Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

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

From Preprints

• 222-nm far UVC exposure results in DNA damage and transcriptional changes to mammalian cells. -
  Ultraviolet (UV) germicidal tools have recently gained attention as a disinfection strategy against the COVID-19 pandemic but the safety profile arising from their exposure have been controversial and impeded larger scale implementation. We compare the emerging 222-nm far UVC and 277-nm UVC LED disinfection modules with the traditional UVC mercury lamp emitting at 254 nm to understand their effects on human retinal cell line ARPE-19 and HEK-A keratinocytes. Cells illuminated with 222-nm far UVC survived while those treated with 254-nm and 277-nm wavelengths underwent apoptosis via JNK/ATF2 pathway. However, cells exposed to 222-nm far UVC presented the highest degree of DNA damage as evidenced by yH2AX staining. Globally, these cells presented transcriptional changes in cell cycle and senescence pathways. Thus, the introduction of 222-nm far UVC lamps for disinfection purposes should be carefully considered and designed with the inherent dangers involved.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: 222-nm far UVC exposure results in DNA damage and transcriptional changes to mammalian cells.
• Ivermectin does not protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Syrian hamster model -
  Ivermectin, an FDA-approved antiparasitic drug, has been reported to have in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2. An increasing off-label use of Ivermectin for COVID-19 has been reported. We here assessed the effect of Ivermectin in Syrian hamsters infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Beta (B.1.351) variant. Infected animals received a clinically relevant dose of Ivermectin (0.4 mg/kg subcutaneously dosed) once daily for four consecutive days after which the effect was quantified. Ivermectin monotherapy did not reduce lung viral load and even significantly worsened the SARS-CoV-2-induced lung pathology. Additionally, it did not potentiate the activity of Molnupiravir (Lagevrio) when combined with this drug. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence that Ivermectin does not result in a beneficial effect in the treatment of COVID-19. These findings are important given the increasing, dangerous off-label use of Ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Ivermectin does not protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Syrian hamster model
• Molnupiravir (MK-4482) is efficacious against Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants in the Syrian hamster COVID-19 model -
  The recent emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern (VOC) containing a heavily mutated spike protein capable of escaping preexisting immunity, identifies a continued need for interventional measures. Molnupiravir (MK-4482), an orally administered nucleoside analog, has demonstrated efficacy against earlier SARS-CoV-2 lineages and was recently approved for SARS-CoV-2 infections in high-risk adults. Here we assessed the efficacy of MK-4482 against the earlier Alpha, Beta and Delta VOCs and Omicron in the Syrian hamster COVID-19 model. Omicron replication and associated lung disease in vehicle treated hamsters was reduced compared to the earlier VOCs. MK-4482 treatment inhibited virus replication in the lungs of Alpha, Beta and Delta VOC infected hamsters. Importantly, MK-4482 profoundly inhibited virus replication in the upper and lower respiratory tract of hamsters infected with the Omicron VOC. Consistent with its mutagenic mechanism, MK-4482 treatment had a more pronounced inhibitory effect on infectious virus titers compared to viral RNA genome load. Histopathologic analysis showed that MK-4482 treatment caused a concomitant reduction in the level of lung disease and viral antigen load in infected hamsters across all VOCs examined. Together, our data indicate the potential of MK-4482 as an effective antiviral against known SARS-CoV-2 VOCs, especially Omicron, and likely future SARS-CoV-2 variants.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Molnupiravir (MK-4482) is efficacious against Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants in the Syrian hamster COVID-19 model
• SARS-CoV-2 peptide vaccine elicits T-cell responses in mice but does not protect against infection or disease -
  There is significant interest in T-cell mediated immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Both vaccination and infection have been observed to elicit durable T-cell responses against the virus. The classical role of CD4+ T-cell responses in coordinating humoral immunity is well understood but it is less clear to what degree, if any, T-cell responses play a direct protective role against infection In this study we vaccinated BALB/c mice with peptides derived from the SARS- CoV-2 proteome designed to either elicit T-cell responses or B-cell responses against linear epitopes. These peptides were administered in combination with either of two adjuvants, poly(I:C) and the STING agonist BI-1387466. Both adjuvants consistently elicited responses against the same peptides, preferentially from the group selected for predicted T-cell immunogenicity. The magnitude of T-cell responses was, however, significantly higher with BI-1387466 compared with poly(I:C). Neither adjuvant group, however, provided any protection against infection with the murine adapted virus SARS-CoV-2-MA10 or from disease following infection.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: SARS-CoV-2 peptide vaccine elicits T-cell responses in mice but does not protect against infection or disease
