Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

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

From Preprints

• Social Dialogue in Defence of Vulnerable Groups in Post-COVID-19 Labour Markets. EU-Level Report -
  The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented health crisis that has caused far-reaching life consequences. The impact of COVID-19 and the measures that aimed to protect lives have triggered a social and economic crisis across the globe. This crisis calls for social scientists and researchers to study the shortcomings in social and economic preparedness and responses to the pandemic. The Social Dialogue in Defence of Vulnerable Groups in the Post-COVID-19 Labour Markets project (the DEFEN-CE project), funded by the Directorate-General for Employment, the European Commission, aims to examine institutional strategies and power relations in social protection and policymaking and policy implementation to protect labour markets and workers by analysing the governance of vulnerable groups in (post) COVID-19 labour markets as well as to produce research-based knowledge and expertise on the protection of vulnerable groups at the EU level, in the EU Member States and in the candidate countries. This report emphasises the institutional strategies and power relations among social partners and stakeholders at the EU level and highlights key findings from country case studies. The research questions are threefold. 1) What public policy and social dialogue measures targeting the selected vulnerable groups were implemented for employment and social protection during the COVID-19 pandemic 2020–2022? 2) How and to what extent did social dialogue play a role in the implementation of the social and employment rights of selected vulnerable groups in the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022? 3) What lessons and opportunities does the COVID-19 pandemic provide for strengthening social dialogue at the EU level? DEFEN-CE employed a mixed-method approach combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The data are comprised of datasets, policy documents, scientific literature, existing statistical data, and semi-structured interviews. In this EU-level research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 respondents: representatives from the European Parliament, trade unions, non-governmental organisations, and a European federation organisation representing domestic employers. It is important to note that the research team invited representatives from the European Commission to participate in the interviews but received no reply. (See the list of respondents in the appendices). DEFEN-CE’s EU-level study aimed to contribute to social dialogue research and the theoretical understanding of vulnerability. Relevant concepts and approaches to deepen our understanding of vulnerability are employed as the foundation for identifying ‘vulnerable groups’ in connection to the labour market. Furthermore, the purpose of this study is to identify the lessons learned by pinpointing crucial areas of policy development and implementation and necessary coordination mechanisms among social partners and by showcasing best practices.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Social Dialogue in Defence of Vulnerable Groups in Post-COVID-19 Labour Markets. EU-Level Report
• DEFEN-CE: Social Dialogue in Defence of Vulnerable Groups in Post-COVID-19 Labour Markets. Report on Latvia and Lithuania -
  This is a comparative country report of Latvia and Lithuania for the project DEFEN-CE: Social Dialogue in Defence of Vulnerable Groups in Post-COVID-19 Labour Markets. DEFEN-CE is a research project funded by the Directorate-General for Employment, the European Commission (Grant number: VS/2021/0196). The project investigates the experience of various stakeholders with the design and implementation of COVID-19-related policies relevant to work and employment in EU Member States (Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Czechia, Slovakia, Italy, and Spain) and two candidate countries, Serbia and Turkey. The aim of the project is to identify the role of social dialogue in facilitating policy implementation that addresses the labour market situation of vulnerable groups in the post-COVID-19 labour markets. With this aim in mind, the report seeks to answer three main research questions from a comparative perspective, emphasising similarities and differences between Latvia’s and Lithuania’s pandemic response, industrial relations (with a key focus on social dialogue structures and interactions), policy design, and protection of vulnerable groups. 1. What public policy and social dialogue measures targeting selected vulnerable groups were implemented for employment and social protection during the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022? 2. To what extent and how did social dialogue play a role in the implementation of social and employment rights of selected vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022? 3. What lessons and opportunities does the COVID-19 pandemic yield for strengthening social dialogue in the studied countries? The report mixes analysis and findings based on the construction of country-specific Defence-Databases (one for Latvia and one for Lithuania) and qualitative interviews with national stakeholders. The respective database contains information on almost 60 countries-specific Covid-19 policies that have been gathered from international databases (e.g., Eurofound, Eurostat, and ICTWSS), national and international policy documents and legislation, reports from trade unions and employers’ organisations, and academic literature. The interviews that complement the general information provided from the databases were conducted with representatives from trade unions, employers’ organisations and the government. In total, 10 interviews were done in Latvia, and 10 interviews were done in Lithuania (see Annex 1 and 2). Interview data were analysed based on qualitative content analysis using the DEFEN-CE coding scheme.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: DEFEN-CE: Social Dialogue in Defence of Vulnerable Groups in Post-COVID-19 Labour Markets. Report on Latvia and Lithuania
• Locating the Processes of Non-State Relief Work during the Covid-19 Lockdown in Delhi: Lessons from the Field Towards an Inclusive Approach to Care and Social Protection - A Policy Brief -
  This policy brief emanates from an ISST-conducted study titled ‘Locating the Processes of Non-state Relief Work during the Covid-19 Lockdown in Delhi,’ with a focus on informal settlements. Employing qualitative case study methodologies, this research delved into the mechanics of non-state relief work conducted during the pandemic in Delhi. Four slum communities—Yamuna Khadar, Sanjay Camp, Seelampur, and Bawana JJ colony—were purposively selected as case study sites due to their varied characteristics. Data was collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews with key actors actively engaged in relief efforts from December 2020 to June 2021. The study illuminated the complex dynamics of relief efforts within the realm of the care economy. It unveiled the intricate interplay between gaps in the state’s social protection systems, the endeavours of non-state entities, and the vulnerabilities faced by families residing in informal settlements. These dynamics collectively brought forth the immediate socio-economic challenges posed during the national lockdown.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Locating the Processes of Non-State Relief Work during the Covid-19 Lockdown in Delhi: Lessons from the Field Towards an Inclusive Approach to Care and Social Protection - A Policy Brief
• Moralized Attitudes Toward the Unvaccinated During the Pandemic -
  Non-compliance with public health advice became an object of moral condemnation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies have shown that media framing may affect the strength of moral attitudes and emotional responses. However, the process of attitude moralization by framing and the role emotions have in this process are inadequately understood. In this study, we examine media frames’ impact on emotional reactions to and moral attitudes toward unvaccinated individuals. We conducted a survey experiment (N = 482) where participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups. We presented each group a news story about COVID-19 vaccines with one of the following frames: neutral (control group), episodic, and thematic. After framing, we measured respondents’ emotions regarding and moral attitudes toward the unvaccinated. We found that compared to the control group, the episodic frame reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions toward the unvaccinated. Also, the episodic frame mitigated the strength of moral attitudes toward the unvaccinated. The thematic frame had no statistically significant effect on emotions or moral attitudes compared to the control group. The mediation analysis confirmed that negative and positive emotions mediated the difference in moral attitudes toward the unvaccinated.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Moralized Attitudes Toward the Unvaccinated During the Pandemic
• Fragment-based screening targeting an open form of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease binding pocket -
