Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

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

From Preprints

• Cheating in the wake of COVID-19: How dangerous is ad-hoc online testing for academic integrity? -
  Worldwide, higher education institutions made quick and often unprepared shifts from on-site to online examination in 2020 due to the COVID-19 health crisis. This development sparked an ongoing debate on whether this development made it easier for students to cheat. We investigated whether students indeed cheated more often in online than in on-site exams and whether the use of online exams was also associated with higher rates of other behaviors deemed as academic dishonesty. To answer our research questions, we questioned 1,608 German students from a wide variety of higher education institutions about their behavior during the summer semester of 2020. The participating students reported that they cheated more frequently in online than in on-site exams. Effects on other measures of academic dishonesty were more negligible. These results speak for the notion that the swift application of ad-hoc online testing during 2020 has led to negative consequences for academic integrity.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Cheating in the wake of COVID-19: How dangerous is ad-hoc online testing for academic integrity?
• Sequencing SARS-CoV-2 Genomes from Saliva -

  Genomic sequencing is crucial to understanding the epidemiology and evolution of SARS-CoV-2. Often, genomic studies rely on remnant diagnostic material, typically nasopharyngeal swabs, as input into whole genome SARS-CoV-2 next-generation sequencing pipelines. Saliva has proven to be a safe and stable specimen for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA via traditional diagnostic assays, however saliva is not commonly used for SARS-CoV-2 sequencing. Using the ARTIC Network amplicon-generation approach with sequencing on the Oxford Nanopore MinION, we demonstrate that sequencing SARS-CoV-2 from saliva produces genomes comparable to those from nasopharyngeal swabs, and that RNA extraction is necessary to generate complete genomes from saliva. In this study, we show that saliva is a useful specimen type for genomic studies of SARS-CoV-2.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Sequencing SARS-CoV-2 Genomes from Saliva
• Análisis de los discursos de médicos vertidos en Twitter sobre la validez de posibles tratamientos contra la COVID-19 / Discourse analysis of physicians on Twitter about the validity of possible treatments for COVID-19 -
  Introduction: Twitter is a platform that prioritizes the immediacy of communication; nevertheless, tweets in scientific areas rarely reach a wide audience. Objective: To examine discursive strategies used by Peruvian doctors with an active Twitter account on the validity of possible treatments for COVID19. Methodology: Critical discourse analysis - using Fairclough’s three-dimensional model - with the help of notions of ethos. Results: Two areas were found where the medical-scientific discursive ethos is expressed: the construction as individual specialists in health and the approach given to the aspects of the medical-scientific ethos: the method, the evidence and the pseudo-scientific. Conclusions: The language used in the tweets is impersonal and neutral. The positioning of individuals as health specialists is through a thematic opinion. A discursive ethos that reinforces the existing pre-discursive ethos through discursive strategies such as denomination and intertextuality develops this positioning.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Análisis de los discursos de médicos vertidos en Twitter sobre la validez de posibles tratamientos contra la COVID-19 / Discourse analysis of physicians on Twitter about the validity of possible treatments for COVID-19
• Overcoming COVID-19 vaccine preferential bias in Europe: Is the end of the pandemic still foreseeable? -