• Discovery and functional interrogation of SARS-CoV-2 protein-RNA interactions -
  The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The betacoronvirus has a positive sense RNA genome which encodes for several RNA binding proteins. Here, we use enhanced crosslinking and immunoprecipitation to investigate SARS-CoV-2 protein interactions with viral and host RNAs in authentic virus-infected cells. SARS-CoV-2 proteins, NSP8, NSP12, and nucleocapsid display distinct preferences to specific regions in the RNA viral genome, providing evidence for their shared and separate roles in replication, transcription, and viral packaging. SARS-CoV-2 proteins expressed in human lung epithelial cells bind to 4773 unique host coding RNAs. Nine SARS-CoV-2 proteins upregulate target gene expression, including NSP12 and ORF9c, whose RNA substrates are associated with pathways in protein N-linked glycosylation ER processing and mitochondrial processes. Furthermore, siRNA knockdown of host genes targeted by viral proteins in human lung organoid cells identify potential antiviral host targets across different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Conversely, NSP9 inhibits host gene expression by blocking mRNA export and dampens cytokine productions, including interleukin-1/{beta}. Our viral protein-RNA interactome provides a catalog of potential therapeutic targets and offers insight into the etiology of COVID-19 as a safeguard against future pandemics.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Discovery and functional interrogation of SARS-CoV-2 protein-RNA interactions
• Characterization of various remdesivir-resistant mutations of SARS-CoV-2 by mathematical modeling and molecular dynamics simulation. -
  Mutations continue to accumulate within the SARS-CoV-2 genome, and the ongoing epidemic has shown no signs of ending. It is critical to predict problematic mutations that may arise in clinical environments and assess their properties in advance to quickly implement countermeasures against future variant infections. In this study, we identified mutations resistant to remdesivir, which is widely administered to SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, and discuss the cause of resistance. First, we simultaneously constructed eight recombinant viruses carrying the mutations detected in in vitro serial passages of SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of remdesivir. Time course analyses of cellular virus infections showed significantly higher infectious titers and infection rates in mutant viruses than wild type virus under treatment with remdesivir. Next, we developed a mathematical model in consideration of the changing dynamic of cells infected with mutant viruses with distinct propagation properties and defined that mutations detected in in vitro passages canceled the antiviral activities of remdesivir without raising virus production capacity. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations of the NSP12 protein of SARS-CoV-2 revealed that the molecular vibration around the RNA-binding site was increased by the introduction of mutations on NSP12. Taken together, we identified multiple mutations that affected the flexibility of the RNA binding site and decreased the antiviral activity of remdesivir. Our new insights will contribute to developing further antiviral measures against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Characterization of various remdesivir-resistant mutations of SARS-CoV-2 by mathematical modeling and molecular dynamics simulation.
• Don’t put all social network sites in one basket: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and their relations with well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. -
  Prior studies indicated that actively using social network sites (SNSs) is positively associated with well-being by enhancing social support and feelings of connectedness. Conversely, passively using SNSs is negatively associated with well-being by fostering upward social comparison and envy. However, the majority of these studies has focused on Facebook. The present research examined the relationships between well-being—satisfaction with life, negative affect, positive affect—and using actively or passively various SNSs—Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok—during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, two mediators were tested: social support and upward social comparison. One thousand four persons completed an online survey during the quarantine measures; the analyses employed structural equation modeling. Results showed that passive usage of Facebook is negatively related to well-being through upward social comparison, whereas active usage of Instagram is positively related to satisfaction with life and negative affect through social support. Furthermore, active usage of Twitter was positively related to satisfaction with life through social support; while passive usage was negatively related to upward social comparison, which, in turn, was associated with more negative affect. Finally, TikTok use was not associated with well-being. Results are discussed in line with SNSs’ architectures and users’ motivations. Future research is required to go beyond methodological and statistical limitations and allow generalization. This study concludes that SNSs must be differentiated to truly understand how they shape human interactions.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Don’t put all social network sites in one basket: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and their relations with well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Cell-Mediated Immune Response after COVID 19 Vaccination in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease -

  Introduction Most patients with IBD mount an antibody response to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, but few studies have evaluated the cell mediated immune response (CMIR). Methods We performed a prospective study (HERCULES) to evaluate CMIR among patients with IBD and healthy controls (HC) after completion of the primary series of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Results One hundred 158 patients with IBD and 20 HC were enrolled. The majority (89%) of IBD patients developed a CMIR which was not different than HC (94%, p=0.6667). There was no significant difference (p=0.5488) in CMIR response between those not immunosuppressed (median 255 Spike T cells/million PBMC, IQR 146, 958) and immunosuppressed (median 377, IQR 123, 1440). There was also no correlation between antibody responses and CMIR (p=0.5215) Discussion Most patients with IBD achieved CMIR to a COVID-19 vaccine. Future studies are needed evaluating sustained CMIR and clinical outcomes.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Cell-Mediated Immune Response after COVID 19 Vaccination in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Using mobile phone data to estimate dynamic population changes and improve the understanding of a pandemic: A case study in Andorra -

  Compartmental models are often used to understand and predict the progression of an infectious disease such as COVID-19. The most basic of these models consider the total population of a region to be closed. Many incorporate human mobility into their transmission dynamics, usually based on static and aggregated data. However, mobility can change dramatically during a global pandemic as seen with COVID-19, making static data unsuitable. Recently, large mobility datasets derived from mobile devices have been used, along with COVID-19 infections data, to better understand the relationship between mobility and COVID-19. However, studies to date have relied on data that represent only a fraction of their target populations, and the data from mobile devices have been used for measuring mobility within the study region, without considering changes to the population as people enter and leave the region. This work presents a unique case study in Andorra, with comprehensive datasets that include telecoms data covering 100% of mobile subscribers in the country, and results from a serology testing program that more than 90% of the population voluntarily participated in. We use the telecoms data to both measure mobility within the country and to provide a real-time census of people entering, leaving and remaining in the country. We develop multiple SEIR (compartmental) models parameterized on these metrics and show how dynamic population metrics can improve the models. We find that total daily trips did not have predictive value in the SEIR models while country entrances did. As a secondary contribution of this work, we show how Andorra9s serology testing program was likely impacted by people leaving the country. Overall, this case study suggests how using mobile phone data to measure dynamic population changes could improve studies that rely on more commonly used mobility metrics and the overall understanding of a pandemic.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Using mobile phone data to estimate dynamic population changes and improve the understanding of a pandemic: A case study in Andorra
• Favourable vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell response profile in patients undergoing immune-modifying therapies -

  Patients undergoing immune-modifying therapies demonstrate a reduced humoral response after COVID-19 vaccination, but we lack a proper evaluation of the impact of such therapies on vaccine-induced T cell responses. Here, we longitudinally characterised humoral and Spike-specific T cell responses in IBD patients who are on antimetabolite therapy (azathioprine or methotrexate), TNF inhibitors and/or other biologic treatment (anti-integrin or anti-p40) after mRNA vaccination. We demonstrated that a Spike-specific T cell response is not only induced in treated IBD patients at levels similar to healthy individuals, but also sustained at higher magnitude, particularly in those treated with TNF inhibitor therapy. Furthermore, the Spike-specific T cell response in these patients is mainly preserved against mutations present in SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) and characterized by a Th1/IL-10 cytokine profile. Thus, despite the humoral response defects, the favourable profile of vaccine-induced T cell responses might still provide a layer of COVID-19 protection to patients under immune-modifying therapies.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Favourable vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell response profile in patients undergoing immune- modifying therapies
• Pausing methotrexate improves immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccination in elderly patients with rheumatic diseases -

