccine containing immunologic adjuvants with a wide range of activity to provide protection against COVID-19 -
  This paper proposes a wide spectrum immunologic adjuvant for vaccine development against COVID-19 which is the current global problem. It has been reported that a wide range of immune cells are involved in the body’s response to SARS CoV2 infection. Therefore, vaccine with a wide-spectrum immunologic adjuvant can be used to provide protection against COVID-19. Lack of adjuvants that can induce the required immune responses is a serious impediment to vaccine development against this devastating virus. The approved adjuvants such as aluminum salts and MF59 exhibit a narrow range of activity. In an attempt to solve this problem, it is crucial to develop new adjuvants which can trigger a wide range of immune cells.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Vaccine containing immunologic adjuvants with a wide range of activity to provide protection against COVID-19
• Correlates of Neutralizing/SARS-CoV-2-S1-binding Antibody Response with Adverse Effects and Immune Kinetics in BNT162b2-Vaccinated Individuals -

  Background: While mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been exceedingly effective in preventing symptomatic viral infection, the features of immune response remain to be clarified. Methods: In the present prospective observational study, 225 healthy individuals in Kumamoto General Hospital, Japan, who received two BNT162b2 doses in February 2021, were enrolled. Correlates of BNT162b2-elicited SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing activity (50% neutralization titer: NT50; assessed using infectious virions and live target cells) with SARS-CoV-2-S1-binding-IgG and -IgM levels, adverse effects (AEs), ages, and genders were examined. The average half-life of neutralizing activity and the average time length for the loss of detectable neutralizing activity were determined and the potency of serums against variants of concerns was also determined. Findings: Significant rise in NT50s was seen in serums on day 28 post-1st dose. A moderate inverse correlation was seen between NT50s and ages, but no correlation was seen between NT50s and AEs. NT50s and IgG levels on day 28 post-1st dose and pain scores following the 2nd shot were greater in women than in men. The average half-life of neutralizing activity in the vaccinees was approximately 67.8 days and the average time length for their serums to lose the detectable neutralizing activity was 198.3 days. While serums from elite-responders (NT50s>1,500-fold: the top 4% among all participants9 NT50s) potently to moderately blocked the infectivity of variants of concerns, some serums with moderate NT50s failed to block the infectivity of a beta strain. Interpretation: BNT162b2-elicited immune response has no significant association with AEs. BNT162b2-efficacy is likely diminished to under detection limit by 6-7 months post-1st shot. High-level neutralizing antibody-containing serums potently to moderately block the infection of SARS-CoV-2 variants; however, a few moderate-level neutralizing antibody-containing serums failed to do so. If BNT162b2-elicited immunity memory is short, an additional vaccine or other protective measures would be needed.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Correlates of Neutralizing/SARS- CoV-2-S1-binding Antibody Response with Adverse Effects and Immune Kinetics in BNT162b2-Vaccinated Individuals

From Clinical Trials

• Phase II/III Study of AZD2816, for the Prevention of COVID-19 in Adults - Conditions:   COVID-19;   SARS-CoV-2
  Interventions:   Biological: AZD1222;   Biological: AZD2816
  Sponsor:   AstraZeneca
  Recruiting

• Clinical Trial For Early SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Treatment - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Drug: Hydroxychloroquine;   Drug: Favipiravir;   Drug: Favipiravir + Hydroxychloroquine;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Health Institutes of Turkey
  Completed

• Echinacea Drug for Covid-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Drug: ECHINACEA ARKOPHARMA
  Sponsors:  
  Jesús R. Requena;   IDIS;   SALUD;   Laboratoires Arkopharma
  Recruiting

• Effects of Respiratory Muscle Training in Patients With Post COVID-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Other: Exercise training group;   Other: Control training group
  Sponsor:   Gazi University
  Completed

• SOLIDARITY Finland Long COVID-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Drug: Remdesivir
  Sponsors:  
  Clinical Urology and Epidemiology Working Group;   University of Helsinki;   World Health Organization;   Helsinki University Central Hospital;   Hyvinkää Hospital;   Kanta-Häme Central Hospital;   Kuopio University Hospital;   Oulu University Hospital;   Porvoo Hospital;   Seinajoki Central Hospital;   Mikkeli Central Hospital;   Tampere University Hospital
  Recruiting