  The availability of safe and effective vaccines alone does not save lives, it is the inoculation plus other public health measures that do. Recent reports suggest the growing trend in vaccine preferential bias in parts of the world but not much data in Europe. The present paper aims to investigate the occurrence of COVID-19 vaccine preferential bias in Europe for effective vaccination planning and pandemic control. Method Data on vaccine-delivered for vaccination campaigns to the EU member states was collected from Eu center for disease control (EUCDC) on the COVID-19 vaccination radar. The data was processed for analysis on MS excel and both descriptive and statistical analysis was done with SPSS version 21. Analysis was performed at 95% CI and statistically, a significant difference was considered at p < 0.05. Results We observed statistically significantly lower vaccine uptake compared to the vaccine delivered doses in the present study (average at 62.678 +/- 3.928%) (p< 0.05, CI = 95%). Great variances in uptake for Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines (50.927 +/- 4.626 %) compared to Pfizer-Biontech vaccine (86.285 +/- 2.1052 %) were observed compared to a previous prospective study on the wiliness to receive COVID-19 vaccine in the region (75%). Conclusion Public health practitioners and policymakers need to factor in the existence of COVID-19 preferential bias based on vaccine type or manufacturer. This will enable them to introduce policies including public education campaigns on the need to avoid bias on the wiliness to inoculate to enhance vaccine uptake for smooth and effective control of the pandemic.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Overcoming COVID-19 vaccine preferential bias in Europe: Is the end of the pandemic still foreseeable?
• N4-hydroxycytidine and inhibitors of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase synergistically suppress SARS-CoV-2 replication -
  Effective therapeutics to inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in infected individuals are still under development. The nucleoside analogue N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC), also known as EIDD-1931, interferes with SARS-CoV-2 replication in cell culture. It is the active metabolite of the prodrug Molnupiravir (MK-4482), which is currently being evaluated for the treatment of COVID-19 in advanced clinical studies. Meanwhile, inhibitors of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), by reducing the cellular synthesis of pyrimidines, counteract virus replication and are also being clinically evaluated for COVID-19 therapy. Here we show that the combination of NHC and DHODH inhibitors such as teriflunomide, IMU-838/vidofludimus, and BAY2402234, strongly synergizes to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication. While single drug treatment only mildly impaired virus replication, combination treatments reduced virus yields by at least two orders of magnitude. We determined this by RT-PCR, TCID50, immunoblot and immunofluorescence assays in Vero E6 and Calu-3 cells infected with wildtype and the Alpha and Beta variants of SARS-CoV-2. We propose that the lack of available pyrimidine nucleotides upon DHODH inhibition increases the incorporation of NHC in nascent viral RNA, thus precluding the correct synthesis of the viral genome in subsequent rounds of replication, thereby inhibiting the production of replication competent virus particles. This concept was further supported by the rescue of replicating virus after addition of pyrimidine nucleosides to the media. Based on our results, we suggest combining these drug candidates, which are currently both tested in clinical studies, to counteract the replication of SARS-CoV-2, the progression of COVID-19, and the transmission of the disease within the population.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: N4-hydroxycytidine and inhibitors of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase synergistically suppress SARS-CoV-2 replication
• Solar simulated ultraviolet radiation inactivates HCoV-NL63 and SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses at environmentally relevant doses -
  The germicidal properties of short wavelength ultraviolet C (UVC) light are well established and used to inactivate many viruses and other microbes. However, much less is known about germicidal effects of terrestrial solar UV light, confined exclusively to wavelengths in the UVA and UVB regions. Here, we have explored the sensitivity of the human coronaviruses HCoV-NL63 and SARS-CoV-2 to solar-simulated full spectrum ultraviolet light (sUV) delivered at environmentally relevant doses. First, HCoV-NL63 coronavirus inactivation by sUV-exposure was confirmed employing (i) viral plaque assays, (ii) RT-qPCR detection of viral genome replication, and (iii) infection-induced stress response gene expression array analysis. Next, a detailed dose-response relationship of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus inactivation by sUV was elucidated, suggesting a half maximal suppression of viral infectivity at low sUV doses. Likewise, extended sUV exposure of SARS-CoV-2 blocked cellular infection as revealed by plaque assay and stress response gene expression array analysis. Moreover, comparative (HCoV-NL63 versus SARS-CoV-2) single gene expression analysis by RT-qPCR confirmed that sUV exposure blocks coronavirus-induced redox, inflammatory, and proteotoxic stress responses. Based on our findings, we estimate that solar ground level full spectrum UV light impairs coronavirus infectivity at environmentally relevant doses. Given the urgency and global scale of the unfolding SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, these prototype data suggest feasibility of solar UV-induced viral inactivation, an observation deserving further molecular exploration in more relevant exposure models.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Solar simulated ultraviolet radiation inactivates HCoV-NL63 and SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses at environmentally relevant doses
• Effect of prophylactic use of intra-nasal oil formulations in the hamster model of Covid-19 -
  Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection initiates with viral entry in upper respiratory tract leading to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Severe Covid-19 is characterized by pulmonary pathologies associated with respiratory failure. Thus, therapeutics aimed at inhibiting entry of the virus or its internalization in the upper respiratory tract, are of interest. Herein, we report the prophylactic application of two intra-nasal formulations provided by the National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB), Anu oil and Til tailya in SARS-CoV2 infection hamster model. Prophylactic nasal instillation of these oil formulations exhibited reduced viral load in lungs, and resulted in reduced body weight loss and pneumonitis. In line with reduced viral load, histopathlogical analysis revealed a reduction in lung pathology in Anu oil group as compared to the control infected group. However, Til tailya group did not show a significant reduction in lung pathology. Furthermore, molecular analysis using mRNA expression profiling indicated reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines genes, including Th1 and Th17 cytokines for both the intra-nasal formulations as a result of decreased viral load. Together, the prophylactic intra-nasal application of Annu oil seems to be useful in limiting both the viral load and disease severity disease in SARS-CoV2 infection in hamster model.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Effect of prophylactic use of intra-nasal oil formulations in the hamster model of Covid-19