  To identify starting points for therapeutics targeting SARS-CoV-2, the Paul Scherrer Institute and Idorsia decided to collaboratively perform an X-ray crystallographic fragment screen against its main protease. Fragment-based screening was carried out using crystals with a pronounced open conformation of the substrate binding pocket. Of 631 fragments soaked, a total of 29 hits bound either in the active site (24 hits), a remote binding pocket (2 hits) or at crystal packing interfaces (3 hits). Notably, two fragments with a pose sterically incompatible with a more occluded crystal form were identified. Two isatin-based electrophilic fragments bound covalently to the catalytic cysteine residue. Our structures also revealed a surprisingly strong influence of the crystal form on the binding pose of three published fragments used as positive controls, with implications for fragment screening by crystallography.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Fragment-based screening targeting an open form of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease binding pocket
• CCR5/CXCR3 antagonist TAK-779 prevents diffuse alveolar damage of the lung in murine model of the SARS-CoV-2-related acute respiratory distress syndrome -
  The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to viral pneumonitis is one of the main causes of high mortality in patients with COVID-19 (novel coronavirus disease 2019) - ongoing SARS-CoV-2 infection, reached more than 0.7 billion registered cases. Recently we elaborated non-surgical and reproducible method of unilateral total diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) of the left lung in ICR mice - a publicly available imitation of the ARDS caused by SARS-CoV-2. Our data reads that two C-C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) ligands - macrophage inflammatory proteins (MIP) - (MIP-1a/CCL3) and (MIP-1b/CCL4) are upregulated in this DAD model up to three orders of magnitude compared to the background level. Here we showed that a nonpeptide compound TAK-779, antagonist of CCR5/CXCR3, readily prevents DAD of the lung with a single injection of 2.5 mg/kg. Histological analysis revealed reduced peribronchial and perivascular mononuclear infiltration in the lung, and mononuclear infiltration of the wall and lumen of the alveoli in the TAK-779-treated animals. Administration of the TAK-779 decreased 3-5-fold level of serum cytokines and chemokines in animals with DAD, including CCR5 ligands MIP-1a/b, MCP-1 and CCL5. Computed tomography revealed rapid recovery of the density and volume of the affected lung in TAK-779-treated animals. Our pre-clinical data suggest that TAK-779 is more effective than administration of dexamethasone or anti-IL6R therapeutic antibody tocilizumab, which brings novel therapeutic modality to TAK-779 and other CCR5 inhibitors recruited in ongoing clinical studies as a potential drugs for treatment of COVID19 and similar virus-induced inflammation syndromes.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: CCR5/CXCR3 antagonist TAK-779 prevents diffuse alveolar damage of the lung in murine model of the SARS-CoV-2-related acute respiratory distress syndrome
• COVID-19-related research data availability and quality according to the FAIR principles: A meta-research study -
  Background: As per the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable), scientific research data should be findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to massive research activities and an unprecedented number of topical publications in a short time. There has not been any evaluation to assess if this COVID-19-related research data complied with FAIR principles (or FAIRness) so far. Objective: Our objective was to investigate the availability of open data in COVID-19-related research and to assess compliance with FAIRness. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search and retrieved all open-access articles related to COVID-19 from journals indexed in PubMed, available in the Europe PubMed Central database, published from January 2020 through June 2023, using the metareadr package. Using rtransparent, a validated automated tool, we identified articles that included a link to their raw data hosted in a public repository. We then screened the link and included those repositories which included data specifically for their pertaining paper. Subsequently, we automatically assessed the adherence of the repositories to the FAIR principles using FAIRsFAIR Research Data Object Assessment Service (F-UJI) and rfuji package. The FAIR scores ranged from 1-22 and had four components. We reported descriptive analysis for each article type, journal category and repository. We used linear regression models to find the most influential factors on the FAIRness of data. Results: 5,700 URLs were included in the final analysis, sharing their data in a general-purpose repository. The mean (standard deviation, SD) level of compliance with FAIR metrics was 9.4 (4.88). The percentages of moderate or advanced compliance were as follows: Findability: 100.0%, Accessibility: 21.5%, Interoperability: 46.7%, and Reusability: 61.3%. The overall and component-wise monthly trends were consistent over the follow-up. Reviews (9.80, SD=5.06, n=160), and articles in dental journals (13.67, SD=3.51, n=3) and Harvard Dataverse (15.79, SD=3.65, n=244) had the highest mean FAIRness scores, whereas letters (7.83, SD=4.30, n=55), articles in neuroscience journals (8.16, SD=3.73, n=63), and those deposited in GitHub (4.50, SD=0.13, n=2,152) showed the lowest scores. Regression models showed that the most influential factor on FAIRness scores was the repository (R2=0.809). Conclusion: This paper underscored the potential for improvement across all facets of FAIR principles, with a specific emphasis on enhancing Interoperability and Reusability in the data shared within general repositories during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: COVID-19-related research data availability and quality according to the FAIR principles: A meta-research study
• Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron HK.3 variant harboring the “FLip” substitution -
  In November 2023, SARS-CoV-2 XBB descendants, including EG.5.1 (XBB.1.9.2.5.1), the currently predominant lineage, are circulating worldwide according to Nextstrain. EG.5.1 has a characteristic amino acid substitution in the spike protein (S), S:F456L, which contributes to its escape from humoral immunity. EG.5.1 has further evolved, and its descendant lineage harboring S:L455F (i.e., EG.5.1+S:L455F) emerged and was named HK.3 (XBB.1.9.2.5.1.1.3). HK.3 was initially discovered in East Asia and is rapidly spreading worldwide. Notably, the XBB subvariants bearing both S:L455F and S:F456L substitutions, including HK.3, are called the FLip variants. These FLip variants, such as JG.3 (XBB.1.9.2.5.1.3.3), JF.1 (XBB.1.16.6.1) and GK.3 (XBB.1.5.70.3), have emerged convergently, suggesting that the acquisition of these two substitutions confers a growth advantage to XBB in the human population. Here, we investigated the virological properties of HK.3 as a representative of the FLip variants.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron HK.3 variant harboring the “FLip” substitution
• SARS-CoV-2 nsp15 endoribonuclease antagonizes dsRNA-induced antiviral signaling -
  Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 has caused millions of deaths since emerging in 2019. Innate immune antagonism by lethal CoVs such as SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for optimal replication and pathogenesis. The conserved nonstructural protein 15 (nsp15) endoribonuclease (EndoU) limits activation of double-stranded (ds)RNA-induced pathways, including interferon (IFN) signaling, protein kinase R (PKR), and oligoadenylate synthetase/ribonuclease L (OAS/RNase L) during diverse CoV infections including murine coronavirus and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV. To determine how nsp15 functions during SARS-CoV-2 infection, we constructed a mutant recombinant SARS-CoV-2 (nsp15mut) expressing a catalytically inactive nsp15. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 nsp15mut led to increased activation of the IFN signaling and PKR pathways in lung-derived epithelial cell lines and primary nasal epithelial air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures as well as significant attenuation of replication in ALI cultures compared to wild-type (WT) virus. This replication defect was rescued when IFN signaling was inhibited with the Janus activated kinase (JAK) inhibitor ruxolitinib. Finally, to assess nsp15 function in the context of minimal (MERS-CoV) or moderate (SARS-CoV-2) innate immune induction, we compared infections with SARS-CoV-2 nsp15mut and previously described MERS-CoV nsp15 mutants. Inactivation of nsp15 had a more dramatic impact on MERS-CoV replication than SARS-CoV-2 in both Calu3 cells and nasal ALI cultures suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 can better tolerate innate immune responses. Taken together, SARS-CoV-2 nsp15 is a potent inhibitor of dsRNA-induced innate immune response and its antagonism of IFN signaling is necessary for optimal viral replication in primary nasal ALI culture.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: SARS-CoV-2 nsp15 endoribonuclease antagonizes dsRNA-induced antiviral signaling
• Using early detection data to estimate the date of emergence of an epidemic outbreak -