  Objective: To study the effect of methotrexate (MTX) and its discontinuation on the humoral immune response after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRD). Methods: In this retrospective study, neutralising SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were measured after second vaccination in 64 rheumatic patients on methotrexate therapy, 31 of whom temporarily paused medication without a fixed regimen. The control group consisted of 21 AIRD patients without immunosuppressive medication. Results: MTX patients showed a significantly lower mean antibody response compared to AIRD patients without immunosuppressive therapy (71.8 % vs 92.4 %, p<0.001). For patients taking MTX, age correlated negatively with immune response (r=-0.49; p<0.001). All nine patients with antibody levels below the cut-off were older than 60 years. Patients who held MTX during at least one vaccination showed significantly higher mean neutralising antibody levels after second vaccination, compared to patients who continued MTX therapy during both vaccinations (83.1 % vs 61.2 %, p=0.001). This effect was particularly pronounced in patients older than 60 years (80.8 % vs 51.9 %, p=0.001). The impact of the time period after vaccination was greater than of the time before vaccination with the critical cut-off being 10 days. Conclusion: MTX reduces the immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in an age-dependent manner. Our data further suggest that holding MTX for at least 10 days after vaccination significantly improves the antibody response in patients over 60 years of age.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Pausing methotrexate improves immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccination in elderly patients with rheumatic diseases
• Selfish genes or selfish memes: The effect of genetic relatedness versus value similarity on altruism -
  Two preregistered quasi-experiments disentangled the effects of selfish genes and selfish memes on participants’ self-reported willingness to help in hypothetical everyday-favor and life-or-death situations. Memes were operationalized as the perceived level of similarity in important attitudes and values between the person participating in the study and a selected target person, assessed and reported by the participant. In Study 1 (N = 761), altruism was highest for siblings, and then for cousins and nonkin; greater memetic similarity was also associated with greater altruism; and the interaction between the factors was not significant. In Study 2 (N = 841), conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, altruism was highest for siblings, but the same for cousins and nonkin; the effect of memetic similarity was replicated; and the interaction term remained insignificant. Both studies controlled for a range of demographic and social relationship characteristics, suggesting a potentially relevant role of future contact probability and emotional closeness. We propose that, similarly to gene selfishness, meme selfishness can also bring about altruism: individuals would rather make a personal sacrifice to help memetically similar than dissimilar others because similar others have a higher chance of spreading the helper’s memes.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Selfish genes or selfish memes: The effect of genetic relatedness versus value similarity on altruism
• Crosstalk among COVID-19, STRA6, Retinol, and G protein-coupled receptor may explain the novel hypothesis of Retinol depletion and retinoid signaling disorder of COVID-19 pathogenesis -
  More than two years have passed since the pandemic and despite all the efforts of researchers, the pathogenesis of COVID-19 has not yet been resolved. Multisystem involvement, neuroendocrine involvement, and pathophysiological changes caused by SARS-CoV-2 in peripheral organs have been shown in many studies. However, the molecular mechanism of these pathophysiological changes caused by COVID-19 has not been elucidated. The frequent mutations of SARS-CoV-2 and the change in the interaction of the virus with host cells have further complicated the pathogenetic mechanism in COVID-19. Unfortunately, the mechanism determined at the beginning of the pandemic and based on the single receptor tropism of ACE2 was insufficient to explain the pathogenesis of COVID-19. It is known that SARS-CoV-2 causes retinoid signaling defects and chemosensory receptor disorders and exerts its pathogenic effects through these mechanisms. Multisystem involvement and different clinical presentations in COVID-19 suggest that virus-host interaction develops through multiple receptors and signaling pathways. The previous mechanism described via ACE2, based on single-receptor tropism, was insufficient to elucidate the pathogenesis of COVID-19 due to the absence of ACE2 receptors in most of the affected organs. In addition, there is no satisfactory explanation for the mechanism by which ACE2-free organs are affected in COVID-19. In this regard, we think that ACE2 is not a true binding receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. With our recent molecular docking studies, STRA6 and its GPCRs were identified as new binding receptors of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. These studies have brought a multi-receptor mechanism to the pathogenesis of COVID-19. The multi-receptor mechanism clearly illuminates the complex pathogenesis of retinoid signaling disorder, systemic organ involvement, neuroendocrine involvement, loss of smell and taste, and many other peripheral symptoms and signs, which are considered an enigma in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Therefore, we suggest retinoid signaling defect as the main pathogenetic disorder in COVID-19 and STRA6 and GPCRs as the main binding receptors of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. This new mechanism also clarifies the changing symptoms and findings in COVID-19 with each new variant. Moreover, these studies have explained the novel hypothesis for COVID-19 pathogenesis: Retinol depletion and retinoid signaling disorder and have revealed new drug targets for the treatment and prophylaxis of COVID-19.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Crosstalk among COVID-19, STRA6, Retinol, and G protein-coupled receptor may explain the novel hypothesis of Retinol depletion and retinoid signaling disorder of COVID-19 pathogenesis
• Differential Effects of Race/Ethnicity and Social Vulnerability on COVID-19 Positivity, Hospitalization, and Death in the San Francisco Bay Area -