• Vaccination for Recovered Inpatients With COVID-19 (VATICO) - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Biological: Moderna mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine;   Biological: Pfizer BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine
  Sponsors:   International Network for Strategic Initiatives in Global HIV Trials (INSIGHT);   University of Minnesota;   National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID);   University of Copenhagen;   Kirby Institute;   Washington D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center;   AIDS Clinical Trials Group;   National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI);   US Department of Veterans Affairs;   Prevention and Early Treatment of Acute Lung Injury (PETAL);   Cardiothoracic Surgical Trials Network (CTSN);   Medical Research Council
  Not yet recruiting

• COVID-19 and Lung Ultrasound Utility - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Device: Device: Butterfly iQ
  Sponsor:  
  Rocket Doctor Inc.
  Recruiting

• Efficacy of Canrenone as add-on Treatment in Moderate to Severe ARDS in COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
  Intervention:  
  Drug: Potassium Canrenoate
  Sponsors:   Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico;   University of Milan;   IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna
  Not yet recruiting

• Saliva-based COVID-19 DNA Aptamer Test - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Device: AptameX
  Sponsors:   Achiko AG;   Udayana University
  Recruiting

• Evaluation of the RD-X19 Treatment Device in Individuals With Mild to Moderate COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID19
  Interventions:   Device: RD-X19;   Device: Sham
  Sponsor:  
  EmitBio Inc.
  Recruiting

• Evaluation of The Efficacy of Triazavirin Versus Oseltamivir in Egyptian Patients Infected With COVID-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Drug: standard treatment COVID-19 + Triazavirin
  Sponsor:   Ain Shams University
  Recruiting

• The Efficacy of Nigella Sativa Versus VitaminD3 as Supplement Therapy in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Dietary Supplement: Nigella Sativa capsule twice daily
  Sponsor:   Ain Shams University
  Recruiting

• Effect of Cyproheptadine on Ventilatory Support-free Days in Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19 Pneumonia
  Intervention:   Drug: Cyproheptadine
  Sponsor:  
  Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre
  Not yet recruiting

• Intervention to Promote COVID-19 Vaccination - Conditions:   Covid19;   Vaccination
  Intervention:   Behavioral: Health System Vaccination Text Messages
  Sponsors:   University of Massachusetts, Worcester;   National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
  Not yet recruiting

• Effects of COVID-19 on Cavernous Smooth Muscle - Conditions:   Erectile Dysfunction Due to Diseases Classified Elsewhere;   Covid19
  Intervention:  
  Diagnostic Test: corpus cavernosum electromyography
  Sponsor:   Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University
  Completed

From PubMed

• Targeting COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease through active phytocompounds of ayurvedic medicinal plants - Emblica officinalis (Amla), Phyllanthus niruri Linn. (Bhumi Amla) and Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy) - A molecular docking and simulation study - Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), a viral disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS- CoV-2) was declared a global pandemic by WHO in 2020. In this scenario, SARS-CoV-2 main protease (COVID-19 M^(pro)), an enzyme mainly involved in viral replication and transcription is identified as a crucial target for drug discovery. Traditionally used medicinal plants contain a large amount of bioactives and pave a new path to develop drugs and medications for COVID-19. The…

• Potent antiviral activity of Agrimonia pilosa, Galla rhois, and their components against SARS-CoV-2 - Agrimonia pilosa (AP), Galla rhois (RG), and their mixture (APRG64) strongly inhibited SARS-CoV-2 by interfering with multiple steps of the viral life cycle including viral entry and replication. Furthermore, among 12 components identified in APRG64, three displayed strong antiviral activity, ursolic acid (1), quercetin (7), and 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O- galloyl-β-d-glucose (12). Molecular docking analysis showed these components to bind potently to the spike receptor- binding-domain (RBD) of the…

• Facile synthesis, antimicrobial and antiviral evaluation of novel substituted phenyl 1,3-thiazolidin-4-one sulfonyl derivatives - A series of novel substituted phenyl 1, 3-thiazolidin-4-one sulfonyl derivatives 5 (a-t) were synthesized and screened for their in-vitro anti-microbial and anti-viral activity. The result of the anti-microbial assay demonstrated compounds 5d, 5f, 5g, 5h, 5i, 5j showed prominent inhibitory activity against all the tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, while compounds 5g, 5j, 5o, 5p, 5q showed significant activity against the entire set of fungal strains as compared to…

• Synthetic Peptides That Antagonize the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE-2) Interaction with SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Spike Protein - The SARS-CoV-2 viral spike protein S receptor-binding domain (S-RBD) binds ACE2 on host cells to initiate molecular events, resulting in intracellular release of the viral genome. Therefore, antagonists of this interaction could allow a modality for therapeutic intervention. Peptides can inhibit the S-RBD:ACE2 interaction by interacting with the protein- protein interface. In this study, protein contact atlas data and molecular dynamics simulations were used to locate interaction hotspots on the…