  While the first infection by an emerging disease is often unknown, information on early cases can be used to date it, which is of great interest to trace the disease9s origin and understand early infection dynamics. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, previous studies have estimated the date of emergence (e.g., first human SARS-CoV-2 infection in Wuhan, emergence of the Alpha variant in the UK) using mainly genomic data. Another dating attempt only relied on case data, estimating a date of emergence using a non-Markovian stochastic model and considering the first case detection. Here, we extend this stochastic approach to use available data of the whole early case dynamics. Our model provides estimates of the delay from the first infection to the N^th reported case. We first validate our model using data concerning the spread of the Alpha SARS-CoV-2 variant in the UK. Our results suggest that the first Alpha infection occurred on (median) August 21 (95% interquantile range across retained simulations, IqR: July 23-September 5), 2020. Next, we apply our model to data on the early reported cases of COVID-19. We used data on the date of symptom onset up to mid-January, 2020. We date the first SARS-CoV-2 infection in Wuhan at (median) November 28 (95%IqR: November 2-December 9), 2019. Our results fall within ranges previously estimated by studies relying on genomic data. Our population dynamics-based modelling framework is generic and flexible, and thus can be applied to estimate the starting time of outbreaks, in contexts other than COVID-19, as long as some key parameters (such as transmission and detection rates) are known.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Using early detection data to estimate the date of emergence of an epidemic outbreak
• VIGIL (Video In Geriatric Intervention cLinic): A randomised controlled feasibility trial protocol comparing face-to-face and video delivery of a specialist preoperative clinic for older people. -