  BACKGROUND: Higher COVID-19 incidence and morbidity have been documented for US Black and Hispanic populations but not as clearly for other racial and ethnic groups. Efforts to elucidate the mechanisms underlying racial health disparities can be confounded by the relationship between race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. OBJECTIVE: Examine race/ethnicity and social vulnerability effects on COVID-19 out- comes in the San Francisco Bay Area, an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse region, using geocoded patient records from 2020 in the University of California, San Francisco Health system. KEY RESULTS: Higher social vulnerability, but not race/ethnicity, was associated with less frequent testing yet a higher likelihood of testing positive. Asian hospitalization rates (11.5%) were double that of White patients (5.4%) and exceeded the rates for Black (9.3%) and Hispanic patients (6.9%). A modest relationship between higher hospitalization rates and increasing social vulnerability was evident only for White patients. Hispanic patients had the highest years of expected life lost due to COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 outcomes were not consistently explained by greater social vulnerability. Asian individuals showed disproportionately high rates of hospitalization regardless of social vulnerability status. Study of the San Francisco Bay Area population not only provides valuable insights into the differential contributions of race/ethnicity and social determinants of health to COVID-19 outcomes but also emphasizes that all racial groups have experienced the toll of the pandemic, albeit in different ways and to varying degrees.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Differential Effects of Race/Ethnicity and Social Vulnerability on COVID-19 Positivity, Hospitalization, and Death in the San Francisco Bay Area
• Comparison of Mental Health Symptom Changes from pre-COVID-19 to COVID-19 by Sex or Gender: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis -

  Importance: Women and gender-diverse individuals have faced disproportionate socioeconomic burden during COVID-19. There have been reports that this has translated into greater negative changes in mental health, but this has been based on cross-sectional research that has not accounted for pre-COVID-19 differences. Objective: To compare mental health symptom changes since pre-COVID-19 by sex or gender. Data Sources: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, medRxiv, and Open Science Framework (December 31, 2019 to August 30, 2021). Study Selection: Eligible studies compared mental health symptom changes from pre-COVID-19 to COVID-19 by sex or gender. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data was extracted by a single reviewer with validation by a second reviewer. Adequacy of study methods and reporting was assessed using an adapted version of the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist for Prevalence Studies. A restricted maximum-likelihood random-effects meta-analyses was conducted. Main Outcomes and Measures: Anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, general mental health, and stress measured continuously or dichotomously. Results: 12 studies (10 unique cohorts) were included. All compared females or women to males or men; none included gender-diverse individuals. Continuous symptom change differences were not statistically significant for depression (standardized mean difference [SMD]= 0.12, 95% CI -0.09 to 0.33; 4 studies, 4,475 participants; I2=69.0%) and stress (SMD= -0.10, 95% CI -0.21 to 0.01; 4 studies, 1,533 participants; I2=0.0%), but anxiety (SMD= 0.15, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.22; 4 studies, 4,344 participants; I2=3.0%) and general mental health (SMD= 0.15, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.18; 3 studies, 15,692 participants; I2=0.0%) worsened more among females or women than males or men during COVID-19. There were no significant differences in changes in proportion above a cut-off: anxiety (difference= -0.05, 95% CI -0.20 to 0.11; 1 study, 217 participants), depression (difference= 0.12, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.28; 1 study, 217 participants), general mental health (difference= -0.03, 95% CI -0.09 to 0.04; 3 studies, 18,985 participants; I2=94.0%), stress (difference= 0.04, 95% CI -0.10 to 0.17; 1 study, 217 participants). Conclusion and Relevance: Mental health outcomes did not differ or were worse by amounts below thresholds for clinical significance for women compared to men.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Comparison of Mental Health Symptom Changes from pre-COVID-19 to COVID-19 by Sex or Gender: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

