Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

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

From Preprints

• Comparison of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants in Australian children -

  There is limited understanding of antibody responses in children across different SARS-CoV-2 variants. As part of an ongoing household cohort study, we assessed the antibody response among unvaccinated children infected with Wuhan, Delta or Omicron variants, as well as vaccinated children with breakthrough Omicron infection, using a SARS-CoV-2 S1-specific IgG assay and surrogate virus neutralisation test (sVNT). Most children infected with Delta (100%, 35/35) or Omicron (81.3%, 13/16) variants seroconverted by one month following infection. In contrast, 37.5% (21/56) children infected with Wuhan seroconverted, as previously reported. However, Omicron-infected children (GMC 46.4 BAU/ml; sVNT % inhibition: 16.3%) mounted a significantly lower antibody response than Delta (435.5 BAU/mL, sVNT=76.9%) or Wuhan (359.0 BAU/mL, sVNT=74.0%). Vaccinated children with breakthrough Omicron infection mounted the highest antibody response (2856 BAU/mL, sVNT=96.5%). Our findings suggest that despite a high seroconversion rate, Omicron infection in children results in lower antibody levels and function compared with Wuhan or Delta infection or with vaccinated children with breakthrough Omicron infection. Our data have important implications for public health measures and vaccination strategies to protect children.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Comparison of antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants in Australian children
• Longitudinal analysis of serum neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2, BA.4 and BA.5 in patients receiving monoclonal antibodies -