  The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in significant challenges to the provision of face-to-face clinics in geriatric perioperative care (G-POC). There are no studies evaluating the use of telemedicine in this population. A pilot study at North Bristol NHS Trust demonstrated that delivery of GPOC clinics via video consultation was feasible, but did not record outcome measures to demonstrate effectiveness and was not compared to face to face clinic. This study aims to provide proof of concept examining the outcomes of virtual G-POC consultations, compared to a face-to-face clinic, using standardised perioperative outcomes. It will test the feasibility of the intervention with a view to developing a randomised controlled trial.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: VIGIL (Video In Geriatric Intervention cLinic): A randomised controlled feasibility trial protocol comparing face-to-face and video delivery of a specialist preoperative clinic for older people.
• A Competing Risk Analysis of Early COVID-19 Treatments -

  Objective: To analyze the treatment outcomes for COVID-19 during the early stages of the pandemic at the Mexican Institute of Social Security. Material and Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we investigated 130,216 patients with COVID-19 treated in two Mexican states during 2020. A competing risk analysis was performed using death and recovery as possible outcomes, followed by a cox-regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Additionally, machine learning models were built to predict the outcomes at fixed times. Results: Higher prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease comorbidities were found, which is consistent with Mexico′s epidemiological profile. Mortality occurred around 15-20 days from the start of symptoms. Patients undertaking cephalosporin in combination with neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) had the worst survival rates, while patients undertaking adamantane, fluoroquinolone, or penicillin had the best survival rates. Conclusions: Our findings recommend against using specific treatment combinations, and should help improve the country′s clinical guidelines. Keywords: Coronavirus Infections, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Antiviral Agents, Pragmatic Clinical Trials as Topic, Machine Learning, Mexico