• Quantum simulations of SARS-CoV-2 main protease M(pro) enable high-quality scoring of diverse ligands - The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented efforts to identify drugs that can reduce its associated morbidity/mortality rate. Computational chemistry approaches hold the potential for triaging potential candidates far more quickly than their experimental counterparts. These methods have been widely used to search for small molecules that can inhibit critical proteins involved in the SARS-CoV-2 replication cycle. An important target is the SARS-CoV-2 main protease Mpro, an enzyme that cleaves…

• In-silico study on viability of MXenes in suppressing the coronavirus infection and distribution - Herein, based on the paramount importance of combating emerging diseases, through employing a detailed in-silico study, the possibility of using MXenes in suppressing the coronavirus infection was elucidated. To this end, first, interactions of MXene nanosheets (Mn(2)C, Ti(2)C, and Mo(2)C) and spike protein (SP), the main infecting portion of the COVID-19, were investigated. It was found that the modeled MXenes were effective in attracting the SP, so that they can be exploited in filtering the…

• COVID-19 as a Potential Trigger for Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura and Reason for an Unusual Treatment: A Case Report - Immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by severely reduced activity of the von Willebrand factor (VWF)-cleaving protease ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13) due to autoantibodies. This leads to the development of pathogenic multimers of VWF, causing a thrombotic microangiopathy with decreased number of platelets, hemolysis, and life-threatening tissue ischemia of mostly brain, heart,…

• Immunometabolic bases of type 2 diabetes in the severity of COVID-19 - The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 and type 2 diabetes (T2D) have now merged into an ongoing global syndemic that is threatening the lives of millions of people around the globe. For this reason, there is a deep need to understand the immunometabolic bases of the main etiological factors of T2D that affect the severity of COVID-19. Here, we discuss how hyperglycemia contributes to the…

• The Many Faces of JAKs and STATs Within the COVID-19 Storm - The positive-sense single stranded RNA virus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), resulted in a global pandemic with horrendous health and economic consequences not seen in a century. At a finer scale, immunologically, many of these devastating effects by SARS-CoV-2 can be traced to a “cytokine storm” resulting in the simultaneous activation of Janus Kinases (JAKs) and Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (STAT) proteins downstream of the many cytokine…

• Progress and challenges in the comprehensive management of chronic viral hepatitis: Key ways to achieve the elimination - Chronic viral hepatitis is a significant health problem throughout the world, which already represents high annual mortality. By 2040, chronic viral hepatitis due to virus B and virus C and their complications cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma will be more deadly than malaria, vitellogenesis-inhibiting hormone, and tuberculosis altogether. In this review, we analyze the global impact of chronic viral hepatitis with a focus on the most vulnerable groups, the goals set by the World Health…

• Comprehensive virtual screening of 4.8 k flavonoids reveals novel insights into allosteric inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 M(PRO) - SARS-CoV-2 main protease is a common target for inhibition assays due to its high conservation among coronaviruses. Since flavonoids show antiviral activity, several in silico works have proposed them as potential SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors. Nonetheless, there is reason to doubt certain results given the lack of consideration for flavonoid promiscuity or main protease plasticity, usage of short library sizes, absence of control molecules and/or the limitation of the methodology to a…

• Rilpivirine inhibits SARS-CoV-2 protein targets: A potential multi-target drug - CONCLUSION: As a result of our in silico molecular docking study, we suggest that rilpivirine is a compound that could act as a powerful inhibitor against SARS-CoV-2 targets. Although in vitro and in vivo experiments are needed to verify this prediction we believe that this antiviral drug may be used in preclinical trials to fight against SARS coronavirus.

• Supporting scale-up of COVID-19 RT-PCR testing processes with discrete event simulation - Testing is critical to mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic, but testing capacity has fallen short of the need in the United States and elsewhere, and long wait times have impeded rapid isolation of cases. Operational challenges such as supply problems and personnel shortages have led to these bottlenecks and inhibited the scale-up of testing to needed levels. This paper uses operational simulations to facilitate rapid scale-up of testing capacity during this public health emergency. Specifically,…