  The emergence of novel Omicron lineages, such as BA.5, may impact the therapeutic efficacy of anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Here, we evaluated the neutralization and ADCC activity of 6 therapeutic mAbs against Delta, BA.2, BA.4 and BA.5 isolates. The Omicron sub-variants escaped most of the antibodies but remained sensitive to Bebtelovimab and Cilgavimab. Consistent with their shared spike sequence, BA.4 and BA.5 displayed identical neutralization profiles. Sotrovimab was the most efficient at eliciting ADCC. We also analyzed 121 sera from 40 immunocompromised individuals up to 6 months after infusion of 1200 mg of Ronapreve (Imdevimab + Casirivimab), and 300 or 600 mg of Evusheld (Cilgavimab + Tixagevimab). Sera from Ronapreve-treated individuals did not neutralize Omicron subvariants. Evusheld-treated individuals neutralized BA.2 and BA.5, but titers were reduced by 41- and 130-fold, respectively, compared to Delta. A longitudinal evaluation of sera from Evusheld-treated patients revealed a slow decay of mAb levels and neutralization. The decline was more rapid against BA.5. Our data shed light on the antiviral activities of therapeutic mAbs and the duration of effectiveness of Evusheld pre-exposure prophylaxis.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Longitudinal analysis of serum neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2, BA.4 and BA.5 in patients receiving monoclonal antibodies
• SARS-CoV-2 specific plasma cells acquire the phenotype of long-lived plasma cells in the human bone marrow -
  Establishment of long-lived plasma cells (PC) in the bone marrow (BM) is important for the development of long-term specific humoral immunity. While SARS-CoV-2-specific, resting, affinity-matured, IgG-secreting plasma cells were described in human bone marrow approx. 6-7 months after infection or vaccination, the long-term durability of these PC remains unclear. We here show that approximately 20% of SARS-CoV-2-specific human BM plasma cells, including RBD-specific PC accommodate the phenotype of long-lived plasma cells, characterized by the lack of CD19 and/or CD45. This result provides evidence in support of the emergence of persistent SARS-CoV-2 specific plasma cells in humans sustaining the durable production of specific serum IgG protecting against severe courses of COVID-19.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: SARS-CoV-2 specific plasma cells acquire the phenotype of long-lived plasma cells in the human bone marrow
• Memory B cell responses to Omicron subvariants after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA breakthrough infection -
  Individuals that receive a 3rd mRNA vaccine dose show enhanced protection against severe COVID19 but little is known about the impact of breakthrough infections on memory responses. Here, we examine the memory antibodies that develop after a 3rd or 4th antigenic exposure by Delta or Omicron BA.1 infection, respectively. A 3rd exposure to antigen by Delta breakthrough increases the number of memory B cells that produce antibodies with comparable potency and breadth to a 3rd mRNA vaccine dose. A 4th antigenic exposure with Omicron BA.1 infection increased variant specific plasma antibody and memory B cell responses. However, the 4th exposure did not increase the overall frequency of memory B cells or their general potency or breadth compared to a 3rd mRNA vaccine dose. In conclusion, a 3rd antigenic exposure by Delta infection elicits strain-specific memory responses and increases in the overall potency and breadth of the memory B cells. In contrast, the effects of a 4th antigenic exposure with Omicron BA.1 is limited to increased strain specific memory with little effect on the potency or breadth of memory B cell antibodies. The results suggest that the effect of strain-specific boosting on memory B cell compartment may be limited.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Memory B cell responses to Omicron subvariants after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA breakthrough infection
• The impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) related public-health measures on training behaviours of individuals previously participating in resistance training: A cross-sectional survey study -
  Introduction: Understanding the impact of lockdown upon RT, and how people adapted their RT behaviours, is expected to have implications for strategies to maintain engagement in positive health behaviours such as this during- restrictive pandemic-related public health measures. Further, doing so will provide a baseline for investigation of the long-term effects of these measures upon behaviours and perceptions and facilitate future follow-up study. Objectives: To determine how the onset of coronavirus (COVID-19), and the associated ‘lockdown’, affected resistance training (RT) behaviours, in addition to motivation, perceived effectiveness, enjoyment, and intent to continue, in those who regularly performed resistance training RT prior to the pandemic. Methods: We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study using online surveys in multiple languages (English, Danish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Slovakian, Swedish, and Japanese) distributed across social media platforms and through authors professional and personal networks. Adults (n = 5389 after data cleaning; median age = 31 years [interquartile range (IQR) = 25, 38]), who were previously engaged in RT prior to lockdown (median prior RT experience = 7 years [IQR = 4, 12]) participated. Outcomes were self-reported RT behaviours including: continuation of RT during lockdown, location of RT, purchase of specific equipment for RT, method of training (e.g. alone, supervision etc.), full-body or split routine, types of training, repetition ranges, exercise number, set volumes (per exercise and muscle group), weekly frequency of training, perception of effort, whether training was planned/recorded, time of day, and training goals. Secondary outcomes included motivation, perceived effectiveness, enjoyment, and intent to continue RT. Results: A majority of individuals (82.8%) maintained participation in some form of RT during- lockdown. Marginal probabilities from generalised linear models and generalised estimating equations of engaging in certain RT behaviours were largely similar from pre- to during- lockdown (particularly numbers of exercises, sets per exercise or muscle group, and weekly frequencies). There was reduced probability of training in privately owned gyms (~59% to ~7%) and increased probability of training at home (~18% to ~89%); greater probability of training using a full-body routine (~38% to ~51%); reduced probability of resistance machines (~66% to ~13%) and free weight use (~96% to ~81%), and increased probability of bodyweight training (~62% to ~82%); reduced probability of moderate repetition ranges (~62-82% to ~55-66%) and greater probability of higher repetition ranges (~27% to ~49%); and moderate reduction in the perception of effort experienced during- training (r = 0.31). Further, individuals were slightly less likely to plan or record training during- lockdown and many changed their training goals as a result of lockdown. Additionally, perceived effectiveness, enjoyment, and likelihood of continuing current training were all lower during- lockdown. Conclusions: Those engaged in RT prior to lockdown appeared mostly able to maintain these behaviours with only slight adaptations in both the location and types of training performed. However, people employed less effort, had lower motivation, and perceived training as less effective and enjoyable, reporting that their likelihood of continuing current training was similar or lower than pre- lockdown. These results have implications for strategies to maintain engagement in positive health behaviours such as RT during- restrictive pandemic-related public health measures.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) related public-health measures on training behaviours of individuals previously participating in resistance training: A cross-sectional survey study
• The emergence of high-fitness variants accelerates the decay of genome heterogeneity in the coronavirus -
  Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus accumulated an important amount of genome compositional heterogeneity through mutation and recombination, which can be summarized by means of a measure of Sequence Compositional Complexity (SCC). To test evolutionary trends that could inform us on the adaptive process of the virus to its human host, we compute SCC in high-quality coronavirus genomes from across the globe, covering the full span of the pandemic. By using phylogenetic ridge regression, we find trends for SCC in the short time-span of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic expansion. In early samples, we find no statistical support for any trend in SCC values over time, although the virus genome appears to evolve faster than Brownian Motion expectation. However, in samples taken after the emergence of Variants of Concern with higher transmissibility, and controlling for phylogenetic and sampling effects, we detect a declining trend for SCC and an increasing one for its absolute evolutionary rate. This means that the decay in SCC itself accelerated over time, and that increasing fitness of variant genomes lead to a reduction of their genome sequence heterogeneity. Therefore, our work shows that phylogenetic trends, typical of macroevolutionary time scales, can be also revealed on the shorter time spans typical of viral genomes.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The emergence of high-fitness variants accelerates the decay of genome heterogeneity in the coronavirus
• Measuring and validating spatial accessibility to Covid-19 vaccination sites: a case study in England -
  The global Covid-19 pandemic has caused numerous deaths and illnesses and posed unprecedented social and economic challenges to many countries. One of the key strategies to contain the pandemic is mass vaccination. While it is essential to ensure safe and easy accessibility to Covid-19 vaccines for all communities, limited research has been carried out to understand and validate the spatial accessibility of these vaccines. This study addresses this gap by measuring and validating the spatial accessibility to Covid-19 vaccines with a particular focus on England, United Kingdom. More specifically, we compare three floating catchment area (FCA) methods with differing parameters for measuring the small-scale spatial accessibility to vaccination services. Then, we calibrate these accessibility measurements using a beta regression model and the reported vaccination uptake rates. The results show that the three-step FCA method with a distance parameter of 30 miles is the optimal model for measuring the spatial accessibility to Covid-19 vaccines. The findings provide an improved understanding of the spatial inequality of vaccine services. Further, the framework of calibrating spatial accessibility to vaccine services is generalisable to other types of healthcare services.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Measuring and validating spatial accessibility to Covid-19 vaccination sites: a case study in England
• COVID-19 convalescent plasma for the treatment of immunocompromised patients: a systematic review. -