  🖺 Full Text HTML: A Competing Risk Analysis of Early COVID-19 Treatments
• Cost-effective boosting allocations in the post-Omicron era of COVID-19 management -

  Background Following widespread exposure to Omicron variants, COVID-19 has transitioned to endemic cir- culation. Populations now have diverse infection and vaccination histories, resulting in heterogeneous immune landscapes. Careful consideration of vaccination is required through the post-Omicron phase of COVID-19 management to minimise disease burden. We assess the impact and cost-effectiveness of targeted COVID-19 vaccination strategies to support global vaccination recommendations. Methods We integrated immunological, transmission, clinical and cost-effectiveness models, and simulated populations with different characteristics and immune landscapes. We calculated the expected number of infections, hospitalisations and deaths for different vaccine scenarios. Costs (from a healthcare perspective) were estimated for exemplar country income level groupings in the Western Pacific Region. Results are reported as incremental costs and disability-adjusted life years averted compared to no additional vaccination. Parameter and stochastic uncertainty were captured through scenario and sensitivity analysis. Findings Across different population demographics and income levels, we consistently found that annual elder-targeted boosting strategies are most likely to be cost-effective or cost-saving, while paediatric programs are unlikely to be cost-effective. Results remained consistent while accounting for uncertain- ties in the epidemiological and economic models. Half-yearly boosting may only be cost-effective in higher income settings with older population demographics and higher cost-effectiveness thresholds. Interpretation These results demonstrate the value of continued booster vaccinations to protect against severe COVID-19 disease outcomes across high and middle-income settings and show that the biggest health gains relative to vaccine costs are achieved by targeting older age-groups. Funding Funded by the World Health Organization.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Cost-effective boosting allocations in the post-Omicron era of COVID-19 management
• Wastewater surveillance pilot at US military installations: a cost model analysis -

  Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted the need for pathogen surveillance systems to augment both early warning and outbreak monitoring/control efforts. Wastewater samples provide a rapid and accurate source of environmental surveillance data to complement direct patient sampling. Due to its global presence and critical missions, the US military is a leader in global pandemic preparedness efforts. Clinical testing for COVID-19 on US Air Force (USAF) bases (AFBs) was effective, but costly with respect to direct costs and indirect costs of lost time. To remain operating at peak capacity such bases sought a more passive surveillance option and piloted wastewater surveillance (WWS) at 17 AFBs to demonstrate feasibility, safety, and utility from May 2021 to January 2022. Objective: Here we model the costs of a wastewater program for pathogens of pandemic potential within the specific context of US military installations using assumptions based on the results of the USAF and Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND) pilot program. The objective was to determine the cost of deploying WWS to all AFBs, relative to clinical swab testing surveillance regimes. Methods: A simple WWS cost projection model was built based on subject matter expert input and actual costs incurred during a WWS pilot program at USAF AFBs. Several SARS-CoV-2 circulation scenarios were considered and costs of both WWS and clinical swab testing were projected. Break even analysis was conducted to determine how reduction in swab testing could open up space to enable WWS to occur in complement. Results: Our model confirms that wastewater surveillance is complimentary and highly cost-effective when compared to existing alternative forms of biosurveillance. We find that the cost of WWS was between $10.5 - $18.5 million less expensive annually in direct costs as compared to clinical swab testing surveillance. When indirect cost of lost work is incorporated, including assumed lost work required to go obtain a clinical swab test, we estimate that over two thirds of clinical swab testing could be maintained with no additional costs upon implementation of WWS. Conclusions: Our results support adoption of wastewater surveillance across US military installations as part of a more comprehensive and early warning system that will enable adaptive monitoring during disease outbreaks.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Wastewater surveillance pilot at US military installations: a cost model analysis
• The lasting earnings losses of COVID-19 short-time work -
  This study is the first to investigate the impact of short-time work (STW) schemes during the COVID-19 pandemic on earnings after STW. STW schemes have been implemented to preserve employee-employer matches, support workers’ incomes and uphold consumption. By construction, affected workers suffer temporary earnings losses, yet an important question is whether negative earnings effects of STW persist beyond the STW period or are limited to the STW spell. Using a dynamic difference-in-difference (DiD) identification strategy on administrative data, this study aims to identify any lasting STW effects on earnings, accounting for the factors that influence the selection of workers into STW and testing for heterogeneous effects across subgroups of workers. We find lasting earnings losses that persist beyond the actual STW participation. First and foremost, these earnings losses depend on the duration of STW exposure, with greater negative effects especially in the case of long-term or recurring STW spells. In general, lasting earnings losses post STW tend to be more pronounced in white-collar jobs. The largest losses, however, are observed among men in blue-collar jobs with long STW spells of more than one year.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The lasting earnings losses of COVID-19 short-time work