• Serum Neutralizing Activity of mRNA-1273 against SARS-CoV-2 Variants -
  The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants has led to growing concerns over increased transmissibility and the ability of some variants to partially escape immunity. Sera from participants immunized on a prime-boost schedule with the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine were tested for neutralizing activity against several SARS-CoV-2 variants, including variants of concern (VOCs) and variants of interest (VOIs), compared to neutralization of the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 virus (designated as D614G). Results showed minimal effects on neutralization titers against the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant (1.2-fold reduction compared with D614G); other VOCs such as B.1.351 (Beta, including B.1.351-v1, B.1.351-v2, and B.1.351-v3), B.1.617.2 (Delta), and P.1 (Gamma) showed decreased neutralization titers ranging from 2.1-fold to 8.4-fold reductions compared with D614G, although all remained susceptible to mRNA-1273-elicited serum neutralization.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Serum Neutralizing Activity of mRNA-1273 against SARS-CoV-2 Variants
• A SARS-CoV-2 mini-genome assay based on negative-sense RNA to study replication inhibitors and emerging mutations -
  Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus and the causative agent of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Efforts to identify inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 replication enzymes and better understand the mechanisms underlying viral RNA synthesis have largely relied on biosafety level 3 (BSL3) laboratories, limiting throughput and accessibility. Recently, replicon systems have been proposed that involve ~30 kb RNA-based replicons or large plasmids that express the viral structural and non-structural proteins (nsp) in addition to a positive-sense reporter RNA. Unfortunately, these assays are not user-friendly due to plasmid instability or a poor signal to background ratio. We here present a simple mini-genome assay consisting of a ~2.5 kb-long negative-sense, nanoluciferase-encoding sub-genomic reporter RNA that is expressed from a plasmid, and amplified and transcribed by the SARS-CoV-2 RNA polymerase core proteins nsp7, nsp8 and nsp12. We show that expression of nsp7, 8 and 12 is sufficient to obtain robust positive- and negative-sense RNA synthesis in cell culture, and that replication of the reporter RNA can be inhibited by active site mutations in nsp12 or the SARS-CoV-2 replication inhibitor remdesivir. The mini-genome assay provides a signal that is 170-fold above background on average, providing excellent sensitivity for high-throughput screens, while the use of small plasmids facilitates site-directed mutagenesis for fundamental analyses of SARS-CoV-2 RNA synthesis.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: A SARS-CoV-2 mini-genome assay based on negative-sense RNA to study replication inhibitors and emerging mutations
• Myeloid cell interferon responses correlate with clearance of SARS-CoV-2 -
  The emergence of mutant SARS-CoV-2 strains associated with an increased risk of COVID-19-related death necessitates better understanding of the early viral dynamics, host responses and immunopathology. While studies have reported immune profiling using single cell RNA sequencing in terminal human COVID-19 patients, performing longitudinal immune cell dynamics in humans is challenging. Macaques are a suitable model of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We performed longitudinal single-cell RNA sequencing of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell suspensions from adult rhesus macaques infected with SARS-CoV-2 (n=6) to delineate the early dynamics of immune cells changes. The bronchoalveolar compartment exhibited dynamic changes in transcriptional landscape 3 days post- SARS-CoV-2-infection (3dpi) (peak viremia), relative to 14-17dpi (recovery phase) and pre-infection (baseline). We observed the accumulation of distinct populations of both macrophages and T-lymphocytes expressing strong interferon-driven inflammatory gene signature at 3dpi. Type I IFN response was highly induced in the plasmacytoid dendritic cells. The presence of a distinct HLADR+CD68+CD163+SIGLEC1+ macrophage population exhibiting higher angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression was also observed. These macrophages were significantly recruited to the lungs of macaques at 3dpi and harbored SARS-CoV-2, while expressing a strong interferon-driven innate anti-viral gene signature. The accumulation of these responses correlated with decline in viremia and recovery. The recruitment of a myeloid cell-mediated Type I IFN response is associated with the rapid clearance of SARS-CoV-2 infection in macaques.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Myeloid cell interferon responses correlate with clearance of SARS-CoV-2
• A bacterial extracellular vesicle-based intranasal vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 -
  Several vaccines have been introduced to combat the coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Current SARS-CoV-2 vaccines include mRNA-containing lipid nanoparticles or adenoviral vectors that encode the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2, inactivated virus, or protein subunits. Despite growing success in worldwide vaccination efforts, additional capabilities may be needed in the future to address issues such as stability and storage requirements, need for vaccine boosters, and emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants or entirely new viruses. Here, we present a novel, well-characterized SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate based on extracellular vesicles (EVs) of Salmonella typhimurium that are decorated with the mammalian cell culture-derived Spike receptor-binding domain (RBD). RBD-conjugated outer membrane vesicles (RBD-OMVs) were used to immunize the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) model of COVID-19. Intranasal immunization resulted in high titers of blood anti-RBD IgG as well as detectable mucosal responses. Upon challenge with live virus, hamsters immunized with RBD-OMV, but not animals immunized with unconjugated OMVs or a vehicle control, avoided weight loss, had lower virus titers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and experienced less severe lung pathology. Our results emphasize the value and versatility of OMV-based vaccine approaches.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: A bacterial extracellular vesicle-based intranasal vaccine against SARS-CoV-2
• SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 is associated with greater disease severity among hospitalised women but not men -

  Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lineage B.1.1.7 has been associated with an increased rate of transmission and disease severity among subjects testing positive in the community. Its impact on hospitalised patients is less well documented. Methods We collected viral sequences and clinical data of patients admitted with SARS-CoV-2 and hospital-onset COVID-19 infections (HOCIs), sampled 16/11/2020 - 10/01/2021, from eight hospitals participating in the COG-UK-HOCI study. Associations between the variant and the outcomes of all-cause mortality and intensive therapy unit (ITU) admission were evaluated using mixed effects Cox models adjusted by age, sex, comorbidities, care home residence, pregnancy and ethnicity. Results Sequences were obtained from 2341 inpatients (HOCI cases = 786) and analysis of clinical outcomes was carried out in 2147 inpatients with all data available. The hazard ratio (HR) for mortality of B.1.1.7 compared to other lineages was 1.01 (95% CI 0.79-1.28, P=0.94) and for ITU admission was 1.01 (95% CI 0.75-1.37, P=0.96). Analysis of sex-specific effects of B.1.1.7 identified increased risk of mortality (HR 1.30, 95% CI 0.95-1.78) and ITU admission (HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.15-2.90) in females infected with the variant but not males (mortality HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.61-1.10; ITU HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.52-1.04). Conclusions In common with smaller studies of patients hospitalised with SARS-CoV-2 we did not find an overall increase in mortality or ITU admission associated with B.1.1.7 compared to other lineages. However, women with B.1.1.7 may be at an increased risk of admission to intensive care and at modestly increased risk of mortality.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 is associated with greater disease severity among hospitalised women but not men
• Promoting youth mental health during COVID-19: A Longitudinal Study spanning pre- and post-pandemic -
  The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced novel stressors into the lives of youth. Identifying factors that protect against the onset of psychopathology in the face of these stressors is critical. We examine a wide range of factors that may protect youth from developing psychopathology during the pandemic. We assessed pandemic-related stressors, internalizing and externalizing psychopathology, and potential protective factors by combining two longitudinal samples of children and adolescents (N=224, 7-10 and 13-15 years) assessed prior to the pandemic, during the stay-at-home orders, and six months later. We evaluated how family behaviors during the stay-at-home orders were related to changes in psychopathology during the pandemic, identified factors that moderate the association of pandemic-related stressors with psychopathology, and determined whether associations varied by age. Internalizing and externalizing psychopathology increased substantially during the pandemic. Higher exposure to pandemic-related stressors was associated with increases in internalizing and externalizing symptoms early in the pandemic and six months later. Having a structured routine, less passive screen time, lower exposure to news media about the pandemic, and to a lesser extent more time in nature and getting adequate sleep were associated with reduced psychopathology. The association between pandemic-related stressors and psychopathology was reduced for youths with limited passive screen time and was absent for children, but not adolescents, with lower news media consumption related to the pandemic. We provide insight into simple, practical steps families can take to promote resilience against mental health problems in youth during the COVID-19 pandemic and protect against psychopathology following pandemic-related stressors.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Promoting youth mental health during COVID-19: A Longitudinal Study spanning pre- and post-pandemic
• Short-term Outcomes in Children Recovered from Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection -

  Background: Multi System Inflammatory Syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19 is a recently recognised potentially life-threatening entity. There is limited data on post MIS-C sequelae. Methods: 21 children fulfilling the WHO criteria for MIS-C were included in our study. Data was collected at baseline and at 12-16 weeks post discharge to look for any persistent sequelae mainly relating to the lungs or heart including coronary arteries. Results: Fever was the most common presentation found in 18 (85.7%) patients. All had marked hyper-inflammatory state. Low ejection fraction (EF) was found in 10 (47.6%) but none had any coronary artery abnormality. All received corticosteroids while 7 (33.3%) children required additional treatment with intravenous Immunoglobulins. 20 children improved while 1 left against medical advice. At discharge 3 children had impaired left ventricular function. At median 15 weeks follow-up no persistent complications were found. EF had returned to normal and no coronary artery abnormalities were found during repeat echocardiography. Chest radiographs showed no fibrosis and all biochemical parameters had normalized. Conclusion: The children with MIS-C are extremely sick during the acute stage. Timely and adequate management led to full recovery without any sequelae at a median follow-up of 15 weeks.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Short-term Outcomes in Children Recovered from Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection
• Pre-activated anti-viral innate immunity in the upper airways controls early SARS-CoV-2 infection in children -

  Children are consistently reported to have reduced SARS-CoV-2 infection rates and a substantially lower risk for developing severe COVID-19. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying protection against COVID-19 in younger age groups remain widely unknown. Here, we systematically characterized the single-cell transcriptional landscape in the upper airways in SARS-CoV-2 negative and age-matched SARS-CoV-2 positive children (n=42) and corresponding samples from adults (n=44), covering an age range of four weeks to 77 years. Children displayed higher basal expression of the relevant pattern recognition receptor (PRR) pathways in upper airway epithelial cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, resulting in stronger innate antiviral responses upon SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to adults. We further detected distinct immune cell subpopulations with an overall dominance of neutrophils and a population of cytotoxic T cells occurring predominantly in children. Our study provides evidence that the airway epithelial and mucosal immune cells of children are pre-activated and primed for virus sensing, resulting in a stronger early innate antiviral responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to adults.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Pre-activated anti-viral innate immunity in the upper airways controls early SARS-CoV-2 infection in children

From Clinical Trials

• Cognitive and Psychological Disorders After Severe COVID-19 Infection - Condition:   COVID 19
  Interventions:   Diagnostic Test: Cognitive assessment;   Diagnostic Test: Imaging;   Diagnostic Test: Routine care;   Other: Psychiatric evaluation
  Sponsors:   Central Hospital, Nancy, France;   Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besancon;   University Hospital, Strasbourg, France;   Centre Hospitalier Régional Metz-Thionville;   Centre hospitalier Epinal;   Hopitaux Civils de Colmar
  Not yet recruiting

• Phase 1 Study to Assess Safety, Tolerability, PD, PK, Immunogenicity of IV NTR-441 Solution in Healthy Volunteers and COVID-19 Patients - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Drug: NTR-441;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Neutrolis
  Recruiting

• MP1032 Treatment in Patients With Moderate to Severe COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: MP1032;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsors:   MetrioPharm AG;   Syneos Health, LLC
  Not yet recruiting

• Efficacy and Safety of XAV-19 for the Treatment of Moderate-to-severe COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: XAV-19;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Xenothera SAS
  Recruiting

• Study of Codivir in Patients With COVID-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Drug: Covidir injections;   Diagnostic Test: One Step Test;   Diagnostic Test: IgM and IgG dosage;   Diagnostic Test: RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2;   Diagnostic Test: Screening blood test;   Diagnostic Test: ECG;   Diagnostic Test: Medical evaluation;   Diagnostic Test: NEWS-2 score;   Diagnostic Test: WHO score
  Sponsor:   Code Pharma
  Active, not recruiting

• In Situ Thrombolysis With tPA and Inflow Perfusion Analysis in Patient With Severe Covid-19 Infection - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Drug: tPA
  Sponsor:   Grupo Mexicano para el Estudio de la Medicina Intensiva
  Completed

• Study to Evaluate the Safety and Concentrations of Monoclonal Antibody Against Virus That Causes COVID-19 Disease. - Condition:   COVID-19 Virus Disease
  Interventions:   Biological: MAD0004J08;   Other: Placebo
  Sponsors:   Toscana Life Sciences Sviluppo s.r.l.;   Cross Research S.A.
  Active, not recruiting

• Clinical Trial With N-acetylcysteine and Bromhexine for COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: Vitamin C;   Drug: N-acetylcysteine (NAC);   Drug: NAC + Bromhexine (BMX)
  Sponsors:   Universidade Federal do Ceara;   Paulista School of Medicine-EPM, UNIFESP;   Health Surveillance Secretariat - SVS;   Central Laboratory of Public Health of Ceara - LACEN-CE;   Leonardo da Vinci Hospital - HLV;   São José Hospital for Infectious Diseases - HSJ;   Ceará Health Secretariat - SESA;   Municipal Health Secretary - SMS-Fortaleza
  Not yet recruiting

• Safety and Immunogenicity of LNP-nCOV saRNA-02 Vaccine Against SARS-CoV-2, the Causative Agent of COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Drug: LNP-nCOV saRNA-02 Vaccine
  Sponsor:   MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit
  Not yet recruiting

• Augmentation of Immune Response to COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination Through OMT With Lymphatic Pumps - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Other: Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)
  Sponsors:   Western University of Health Sciences;   American College of Osteopathic Physicians;   American Osteopathic Foundation;   Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California;   Xavier-Nichols Foundation
  Recruiting