  Immunosuppressed patients have increased risk for morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 because they less frequently mount antibody responses to vaccines and often cannot tolerate small-molecule antivirals. The Omicron variant of concern of SARS-CoV-2 has progressively defeated anti-Spike mAbs authorized so far, paving the way to a return to COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) therapy. In this systematic review we performed a metanalysis of 8 controlled studies (totaling 469 treated patients and 1305 controls and including 3 randomized controlled trials), an individual patient data analysis of 125 case reports/series (totaling 265 patients), and a descriptive analysis of 13 uncontrolled large case series without individual patient data available (totaling 358 patients). The metanalysis of controlled studies showed a risk ratio for mortality of 0.63 (0.58 in randomized controlled trials) in treatment with CCP versus standard of care for immunosuppressed COVID-19 patients. On the basis of this evidence, we encourage initiation of high-titer CCP from vaccinees (hybrid plasma) in immunocompromised patients.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: COVID-19 convalescent plasma for the treatment of immunocompromised patients: a systematic review.
• **HLA-A*01:01 allele vanishing in COVID-19 patients population associated with non-structural epitope abundance in CD8+ T-cell repertoire** -

  In mid-2021, the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant caused the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in several countries worldwide. The pivotal studies were aimed at studying changes in the efficiency of neutralizing antibodies to the spike protein. However, much less attention was paid to the T-cell response and the presentation of virus peptides by MHC-I molecules. In this study, we compared the features of the HLA-I genotype in symptomatic patients with COVID-19 in the first and third waves of the pandemic. As a result, we could identify the vanishing of carriers of the HLA-A01:01 allele in the third wave and demonstrate the unique properties of this allele. Thus, HLA-A01:01-binding immunodominant epitopes are mostly derived from ORF1ab. A set of epitopes from ORF1ab was tested, and their high immunogenicity was confirmed. Moreover, analysis of the results of single-cell phenotyping of T-cells in recovered patients showed that the predominant phenotype in HLA-A*01:01 carriers is central memory T-cells. The predominance of T-lymphocytes of this phenotype may contribute to forming long-term T-cell immunity in carriers of this allele. Our results can be the basis for highly effective vaccines based on ORF1ab peptides.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: HLA-A*01:01 allele vanishing in COVID-19 patients population associated with non-structural epitope abundance in CD8+ T-cell repertoire
• Population disruption: estimating changes in population distribution in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic -

  Mobility data have demonstrated major changes in human movement patterns in response to COVID-19 and associated interventions in many countries. This can involve sub-national redistribution, short-term relocations as well as international migration. In this paper, we combine detailed location data from Facebook measuring the location of approximately 6 million daily active Facebook users in 5km2 tiles in the UK with census-derived population estimates to measure population mobility and redistribution. We provide time-varying population estimates and assess spatial population changes with respect to population density and four key reference dates in 2020 (First lockdown, End of term, Beginning of term, Christmas). We also show how population estimates derived from the distribution of Facebook users vary compared to mid-2020 small area population estimates by the UK national statistics agencies. We estimate that between March 2020 and March 2021, the total population of the UK declined and we identify important spatial variations in this population change, showing that low-density areas have experienced lower population decreases than urban areas. We estimate that, for the top 10% highest population tiles, the population has decreased by 6.6%. Further, we provide evidence that geographic redistributions of population within the UK coincide with dates of non-pharmaceutical interventions including lockdowns and movement restrictions, as well as seasonal patterns of migration around holiday dates. The methods used in this study reveal significant changes in population distribution at high spatial and temporal resolutions that have not previously been quantified by available demographic surveys in the UK. We found early indicators of potential longer-term changes in the population distribution of the UK although it is not clear if these changes may persist after the COVID-19 pandemic.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Population disruption: estimating changes in population distribution in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Investigating orthographic versus auditory cross-situational word learning with online and lab-based research -
  In recent years, cross-situational word learning (CSWL) paradigms have shown that novel words can be learned through implicit statistical learning. So far, CSWL studies using adult populations have focused on the presentation of spoken words (auditory information), however, words can also be learned through their written form (orthographic information). This study compares auditory and orthographic presentation of novel words with different degrees of phonological overlap using the CSWL paradigm. Additionally, we also present a lab-based and online-based approach to testing behavioural experiments. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, lab testing was prematurely terminated, and testing was continued online using a newly created online testing protocol. Analyses first compared accuracy and response times across modalities, with our findings showing better and faster recognition performance for CSWL when novel words are presented through their written (orthographic condition) than through their spoken forms (auditory condition). As well, Bayesian modelling found that accuracy for the auditory condition was higher online compared to the lab-based experiment, whereas performance in the orthography condition was high in both experiments and generally outperformed the auditory condition. We discuss the implications of our findings for modality of presentation, as well as the benefits of our online testing protocol and its implementation for future research.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Investigating orthographic versus auditory cross-situational word learning with online and lab-based research
• Partisan Selectivity in Blame Attribution: Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic -
  Crises and disasters give voters an opportunity to observe the incumbent’s response and reward or punish them for successes and failures. Yet even when voters perceive events similarly, they tend to attribute responsibility selectively, disproportionately crediting their party for positive developments and blaming opponents for negative developments. We examine selective attribution during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, reporting three key findings. First, selective attribution rapidly emerged during the first weeks of the pandemic, a time in which Democrats and Republicans were otherwise updating their perceptions and behavior in parallel. Second, selective attribution is caused by individual-level changes in perceptions of the pandemic. Third, existing research has been too quick to explain selective attribution in terms of partisan-motivated reasoning. We find stronger evidence for an explanation rooted in beliefs about presidential competence. This recasts selective attribution’s implications for democratic accountability.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Partisan Selectivity in Blame Attribution: Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Estimation of the Total Number of Infected Cases in the 5th Wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong -

  The total number of infected cases in a region in an epidemic is an important measure of the severity of the disease. With the increase in the number of infected people, the number of susceptible people will be reduced, and the recovery number is increased. The present study attempts to estimate the total number of infected cases in the 5th wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong based on the daily additional cases supplied by the government based on two test schemes. Scheme 1 covers citizens suspected to be infected as referred by medical professionals, or requested or reported by citizens themselves, those returning from overseas, and those in close contact with the infected persons. Scheme 2 covers residents in buildings with a high concentration of virus in sewage. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and then rapid antigen test (RAT) after 26 February 2022 were accepted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Government in confirming infected cases. The number of infected cases in these two schemes were compared. A prediction model on infection case was proposed based on the transient daily infection curves. The averaged recovery number was estimated by assuming a 10-day infection period, including an incubation period of 5 days, and another 5 days for recovery. The transient number of infected, susceptible, recovered people were then presented. An adjustment factor to extend the scenario to the whole population of 7 million in Hong Kong was estimated and applied to study infection number in Hong Kong. Further, it appears that the infection number at the later stage of the 5th wave is weak around end July 2022. However, the number stayed at a constant value in comparing with rapid rise at the early stage in February 2022, even though the gathering activities were kept normal.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Estimation of the Total Number of Infected Cases in the 5th Wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong
• An evaluation of the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Zambia’s routine immunization program -

  Implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for both populations and healthcare systems are vast. In addition to morbidity and mortality from COVID-19, the pandemic also has disrupted local health systems, including reductions or delays in routine vaccination services and catch-up vaccination campaigns that could lead to outbreaks of other infectious diseases that result in an additional burden of disease and strain on the healthcare system. We evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Zambia9s routine childhood immunization program in 2020 using multiple sources of data. We relied on district-level administrative vaccination coverage data and Zambia9s 2018 Demographic and Health Survey to project disruptions to routine childhood vaccination within the pandemic year 2020 (N=5,670). Next, we leveraged serological data to predict age-specific measles seroprevalence and assessed the impact of changes in vaccination coverage on measles outbreak risk in each district. We found minor disruptions to routine administration of measles-rubella and pentavalent vaccines in 2020. This was in part due to Zambia9s Child Health Week held in June of 2020 which helped to reach children missed during the first six months of the year. We estimated that the two-month delay in a measles-rubella vaccination campaign, originally planned for September of 2020 but conducted in November of 2020 as a result of the pandemic, had little impact on modeled district-specific measles outbreak risks. The pandemic only minimally increased the number of children missed by measles-rubella and pentavalent vaccines in 2020. However, the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 transmission since our analysis concluded means efforts to maintain routine immunization services and minimize the risk of measles outbreaks will continue to be critical. Fortunately, the methodological framework developed in this analysis relied on routinely collected data and can be used to evaluate COVID-19 pandemic disruptions in Zambia following 2020 and in other countries or for other vaccines at a sub-national level.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: An evaluation of the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Zambia’s routine immunization program
• Risk factors for COVID-19 hospitalization or death during the first Omicron surge in adults: a large population-based case-control study -

  Background: Description of risk factors of severe acute COVID-19 outcomes with the consideration of vaccination status in the era of the Omicron variant of concern are limited. Objectives: To examine the association of age, sex, underlying medical conditions, and COVID-19 vaccination with hospitalization, intensive-care unit (ICU) admission, or death due to the disease, using data from a period when Omicron was the dominant strain. Methods: A population-based case-control study based on administrative health data, that included confirmed COVID-19 patients during January (2022) in Alberta, Canada. Patients who were non-residents, without the provincial healthcare insurance coverage, or <=18 years of age were excluded. Patients with any severe outcome were the cases; and those without any hospitalization, ICU admission, or death were controls. Adjusted odds ratios, of the explanatory factors of a severe outcome, were estimated using a logistic regression model. Results: There were 90,989 COVID-19 patients included in the analysis; 2% had severe outcomes and 98% were included in the control group. Overall, more COVID patients were found in the younger age-groups (72.0% <=49 years old), females (56.5%), with no underlying conditions (59.5%), and fully vaccinated patients (90.4%). However, the adjusted odds ratios were highest in the 70-79 age group (28.32; 95% CI 20.6-38.9) or among >=80 years old (29.8; 21.6-41.0), males (1.4; 1.3-1.6); unvaccinated (16.1; 13.8-18.8), or patients with >=3 underlying conditions (13.1; 10.9-15.8). Conclusion: Higher risk of severe acute COVID-19 outcomes were associated with older age, the male sex, and increased number of underlying medical conditions. Unvaccination or undervaccination remained as the greatest modifiable risk factor in prevention of severe COVID outcomes. These findings help inform medical decisions and allocation of scarce healthcare resources.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Risk factors for COVID-19 hospitalization or death during the first Omicron surge in adults: a large population-based case-control study