From Clinical Trials

• Pulmonary Rehabilitation Implemented With Virtual Reality for Post-COVID-19 Patients - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Procedure: Pulmonary rehabilitation
  Sponsor:  
  The Opole University of Technology
  Not yet recruiting

• Pulmonary Rehabilitation Implemented With VR for Post-COVID-19 Patients - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Procedure: Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program
  Sponsor:   The Opole University of Technology
  Recruiting

• COVID19 Oral Vaccine Consisting of Bacillus Subtilis Spores - Condition:   COVID-19 Pneumonia
  Intervention:   Biological: Bacillus subtilis
  Sponsors:   DreamTec Research Limited;   Middle East Cell and Gene Therapy;   National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
  Completed

• Anti-inflammatory Drug Algorithm for COVID-19 Home Treatment - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: Recommended treatment schedule;   Drug: Usual care
  Sponsors:   Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research;   Family physicians
  Not yet recruiting

• A Phase II Study of the Immunogenicity and Safety of SCTV01C in Population Aged ≥12 Years and Previously Vaccinated With Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccine - Conditions:   COVID-19;   SARS-CoV2 Infection
  Interventions:   Biological: SCTV01C;   Biological: Comirnaty
  Sponsor:   Sinocelltech Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• A Phase II Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Immunogenicity and Safety of SCTV01E in Population Aged ≥18 Years Previously Fully Vaccinated With mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine - Conditions:   COVID-19;   Sars-CoV-2 Infection
  Interventions:   Biological: SCTV01E;   Biological: Comirnaty
  Sponsor:   Sinocelltech Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• A Phase II Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Immunogenicity and Safety of SCTV01C and SCTV01E in Population Aged ≥12 Years Previously Fully Vaccinated With Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccine - Conditions:   COVID-19;   SARS-CoV-2 Infection
  Interventions:   Biological: SCTV01C;   Biological: SCTV01E;   Biological: Sinopharm inactivated COVID-19 vaccine
  Sponsor:   Sinocelltech Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• A Phase II Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Immunogenicity and Safety of SCTV01C in Population Aged ≥18 Years and Previously Fully Vaccinated With Either Inactivated or mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine or Previously Diagnosed With COVID-19 - Conditions:   COVID-19;   SARS-CoV-2 Infection
  Interventions:   Biological: SCTV01C;   Biological: Sinopharm inactivated COVID-19 vaccine;   Biological: Comirnaty
  Sponsor:   Sinocelltech Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• Transcranial Direct Stimulation for Persistent Fatigue Treatment Post-COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Device: Active tDCS;   Device: Sham tDCS
  Sponsor:   Hospital San Carlos, Madrid
  Not yet recruiting

• Safety and Immunogenicity of COVI-VAC as a Booster Dose in Adults Previously Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Conditions:   COVID-19;   SARS-CoV-2
  Intervention:   Biological: COVI-VAC
  Sponsor:  
  Codagenix, Inc
  Not yet recruiting

• Effect of Combined Use of Ivermectin and Colchicine in COVID-19 Patients - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: Ivermectin + colchicine;   Drug: Colchicine
  Sponsor:   Ain Shams University
  Recruiting

• Vale+ Tu Salud: Corner-Based Randomized Trial to Test a Latino Day Laborer Program Adapted to Prevent COVID 19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Behavioral: COVID-19 Group Problem Solving;   Behavioral: Control Group-standard of care
  Sponsors:   The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston;   National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
  Not yet recruiting