• Efficacy of Inhaled Therapies in the Treatment of Acute Symptoms Associated With COVID-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Drug: inhaled beclametasone;   Drug: Inahaled beclomethasone / formoterol / glycopyrronium
  Sponsors:   UPECLIN HC FM Botucatu Unesp;   Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.
  Not yet recruiting

• Clinical Investigation for 2019-nCoV Antigen Saliva Rapid Test Kit and V-CHEK SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Detection Kit to Detect COVID-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Device: V-CHECK SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Detection Kit and 2019-nCoV Antigen Saliva Rapid Test Kit
  Sponsors:   Medical College of Wisconsin;   Reliable, LLC.
  Not yet recruiting

• Dapsone Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Trial (DAP-CORONA) COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: Dapsone 85 mg PO BID;   Drug: Placebo 85 mg PO BID
  Sponsors:   McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre;   Pulmonem Inc.
  Not yet recruiting

• Ivermectin Versus Standard Treatment in Mild COVID-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Drug: Ivermectin Tablets
  Sponsor:   Assiut University
  Not yet recruiting

• Tolerability,Safety of JS016 in SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) - Conditions:   COVID-19;   SARS-CoV-2
  Intervention:   Drug: Combination Product: JS016 (anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody)
  Sponsor:   Peking Union Medical College Hospital
  Recruiting

From PubMed

• Drug delivery systems as Immunomodulators for therapy of infectious disease: relevance to COVID-19 - The emergence of SARS-CoV-2, and the ensuing global pandemic, has resulted in an unprecedented response to identify therapies that can limit uncontrolled inflammation observed in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. The immune pathology behind COVID-19 is complex and involves the activation and interaction of multiple systems including, but not limited to, complement, inflammasomes, endothelial as well as innate and adaptive immune cells to bring about a convoluted profile of inflammation,…

• The endogenous cellular protease inhibitor SPINT2 controls SARS-CoV-2 viral infection and is associated to disease severity - COVID-19 outbreak is the biggest threat to human health in recent history. Currently, there are over 1.5 million related deaths and 75 million people infected around the world (as of 22/12/2020). The identification of virulence factors which determine disease susceptibility and severity in different cell types remains an essential challenge. The serine protease TMPRSS2 has been shown to be important for S protein priming and viral entry, however, little is known about its regulation. SPINT2 is a…

• Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) decreases the benefit of anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade in tumor immunotherapy - Immunotherapy using checkpoint blockade (ICB) with antibodies such as anti-PD-1 has revolutionised the treatment of many cancers. Despite its use to treat COVID-19 patients and autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, the effect of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on cancer immunotherapy has not been examined. In this study, remarkably, we find that HCQ alone, or in combination with azithromycin (AZ), at doses used to treat patients, decreased the therapeutic…

• Vitamin D and lumisterol novel metabolites can inhibit SARS-COV-2 replication machinery enzymes - Vitamin D deficiency significantly correlates with the severity of SARS-COV-2 infection. Molecular docking-based virtual screening studies predict that novel vitamin D and related lumisterol hydroxymetabolites are able to bind to the active sites of two SARS-COV-2 transcription machinery enzymes with high affinity. These enzymes are the main protease (M^(pro)) and RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) which play important roles in viral replication and establishing infection. Based on predicted…

• SARS-CoV-2 signaling pathway map: A functional landscape of molecular mechanisms in COVID-19 - Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic by WHO. The clinical manifestation and disease progression in COVID-19 patients varies from minimal symptoms to severe respiratory issues with multiple organ failure. Understanding the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 interaction with host cells will provide key insights into the effective molecular targets for the development of novel therapeutics. Recent…

• Computational design of ultrashort peptide inhibitors of the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein - Targeting the interaction between severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-receptor-binding domain (RBD) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is believed to be an effective strategy for drug design to inhibit the infection of SARS-CoV-2. Herein, several ultrashort peptidase inhibitors against the RBD-ACE2 interaction were obtained by a computer-aided approach based on the RBD-binding residues on the protease domain (PD) of ACE2. The designed peptides were tested on a…

• Discovery of Small Anti-ACE2 Peptides to Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity - COVID-19 is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which infects host cells by binding its viral spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) to the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on host cells. Blocking the SARS-CoV-2-RBD/ACE2 interaction is, therefore, a potential strategy to inhibit viral infections. Using a novel biopanning strategy, a small anti-ACE2 peptide is discovered, which shows high affinity and specificity to human ACE2. It blocks not only…

• Promising Immunotherapies against COVID-19 - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to a severe pandemic and deeply affected the livelihood of people worldwide. In response to the pandemic, researchers have been rapidly studying different aspects of COVID-19, such as virus detection, vaccinations, and epidemiological aspects of the disease. It has been reported that SARS-CoV-2 can induce uncontrolled inflammation and cause a lack of antiviral response, thereby…