From Clinical Trials

• A Study to Measure the Amount of Study Medicine in Blood in Adult Participants With COVID-19 and Severe Kidney Disease - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Drug: PF-07321332 (nirmatrelvir)/ritonavir
  Sponsor:   Pfizer
  Not yet recruiting

• Cognitive Rehabilitation in Post-COVID-19 Condition - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Behavioral: Goal Management Training (GMT)
  Sponsors:   Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital;   University of Oslo;   Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai;   University of Toronto;   UiT The Arctic University of Norway;   Oslo University Hospital
  Not yet recruiting

• A Study of Booster Immunization With COVID-19 Vaccine,Inactivated Co -Administration With Influenza Vaccine and Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: Adult group in immunogenicity and safety study of combined immunization;   Biological: Elderly group in immunogenicity and safety study of combined immunization;   Biological: Adult group in safety observation study of combined immunization;   Biological: Elderly group in safety observation study of combined immunization
  Sponsor:   Sinovac Biotech Co., Ltd
  Completed

• Temelimab as a Disease Modifying Therapy in Patients With Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Post-COVID 19 or PASC Syndrome - Condition:   Post-COVID-19 Syndrome
  Interventions:   Drug: Temelimab 54mg/kg;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:   GeNeuro SA
  Not yet recruiting

• Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy and Increasing COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among African American Young Adults in the South - Conditions:   COVID-19;   Vaccine Uptake
  Intervention:   Behavioral: Tough Talks COVID
  Sponsors:   University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill;   University of Alabama at Birmingham;   National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
  Not yet recruiting

• rSIFN-co Among Healthy Subjects and Subjects With Mild or Asymptomatic COVID-19 - Conditions:   COVID-19;   SARS-CoV-2
  Interventions:   Drug: rSIFN-co Nasal Spray;   Drug: Placebo Nasal Spray
  Sponsor:   Sichuan Huiyang Life Science and Technology Corporation
  Recruiting

• EFFECTS OF INSPIRATORY MUSCLE TRAINING IN POST-COVID-19 PATIENTS - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Other: TREATMENT GROUP (TG);   Other: CONTROL GROUP (CG)
  Sponsor:   University Vila Velha
  Completed

• Long-term Effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the Central Nervous System and One-year Follow-up of “Long COVID-19” Patients - Condition:   Long Covid19
  Intervention:   Diagnostic Test: Perfusion brain scintigraphy imaging
  Sponsor:   Brugmann University Hospital
  Recruiting

• Active Cycle Of Breathing Technique Verses Breathing Exercises In Post ICU COVID-19 Patients - Condition:   Post Covid-19 Patients
  Interventions:   Other: Chest physiotherapy with breathing exercises and ACBT;   Other: Chest physiotherapy with breathing exercises
  Sponsor:   Riphah International University
  Recruiting

• Evaluation of Safety and Immunogenicity of the Recombinant ZR202-CoV and ZR202a-CoV Vaccines in Adults. - Conditions:   SARS-CoV-2 Infection;   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: ZR202-CoV;   Biological: ZR202a-CoV;   Biological: Comirnaty®
  Sponsor:   Shanghai Zerun Biotechnology Co.,Ltd
  Recruiting

• This Trial is a Clinical Performance Validation Study That Will Evaluate the Clinical Agreement of the Sky Medical™ Rapid Antigen Test Comparing the Antigen Rapid Test to RT-PCR - Conditions:   COVID-19;   Sars-CoV-2 Infection
  Intervention:   Diagnostic Test: Sky Medical™ Rapid Antigen Test
  Sponsor:   Sky Medical Supplies & Equipments, LLC
  Recruiting

• The Effect of Pilates on Biopsychosocial Characteristics in the Covid-19 Pandemic - Conditions:   COVID-19;   Healthy;   Sedentary;   Exercise;   Pilates
  Interventions:   Behavioral: Sedantary;   Behavioral: Exercise therapy
  Sponsor:   Medipol University
  Recruiting