From Clinical Trials

• A Multicenter, Adaptive, Randomized, doublE-blinded, Placebo-controlled Study in Participants With Long COVID-19: The REVIVE Trial - Conditions: Long COVID-19 Syndrome; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  Interventions: Drug: Fluvoxamine Maleate 100 MG; Drug: Placebo; Drug: Metformin Extended Release Oral Tablet
  Sponsors: Cardresearch
  Recruiting

• Clinical Evaluation of the Panbio™ COVID-19/Flu A&B Panel - Conditions: COVID-19; Influenza A; Influenza B
  Interventions: Diagnostic Test: Panbio™
  Sponsors: Abbott Rapid Dx
  Not yet recruiting

• Connecting Friends and Health Workers to Boost COVID-19 Vaccination in Latino Communities - Conditions: COVID-19; Vaccine
  Interventions: Behavioral: REDES; Behavioral: Control
  Sponsors: Johns Hopkins University; National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD); Rutgers University
  Recruiting

• Influence of Hypoxic, Normobaric and Hypobaric Training on the Immunometabolism of Post-covid-19 Athletes - Conditions: Normobaric Hypoxia; Hypoventilation; Normoxia
  Interventions: Other: Repeated sprint
  Sponsors: Faculdade de Motricidade Humana; University of Sao Paulo; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior.
  Not yet recruiting

• The Safety and Tolerability of A8G6 COVID-19 Neutralization Antibody Combined With Nasal Spray - Conditions: SARS-CoV-2; Prevention
  Interventions: Biological: A8G6 SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Antibody combination nasal spray; Other: A8G6 SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Antibody nasal excipient
  Sponsors: The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
  Recruiting

• Building Engagement Using Financial Incentives Trial - Colorectal Cancer Screening - Conditions: Health Behavior; Colorectal Cancer; Influenza; COVID-19; Vaccine Hesitancy; Vaccine-Preventable Diseases; Healthcare Patient Acceptance
  Interventions: Behavioral: Financial incentive for colorectal cancer screening; Behavioral: Financial incentive for flu shot; Behavioral: Financial incentive for COVID-19 shot
  Sponsors: Tulane University; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
  Recruiting

• Clinical Evaluation of the Panbio™ COVID-19/Flu A&B Panel to Support Home Use - Conditions: COVID-19; Influenza A; Influenza Type B
  Interventions: Diagnostic Test: Panbio™ COVID-19/Flu A&B Panel
  Sponsors: Abbott Rapid Dx
  Recruiting

• Effects of Rehabilitation Combined With a Maintenance Program Compared to Rehabilitation Alone in Post-COVID-19 - Conditions: Post-COVID-19 Syndrome
  Interventions: Procedure: Rehabilitation combined to a digital maintenance program; Procedure: Rehabilitation without maintenance program
  Sponsors: Schön Klinik Berchtesgadener Land; Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care (Funding); Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund (German pension insurance) (Design); Betriebskrankenkassen Landesverband Bayern (Bavarian health insurance) (Design)
  Not yet recruiting

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Literacy for Primary Schools Teachers. A Multicomponent Intervention - Conditions: Child Mental Health
  Interventions: Behavioral: Child Mental Health Literacy Program
  Sponsors: Universidad de Valparaiso
  Recruiting

• Brief Digital Intervention to Increase COVID-19 Vaccination Among Individuals With Anxiety or Depression - Conditions: Misinformation; Vaccine Hesitancy; Anxiety; Depression; COVID-19
  Interventions: Behavioral: Attitudinal inoculation; Behavioral: Cognitive-behavioral therapy-informed intervention; Behavioral: Conventional public health messaging
  Sponsors: City University of New York, School of Public Health; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  Not yet recruiting

• Pilot Randomized Study of RD-X19 Tx Device in Subjects With PCC (Long Covid) in the Outpatient Setting - Conditions: Post COVID-19 Condition (PCC)
  Interventions: Device: RDX-19
  Sponsors: KNOWBio Inc.; NAMSA
  Recruiting