• BetaShield: A Phase II, Randomized Trial to Test the Effect of Povidone-iodine 0.5% as Mouthwash/Gargle on SARS- CoV-2 Load (COVID 19) as an Adjuvant Infection Control Measure in Dental Practice - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Drug: Mouth rinse
  Sponsors:  
  University of Pennsylvania;   Purdue Pharma LP
  Recruiting

• A Phase III, Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of TD0069 Capsule as a Combination Regimen With Standard Treatment for Patients With Mild to Moderate COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: TD0069 hard capsule;   Drug: TD0069 Placebo
  Sponsors:   Sao Thai Duong Joint Stock Company;   Clinical Training Company
  Recruiting

• Study in Healthy Subjects and Symptomatic Covid-19 Positive Patients to Evaluate the Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of the Novel Self-administered Intranasal CG- SpikeDown Antiviral Drug - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: CG-SpikeDown, intranasal formulation;   Drug: standard of care
  Sponsor:   Caregen Co. Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

From PubMed

• The Prospective Effect of Allopurinol on the Oxidative Stress Index and Endothelial Dysfunction in Covid-19 - SARS-CoV-2 by the direct cytopathic effect or indirectly through the propagation of pro-inflammatory cytokines could cause endothelial dysfunction (ED) and oxidative stress (OS). It has been reported that OS is triggered by various types of viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2. Into the bargain, allopurinol is regarded as a potent antioxidant that acts through inhibition of xanthine oxidase (XO), which is an essential enzyme of purine metabolism. Herein, the present study aimed to find the…

• Robust neutralising antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in adolescents and young adults with childhood onset rheumatic diseases - CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines were efficacious after the two-dose regimen in almost all AYA with cRD without serious adverse event. The rate of disease flare observed is 4.4% after the second mRNA vaccine dose.

• Organoid technology and lung injury mouse models evaluating effects of hydroxychloroquine on lung epithelial regeneration - Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) damages lung epithelial stem/progenitor cells. Ideal anti- SARS-CoV-2 drug candidates should be screened to prevent secondary injury to the lungs. Here, we propose that in vitro three-dimensional organoid and lung injury repair mouse models are powerful models for the screening antiviral drugs. Lung epithelial progenitor cells, including airway club cells and alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells, were co-cultured with supportive fibroblast cells…

• Is heparan sulfate a target for inhibition of RNA virus infection? - Heparan sulfate (HS) is a linear polysaccharide attached to a core protein, forming heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) that are ubiquitously expressed on the surface of almost all mammalian cells and the extracellular matrix. HS orchestrates the binding of various signal molecules to their receptors, thus, regulating many biological processes, including homeostasis, metabolism, and various pathological processes. Due to its wide distribution and negatively charged properties, HS is exploited…

• Neuropilin-1-Mediated SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages Inhibits Osteoclast Differentiation - In humans, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can cause medical complications across various tissues and organs. Despite the advances to understanding the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2, its tissue tropism and interactions with host cells have not been fully understood. Existing clinical data have revealed disordered calcium and phosphorus metabolism in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, suggesting possible infection or damage in the human skeleton…

• Role of peripheral myelin protein 22 in chronic exercise-induced interactions of muscle and bone in mice - Exercise is important for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia and osteoporosis. Although the interactions between skeletal muscles and bone have recently been reported, the myokines linking muscle to bone during exercise remain unknown. We previously revealed that chronic exercise using treadmill running blunts ovariectomy-induced osteopenia in mice. We herein performed an RNA sequence analysis of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of male mice with or without chronic exercise to…

• A global lipid map reveals host dependency factors conserved across SARS-CoV-2 variants - A comprehensive understanding of host dependency factors for SARS-CoV-2 remains elusive. We mapped alterations in host lipids following SARS-CoV-2 infection using nontargeted lipidomics. We found that SARS-CoV-2 rewires host lipid metabolism, altering 409 lipid species up to 64-fold relative to controls. We correlated these changes with viral protein activity by transfecting human cells with each viral protein and performing lipidomics. We found that lipid droplet plasticity is a key feature of…