• BERRY- a Study of Sambucol ® in the Treatment, and Reduction of Symptoms in Participants With Coronavirus 19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Dietary Supplement: Sambucol® Black Elderberry Original (Sambucus nigra) Liquid;   Dietary Supplement: Placebo for Sambucol® Black Elderberry Original (Sambucus nigra)
  Sponsor:   East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
  Completed

• Clinical Study of F61 Injection in Healthy Chinese Subjects - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: F61 injection;   Drug: F61 Placebo
  Sponsor:   Wuhan Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd
  Not yet recruiting

• The Effect Of Distraction Methods On Fear And Anxiety In Children Before The Covid 19 Test - Conditions:   Anxiety;   Fear
  Interventions:   Behavioral: The Kaleidescope;   Behavioral: The visual illusion cards
  Sponsor:   Ondokuz Mayıs University
  Completed

From PubMed

• Modeling SARS-CoV-2 and influenza infections and antiviral treatments in human lung epithelial tissue equivalents - There is a critical need for physiologically relevant, robust, and ready-to-use in vitro cellular assay platforms to rapidly model the infectivity of emerging viruses and develop new antiviral treatments. Here we describe the cellular complexity of human alveolar and tracheobronchial air liquid interface (ALI) tissue models during SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus (IAV) infections. Our results showed that both SARS-CoV-2 and IAV effectively infect these ALI tissues, with SARS-CoV-2 exhibiting a…

• Structure-Based Identification of Naphthoquinones and Derivatives as Novel Inhibitors of Main Protease M^pro and Papain-like Protease PL^pro of SARS-CoV-2 - The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 urgently demands novel direct antiviral treatments. The main protease (M^(pro)) and papain-like protease (PL^(pro)) are attractive drug targets among coronaviruses due to their essential role in processing the polyproteins translated from the viral RNA. In this study, we virtually screened 688 naphthoquinoidal compounds and derivatives against M^(pro) of SARS-CoV-2. Twenty-four derivatives were selected and evaluated in…

• SARS-CoV-2 infection and C1-esterase inhibitor: Camouflage pattern and new perspective - In Covid-19, the pathological effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection is arbitrated through direct viral toxicity, unusual immune response, endothelial dysfunction, deregulated renin-angiotensin system [RAS], and thrombo-inflammation leading to acute lung injury [ALI], with a succession of acute respiratory distress syndrome [ARDS] in critical conditions. C1 esterase inhibitor [C1INH] is a protease inhibitor that inhibits the spontaneous activation of complement and contact systems and kinin pathway,…

• The effect of reparixin on survival in patients at high risk for in-hospital mortality: a meta-analysis of randomized trials - CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis of randomized trials suggests that short-term inhibition of CXCL8 activity improved survival in patients at high risk for in-hospital mortality without increasing the risk of infection.

• Phytochemical Discrimination, Biological Activity and Molecular Docking of Water-Soluble Inhibitors from Saussurea costus Herb against Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2 - Siddha medicine is one of the oldest medical systems in the world and is believed to have originated more than 10,000 years ago and is prevalent across ancient Tamil land. It is undeniable that inhibitor preferences rise with increasing solubility in water due to the considerations pertaining to the bioavailability and the ease of which unabsorbed residues can be disposed of. In this study, we showed the phytochemical discrimination of Saussurea costus extracted with water at room temperature as…

• Antiviral and Antibacterial Effect of Honey Enriched with Rubus spp. as a Functional Food with Enhanced Antioxidant Properties - The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of blackberry and raspberry fruits (1 and 4%) and leaves (0.5 and 1%) on the biological activities of rape honey. Honey and plant material extracts were analyzed regarding total phenolic, flavonoid, anthocyanin contents, HPTLC and HPLC polyphenol profiles, as well as antioxidant activity. The antiviral potential was analyzed against bacteriophage phi 6-a coronavirus surrogate-whereas antimicrobial was tested against S. aureus and E. coli….