• A PhaseⅡ Study to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of COVID-19 Vaccine - Conditions: SARS-CoV-2 Infection
  Interventions: Biological: COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (ZSVG-02-O); Biological: COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (ZSVG-02-O); Biological: COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell) ,Inactivated
  Sponsors: CNBG-Virogin Biotech (Shanghai) Ltd.
  Recruiting

• CPAP Therapy Through a Helmet or a Full Face Mask in Patients With Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure: Cross-over Study - Conditions: Pneumonia, Bacterial; Respiratory Failure; COVID-19 Pneumonia
  Interventions: Diagnostic Test: Arterial blood gases; Diagnostic Test: Respiratory rate (RR); Diagnostic Test: Pulseoximeter; Diagnostic Test: Assessment of accessory respiratory muscles work; Diagnostic Test: Esophageal pressure measurement; Diagnostic Test: Discomfort Visual Analog Scale (VAS); Diagnostic Test: Noninvasive blood pressure; Diagnostic Test: Heart rate
  Sponsors: I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University
  Recruiting

• Investigation of Efficacy and Safety of Electrical Signal Therapy Provided by Dr Biolyse® Device in COVID-19 Disease - Conditions: COVID-19 Pneumonia; Virus Diseases; COVID-19
  Interventions: Device: Signal Therapy provided by Dr.Biolyse device; Other: Liquid Support Treatment
  Sponsors: AVB Biotechnology
  Recruiting

• A Phase 1 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of COVID-19 Vaccine - Conditions: SARS-CoV-2 Infection
  Interventions: Biological: Placebo; Biological: COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell) ,Inactivated; Biological: COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (ZSVG-02-O) 10 μg; Biological: COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (ZSVG-02-O) 30 μg; Biological: COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (ZSVG-02-O) 60 μg
  Sponsors: CNBG-Virogin Biotech (Shanghai) Ltd.; Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital
  Recruiting

From PubMed

• Engineered Nanovesicles Expressing Bispecific Single Chain Variable Fragments to Protect against SARS-CoV-2 Infection - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Although the epidemic has been controlled in many areas and numerous patients have been successfully treated, the risk of reinfection persists due to the low neutralizing antibody titers and weak immune response. To provide long-term immune protection for infected patients, novel bispecific CB6/dendritic cell (DC)-specific…

• Molecular Design of Novel Inhibitor by TargetingIL-6Rα using Combined Pharmacophore and Experimentally Verified Plant Products with Scaffold-Hopping Techniques: A Dual Therapeutic Strategy for COVID-19 and Cancer - The IL-6/IL-6R/gp130 complex serves as a significant indicator of cytokine release syndrome in COVID-19 and chronic inflammation, increasing the risk of cancer. Therefore, we identified IL-6Rα as a potential target to block gp130 interaction. Notably, there has been no reception of approval for an orally available drug to serve this purpose, to date. In this study, we targeted IL-6Rα to inhibit IL-6Rα/gp130 interaction. The selection of the lead candidate L821 involved the amalgamation of three…

• The matrix metalloproteinase ADAM10 supports hepatitis C virus entry and cell-to-cell spread via its sheddase activity - Hepatitis C virus (HCV) exploits the four entry factors CD81, scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI, also known as SCARB1), occludin, and claudin-1 as well as the co-factor epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) to infect human hepatocytes. Here, we report that the disintegrin and matrix metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) associates with CD81, SR-BI, and EGFR and acts as HCV host factor. Pharmacological inhibition, siRNA-mediated silencing and genetic ablation of ADAM10 reduced HCV infection….

• Structure-based virtual screening, ADMET analysis, and molecular dynamics simulation of Moroccan natural compounds as candidates for the SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors - The lack of treatments and vaccines effective against SARS-CoV-2 has forced us to explore natural compounds that could potentially inhibit this virus. Additionally, Morocco is renowned for its rich plant diversity and traditional medicinal uses, which inspires us to leverage our cultural heritage and the abundance of natural resources in our country for therapeutic purposes. In this study, an extensive investigation was conducted to gather a collection of phytoconstituents extracted from…

• The double-edged sword of the hippocampus-ventromedial prefrontal cortex resting-state connectivity in stress susceptibility and resilience: A prospective study - The hippocampus has long been considered a pivotal region implicated in both stress susceptibility and resilience. A wealth of evidence from animal and human studies underscores the significance of hippocampal functional connectivity with the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in these stress-related processes. However, there remains a scarcity of research that explores and contrasts the roles of hippocampus-vmPFC connectivity in stress susceptibility and resilience when facing a real-life…