• In silico approach for identification of natural compounds as potential COVID 19 main protease (M(pro)) inhibitors - With the recent pandemic outbreak and subsequent worldwide spread of COVID-19 from Wuhan city of China, millions of infections and lakhs of deaths have resulted. No registered therapies have been developed to treat infection with COVID-19. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of herbal drugs as drug target molecules against COVID-19 by molecular docking. The inhibitory effects of natural compounds were analyzed against COVID-19 main protease (M^(pro)). The inhibition of…

• SARS-CoV-2 ORF8 Forms Intracellular Aggregates and Inhibits IFNgamma-Induced Antiviral Gene Expression in Human Lung Epithelial Cells - Infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19, a disease that involves significant lung tissue damage. How SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to lung injury remains elusive. The open reading frame 8 (ORF8) protein of SARS-CoV-2 (ORF8^(SARS-CoV-2)) is a unique accessory protein, yet little is known about its cellular function. We examined the cellular distribution of ORF8^(SARS-CoV-2) and its role in the regulation of human lung epithelial cell…

• Thromboplasminflammation in COVID-19 Coagulopathy: Three Viewpoints for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies - Thromboplasminflammation in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) coagulopathy consists of angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced coagulopathy, activated factor XII (FXIIa)- and kallikrein, kinin system-enhanced fibrinolysis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). All three conditions induce systemic inflammation via each pathomechanism-developed production of inflammatory cytokines. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) downregulates angiotensin-converting enzyme 2,…

• Glycyrrhizic Acid for COVID-19: Findings of Targeting Pivotal Inflammatory Pathways Triggered by SARS-CoV-2 - Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now a worldwide public health crisis. The causative pathogen is severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Novel therapeutic agents are desperately needed. Because of the frequent mutations in the virus and its ability to cause cytokine storms, targeting the viral proteins has some drawbacks. Targeting cellular factors or pivotal inflammatory pathways triggered by SARS-CoV-2 may produce a broader range of therapies….

• Effect of Methylene Blue Pathogen Inactivation on the Integrity of Immunoglobulin M and G - CONCLUSION: MB treatment of plasma does not inhibit the binding capacity of IgM and IgG to their epitopes, or the Fc receptor interaction of IgG. Based on these results, MB treatment of convalescent plasma is appropriate to reduce the risk of pathogen transmission if quarantine storage is omitted.

• SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) as a Predictor of Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration: Potential Treatment Strategies - The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has attracted attention to the challenge of neuroinflammation as an unavoidable component of viral infections. Acute neuroinflammatory responses include activation of resident tissue macrophages in the CNS followed by release of a variety of cytokines and chemokines associated with activation of oxidative stress and delayed neuron damage. This makes the search for treatments with indirect anti-inflammatory properties relevant. From this point of view, attention…

• Efficacy and safety of ReDuNing injection as a treatment for COVID-19 and its inhibitory effect against SARS-CoV-2 - CONCLUSIONS: RDN relieves clinical symptoms in patients with COVID-19 and reduces SARS-CoV-2 infection by regulating inflammatory cytokine-related disorders, suggestion that this medication might be a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19.

From Patent Search

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

• MEDIDOR DE SATURACION - - link

• 폐마스크 밀봉 회수기 - 본 발명은 마스크 착용 후 버려지는 일회용 폐마스크를 비닐봉지에 넣은 후 밀봉하여 배출함으로써, 2차 감염을 예방하고 일반 생활폐기물과 선별 분리 배출하여 환경오염을 방지하는 데 그 목적이 있다. - link

• 백신 냉각 및 해동 기능을 갖는 백신 보관장치 - 본 발명은 백신 냉각 및 해동 기능을 갖는 백신 보관장치에 관한 것으로, 상, 하부하우징의 제1상, 하부누출방지공간에 냉각물질이 충입된 냉각파이프를 설치하되, 제2상, 하부누출방지공간에 가열물질이 충입된 가열파이프를 설치하여, 구획판부에 의해 구획된 백신냉각공간 및 백신해동공간 각각을 냉각 및 가열하고, 보조도어를 통해 백신냉각공간 내에 수용된 백신을 구획판부의 백신출구도어를 통해 백신해동공간으로 이동시켜, 백신해동공간 내에서 백신을 해동함으로써, 즉시 사용이 가능한 백신을 인출도어를 통해 인출할 수 있다. 본 발명에 따르면, 냉각파이프에 저장된 냉매에 의해 백신냉각공간 내의 온도가 극저온 상태로 변화되고, 극저온 상태를 유지하는 백신냉각공간 내에 백신을 저장하여, 안전하게 보관 할 수 있으며, 백신냉각공간 내의 백신을 백신해동공간 내로 이동시켜, 백신해동공간 내에서 백신을 해동할 수 있고, 이 해동된 백신을 인출도어를 통해 인출한 후 즉시 사용할 수 있어 백신을 해동하는 시간이 단축되며, 보조도어를 통해 백신냉각공간 내의 백신을 백신해동공간으로 이동시켜, 백신이 외기에 노출될 우려가 없으며, 백신냉각공간 내의 백신을 백신해동공간으로 이동시키거나 또는 인출도어를 통해 백신 인출시 정렬장치가 백신을 보조도어 및 인출도어 직하방에 자동 위치시킨다. - link