• Actions of Novel Angiotensin Receptor Blocking Drugs, Bisartans, Relevant for COVID-19 Therapy: Biased Agonism at Angiotensin Receptors and the Beneficial Effects of Neprilysin in the Renin Angiotensin System - Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) used in the treatment of hypertension and potentially in SARS-CoV-2 infection exhibit inverse agonist effects at angiotensin AR1 receptors, suggesting the receptor may have evolved to accommodate naturally occurring angiotensin ‘antipeptides’. Screening of the human genome has identified a peptide (EGVYVHPV) encoded by mRNA, complementary to that encoding ANG II itself, which is an inverse agonist. Thus, opposite strands of DNA encode peptides with opposite…

• Textiles Functionalized with Copper Oxides: A Sustainable Option for Prevention of COVID-19 - COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent severe problems in health centers and public areas. Polyester/cotton (PES/CO) blend fabrics have been functionalized with copper oxides on an industrial scale. For functionalization, the impregnation dyeing technique was applied. The functionalized samples were tested virologically against SARS-CoV-2 and human coronavirus (229E) according to ISO 18184-2019 and…

• Isolation and In Silico Inhibitory Potential against SARS-CoV-2 RNA Polymerase of the Rare Kaempferol 3-O-(6″-O-acetyl)-Glucoside from Calligonum tetrapterum - The phytochemical constituents of Calligonum tetrapterum Jaub. & Spach (Family Polygonaceae) were studied for the first time. The study resulted in the isolation of the rare flavonol glycoside, kaempferol 3-O-(6″-O-acetyl)-glucoside,(K3G-A). The potential inhibitive activity of K3G-A toward SARS-CoV-2 was investigated utilizing several in silico approaches. First, molecular fingerprints and structural similarity experiments were carried out for K3G-A against nine co-crystallized ligands of nine…

• A Systematic Study on the Optimal Nucleotide Analogue Concentration and Rate Limiting Nucleotide of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase - The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the necessity of more efficient antiviral compounds. The antiviral efficacy of adenosine-based analogs, the main repurposed drugs for SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) inhibition, is mainly assessed through in vitro or cell-free polymerization assays, under arbitrary conditions that do not reflect the physiological environment. We show that SARS-CoV-2 RdRp inhibition efficiency of remdesivir and cordycepin, two common adenosine analogs,…

• Serum of Post-COVID-19 Syndrome Patients with or without ME/CFS Differentially Affects Endothelial Cell Function In Vitro - A proportion of COVID-19 reconvalescent patients develop post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) including a subgroup fulfilling diagnostic criteria of Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (PCS/CFS). Recently, endothelial dysfunction (ED) has been demonstrated in these patients, but the mechanisms remain elusive. Therefore, we investigated the effects of patients’ sera on endothelia cells (ECs) in vitro. PCS (n = 17), PCS/CFS (n = 13), and healthy controls (HC, n = 14) were screened for serum…

• Innate Immune Response and Inflammasome Activation During SARS-CoV-2 Infection - The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the COVID-19 outbreak, has become a pandemic threatening millions of lives worldwide. Recently, several vaccine candidates and drugs have shown promising effects in preventing or treating COVID-19, but due to the development of mutant strains through rapid viral evolution, urgent investigations are warranted in order to develop preventive measures and further improve current vaccine candidates. Positive-sense-single-stranded RNA viruses comprise…

• Antiviral activity of natural phenolic compounds in complex at an allosteric site of SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease - SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) covers multiple functions. Beside the cysteine-protease activity, facilitating cleavage of the viral polypeptide chain, PLpro has the additional and vital function of removing ubiquitin and ISG15 (Interferon-stimulated gene 15) from host-cell proteins to support coronaviruses in evading the host’s innate immune responses. We identified three phenolic compounds bound to PLpro, preventing essential molecular interactions to ISG15 by screening a natural…

• Consensus statement on blocking interleukin-6 receptor and interleukin-6 in inflammatory conditions: an update - CONCLUSIONS: The document provides a comprehensive consensus on the use of IL-6 inhibition to treat inflammatory disorders to inform healthcare professionals (including researchers), patients, administrators and payers.

• An engineered SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain produced in Pichia pastoris as a candidate vaccine antigen - Developing affordable and easily manufactured SARS-CoV-2 vaccines will be essential to achieve worldwide vaccine coverage and long-term control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here the development is reported of a vaccine based on the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD), produced in the yeast Pichia pastoris. The RBD was modified by adding flexible N- and C-terminal amino acid extensions that modulate protein/protein interactions and facilitate protein purification. A fed-batch methanol…

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