• Influenza A virus replication has a stronger dependency on Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway activity than SARS-CoV-2 - The recent COVID-19 pandemic again highlighted the urgent need for broad-spectrum antivirals, both for therapeutic use in acute viral infection and for pandemic preparedness in general. The targeting of host cell factors hijacked by viruses during their replication cycle presents one possible strategy for development of broad-spectrum antivirals. By inhibiting the Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway, a central kinase cascade of eukaryotic cells, which is being exploited by numerous viruses of…

• Coffee as a dietary strategy to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection - CONCLUSIONS: This study verified moderate coffee consumption, including decaffeination, can provide a new guideline for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2. Based on the results, we also suggest a coffee-drinking plan for people to prevent infection in the post-COVID-19 era.

• Weak SARS-CoV-2-specific responses of TIGIT-expressing CD8+ T cells in people living with HIV after a third dose of a SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine - CONCLUSION: TIGIT expression on CD8+ T cells may hinder the T-cell immune response to a booster dose of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, suggesting weakened resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially in PLWH. Furthermore, TIGIT may be used as a potential target to increase the production of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of vaccination.

• Intranasal G5-BGG/pDNA vaccine elicits protective systemic and mucosal immunity against SARS-CoV-2 by transfecting mucosal dendritic cells - Infectious disease pandemics, including the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, have heightened the demand for vaccines that provide both disease protection and transmission inhibition. Although parenteral vaccines induce robust systemic immunity, their effectiveness in respiratory mucosae is limited. Considering the crucial role of nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) in mucosal immune responses, in this study, the intranasal complex composed of G5-BGG and antigen-expressing plasmid DNA…

• Colloidal aggregation confounds cell-based Covid-19 antiviral screens - Colloidal aggregation is one of the largest contributors to false-positives in early drug discovery and chemical biology. Much work has focused on its impact on pure-protein screens; here we consider aggregations role in cell-based infectivity assays in Covid-19 drug repurposing. We began by investigating the potential aggregation of 41 drug candidates reported as SARs-CoV-2 entry inhibitors. Of these, 17 formed colloidal-particles by dynamic light scattering and exhibited detergent-dependent…

• Application of Luteolin in Neoplasms and Nonneoplastic Diseases - Researchers are amazed at the multitude of biological effects of 3’,4’,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone, more commonly known as luteolin, as it simultaneously has antioxidant and pro-oxidant, as well as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and cancer-preventive, properties. The anticancer properties of luteolin constitute a mosaic of pathways due to which this flavonoid influences cancer cells. Not only is it able to induce apoptosis and inhibit cancer cell proliferation, but it also suppresses angiogenesis…

• HSP90AB1 Is a Host Factor Required for Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus Infection - Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) is an important swine enteric coronavirus causing viral diarrhea in pigs of all ages. Currently, the development of antiviral agents targeting host proteins to combat viral infection has received great attention. The heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is a critical host factor and has important regulatory effects on the infection of various viruses. However, its roles in porcine coronavirus infection remain unclear. In this study, the effect of HSP90 on TGEV…

• Therapeutic Effect and Safety Evaluation of Naringin on Klebsiella pneumoniae in Mice - Critically ill patients with Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) often develop secondary bacterial infections that pose a significant threat to patient life safety, making the development of drugs to prevent bacterial infections in the lungs critical to clinical care. Naringin (NAR) is one of the significant natural flavonoids rich in Pummelo Peel (Hua Ju Hong), with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities, and is commonly used in treating respiratory tract infectious…

• Interaction of Methylene Blue with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Envelope Revealed by Molecular Modeling - Methylene blue has multiple antiviral properties against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The ability of methylene blue to inhibit different stages of the virus life cycle, both in light-independent and photodynamic processes, is used in clinical practice. At the same time, the molecular aspects of the interactions of methylene blue with molecular components of coronaviruses are not fully understood. Here, we use Brownian dynamics to identify methylene blue…

• Genetic Predisposition to Elevated Levels of Circulating ADAM17 Is Associated with the Risk of Severe COVID-19 - High levels of ADAM17 activity have emerged as an important mediator in severe COVID-19. This study aims to characterize eventual causal relationships between ADAM17 and COVID-19. Using Mendelian randomization analyses, we examined the causal effects of circulating ADAM17 on COVID-19 outcomes using summary statistics from large, genome-wide association studies of ADAM17 (up to 35,559 individuals) from the Icelandic Cancer Project and deCODE genetics, as well as critically ill COVID-19 patients…

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