• In Silico Mutagenesis-Based Remodelling of SARS-CoV-1 Peptide (ATLQAIAS) to Inhibit SARS-CoV-2: Structural-Dynamics and Free Energy Calculations - The prolific spread of COVID-19 caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) from its epicenter in Wuhan, China, to every nook and cranny of the world after December 2019, jeopardize the prevailing health system in the world and has raised serious concerns about human safety. Multi-directional efforts are made to design small molecule inhibitors, and vaccines and many other therapeutic options are practiced, but their final therapeutic potential is still to be tested. Using the old drug or vaccine…

• A Meta-Analysis of Safety of Different Regimens of Remdesivir in COVID-19 Patients - Remdesivir is an adenosine analogue drug that targets RNA dependent RNA polymerase enzyme and inhibits the viral replication. As on 22nd of October 2020, US FDA fully approved drug Remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19 patients who requires hospitalisation. Many clinical studies reported the derangement in hepatic and renal function tests which is alarming considering the health conditions of the COVID-19 patients. In view of these results, the present study was envisaged to review the safety…

From Patent Search

• Camellia nitidissima C.W.Chi Caffeine and Chlorogenic acid composition for anti-SARS-CoV-2 and preparation method and application thereof - - link

• A Novel Method COVID -19 infection using Deep Learning Based System - - link

• A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COVID- 19 DIAGNOSIS USING DETECTION RESULTS FROM CHEST X- RAY IMAGES - - link

• Advanced Machine Learning System combating COVID-19 virus Detection, Spread, Prevention and Medical Assistance. - - link

• 一种包装重组流感病毒的重组载体和重组流感病毒及其构建方法和应用 - 本发明提供了一种包装重组流感病毒的重组载体和重组流感病毒及其构建方法和应用，涉及生物医药技术领域。本发明利用A型流感病毒八个基因片段为骨架包装出带有新型冠状病毒SARS‑CoV‑2表面刺突蛋白受体结合域（SARS‑CoV‑2_RBD）片段的重组流感病毒，此重组流感病毒可在复制过程中表达具有生物学活性和免疫原性的刺突蛋白受体结合区域RBD。本发明所述重组流感病毒rgH1N1（PR8）‑PA‑RBD可作为重组病毒类药物，用于2019新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID‑19）的预防；也可作为体外SARS‑COV‑2 RBD等相关抗原表达和体内递呈系统。 - link

• Differential detection kit for common SARS-CoV-2 variants in COVID-19 patients - - link

• 新型冠状病毒B.1.525尼日利亚突变株RBD的基因及其应用 - 本发明属于生物技术领域，具体涉及新型冠状病毒B.1.525尼日利亚突变株RBD的基因及其应用。本发明的新型冠状病毒B.1.525尼日利亚突变株RBD的基因，其核苷酸序列如SEQ ID NO.1或SEQ ID NO.6所示。本发明通过优化野生型新型冠状病毒B.1.525尼日利亚突变株RBD的基因序列，并结合筛选确定了相对最佳序列，优化后序列产生的克隆表达效率比野生型新型冠状病毒B.1.525尼日利亚突变株RBD序列表达效率大幅提高，从而，本发明的新型冠状病毒B.1.525尼日利亚突变株RBD的基因可以用于制备新型冠状病毒疫苗。 - link

• 一种新型冠状病毒的mRNA疫苗 - 本发明公开了一种新型冠状病毒的mRNA疫苗。本发明提供的疫苗，其活性成分为mRNA，如序列表的序列6所示。本发明还保护TF‑RBD蛋白，如序列表的序列2所示。本发明的发明人通过一系列序列设计和序列优化得到了特异DNA分子，进一步构建了特异重组质粒，将特异重组质粒进行体外转录，可以得到多聚化TF‑RBD mRNA。进一步的，发明人制备了负载TF‑RBD mRNA的脂质纳米粒。本发明对于新型冠状病毒的防控具有重大的应用推广价值。 - link

• 新型冠状病毒B．1．1．7英国突变株RBD的基因及其应用 - 本发明属于生物技术领域，具体涉及新型冠状病毒B．1．1．7英国突变株RBD的基因及其应用。本发明的新型冠状病毒B．1．1．7英国突变株RBD的基因，其核苷酸序列如SEQ ID NO.1或SEQ ID NO.6所示。本发明通过优化野生型新型冠状病毒B．1．1．7英国突变株RBD的基因序列，并结合筛选确定了相对最佳序列，优化后序列产生的克隆表达效率比野生型新型冠状病毒B．1．1．7英国突变株RBD序列表达效率大幅提高，从而，本发明的新型冠状病毒B．1．1．7英国突变株RBD的基因更有利于用于制备新型冠状病毒疫苗。 - link

• SARS-CoV-2 anti-viral therapeutic - - link