• 백신 인출용 보조도어를 갖는 백신 저온 보관장치 - 본 발명은 백신정렬 기능을 갖는 백신 저온 보관장치에 관한 것으로, 상, 하부하우징의 이중 격벽 안에 냉매가 충입된 냉매파이프를 설치하여, 이 냉매파이프에 의해 상, 하부하우징의 백신 보관 공간이 극저온 상태를 유지하도록 하고, 하부하우징의 가이드벽 사이에 수용된 백신을 정렬장치로 가압하여, 상부하우징의 보조도어 직하방에 백신이 위치되도록 하되, 이때, 보조도어를 개방하여 하부하우징 내에 수용된 백신을 인출하면, 정렬장치가 가이드벽 사이에 수용된 백신을 보조도어 방향으로 밀어내어, 보조도어 직하방에 백신이 순차적으로 자동 위치된다. 본 발명에 따르면, 상, 하부하우징의 이중 격벽 내에 냉매 파이프가 설치되어, 이 냉매 파이프에 저장된 냉매에 의해 백신 보관공간 내의 온도가 극저온 상태로 변화되고, 이 극저온 상태를 유지하는 백신 보관공간 내에 백신을 저장하여, 안전하게 보관 할 수 있으며, 수분이나 외부 공기 유입이 차단되어 백신을 안전하게 보관되고, 온도계와 압력계를 이용하여 백신 보관공간과 냉매 압력을 실시간으로 감지할 수 있고, 보조도어를 통해 백신 보관공간 내의 백신을 독립적으로 인출할 수 있으며, 보조도어를 통해 백신 인출시 정렬장치가 백신을 보조도어 방향으로 밀어내어, 보조도어 직하방에 백신이 자동 위치되고, 외기 유입 방지로 백신 보관공간 내의 온도가 극저온 상태로 유지된다. - link

• SAFE TOUCH ANTI VIRAL LUGGAGE TROLLEY HANDLE - The invention is directed to a safe-touch, anti-viral luggage trolley handle, comprising PVC plastic with the addition of a silver-based antimicrobial additive. - link

• Mampara plegable portatil - Mampara Plegable Portátil (MPP) diseñada para acoplarse/fijarse al borde de una mesa caracterizada por estar formado por dos mordazas o piezas de sujeción al borde de una mesa donde se ensambla la estructura que porta la pantalla o lámina protectora transparente auto enrollable por mecanismo automático. - link

• METHOD OF IDENTIFYING SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONA VIRUS 2 (SARS-COV-2) RIBONUCLEIC ACID (RNA) - - link

• Erweiterbare Desinfektionsvorrichtung -

  Erweiterbare Desinfektionsvorrichtung, umfassend: einen Hauptkörper, der eine umgekehrt U-förmige Basisplatte aufweist, wobei die umgekehrt U-förmige Basisplatte mit einer Öffnung versehen ist und jeweils eine Seitenplatte sich von zwei Seiten der umgekehrt U-förmigen Basisplatte nach außen erstreckt; und mindestens eine Desinfektionslampe, die in den auf zwei Seiten des Hauptkörpers befindlichen Seitenplatten angeordnet ist und eine Lichtemissionseinheit, eine Erfassungseinheit, eine Steuereinheit und eine Stromversorgungseinheit umfasst.

• link

• Einfache Sterilisationsvorrichtung -

  Einfache Sterilisationsvorrichtung, mit einem Hauptkörper (11), der in Längsrichtung einen ersten Plattenabschnitt (111) und in Querrichtung einen zweiten Plattenabschnitt (112) aufweist, wobei der erste Plattenabschnitt (111) und der zweite Plattenabschnitt (112) L-förmig miteinander verbunden sind; und einer Sterilisationslampe (12), die an dem Hauptkörper (11) angeordnet ist und eine Lichtemissionseinheit (121), eine Sensoreinheit (122), eine Steuereinheit (123) und eine Stromeinheit (124) aufweist.

• link