• An In-silico Screening Strategy to the Prediction of New Inhibitors of COVID-19 M(pro) Protein - The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) was first recognized in Wuhan, China, and quickly spread worldwide. Between all proposed research guidelines, inhibition of the main protease (M^(pro)) protein of the virus will be one of the main strategies for COVID-19 treatment. The present work was aimed to perform a computational study on FDA-approved drugs, similar to piperine scaffold, to find possible M^(pro) inhibitors. Firstly, virtual screening studies were performed on a library of FDA-approved…

• In silico investigations of heparin binding to SARS-CoV-2 variants with a focus at the RBD/ACE2 interface - The increased infectivity and transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 new variants were contributed largely by increase binding of receptor binding domain (RBD) domain of the Spike (S) protein to its cellular receptor ACE2 (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2). Several studies have indicated that heparin and its derivatives interact to SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD and inhibits the binding of ACE2 which blocks the viral invasion. However, it is largely unclear how these SARS-CoV-2 variants affects ACE2 binding in the…

• Korean Red Ginseng, a regulator of NLRP3 inflammasome, in the COVID-19 pandemic - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exhibits various symptoms, ranging from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia or death. The major features of patients in severe COVID-19 are the dysregulation of cytokine secretion, pneumonia, and acute lung injury. Consequently, it leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, multiple organ failure, and death. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative virus of COVID-19, influences…

• Financing Constraints and Firm’s Productivity Under the COVID-19 Epidemic Shock: Evidence of A-Shared Chinese Companies - Focusing on the financing barriers to firm productivity improvement under the influence of external shocks, we empirically analyze the data of A-share listed companies from 2007-2018 to determine the impact of financing constraints on total factor productivity (TFP) in the context of COVID-19 pandemic and the paths of factor use efficiency and R&D innovation efficiency on this impact using ordinary least-squares (OLS) method. We find that financing constraints are an important factor inhibiting…

• SAR and QSAR of COVID-19 Main Protease-Inhibitor Interactions of Recently X-ray Crystalized Complexes - COVID-19 is still widespread worldwide and up to now there is no established antiviral able to control the disease. Main protease is responsible for the viral replication and transcription; thus, its inhibition is a promising route to control virus proliferation. The present study aims to examine detail interactions between main protease and recently reported ninety-seven inhibitors with available X-ray crystallography to define factors enhance inhibition activity; thirty-two of most potent…

• Antiviral activities of 4H-chromen-4-one scaffold-containing flavonoids against SARS-CoV-2 using computational and in vitro approaches - The widespread outbreak of the novel coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused the main health challenge worldwide. This pandemic has attracted the attention of the research communities in various fields, prompting efforts to discover rapid drug molecules for the treatment of the life-threatening COVID-19 disease. This study is aimed at investigating 4H-chromen-4-one scaffold-containing flavonoids that combat the SARS-CoV-2 virus using…

• Combination of antiviral drugs inhibits SARS-CoV-2 polymerase and exonuclease and demonstrates COVID-19 therapeutic potential in viral cell culture - SARS-CoV-2 has an exonuclease-based proofreader, which removes nucleotide inhibitors such as Remdesivir that are incorporated into the viral RNA during replication, reducing the efficacy of these drugs for treating COVID-19. Combinations of inhibitors of both the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and the exonuclease could overcome this deficiency. Here we report the identification of hepatitis C virus NS5A inhibitors Pibrentasvir and Ombitasvir as SARS- CoV-2 exonuclease inhibitors. In the…

• Adverse reactions and production of neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after ChAdOx1 COVID-19 vaccination: A cross-sectional study in a single center - Adverse events following vaccination with the ChAdOx1 COVID-19 vaccine may be associated with the titer of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against SARS-CoV-2. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 82 HCWs who received the ChAdOx1 COVID-19 vaccine and did not have previous COVID-19 history were enrolled during March 2021. Blood samples were collected from HCWs 3 weeks after the first and second doses of vaccine, and NAbs were estimated using two types of commercially available kits, the cPass™…

From Patent Search

• SOCIAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR MOBILE ROBOTS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT TECHNOLOGY - The emergency department (ED) is a safety-critical environment in which healthcare workers (HCWs) are overburdened, overworked, and have limited resources, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. One way to address this problem is to explore the use of robots that can support clinical teams, e.g., to deliver materials or restock supplies. However, due to EDs being overcrowded, and the cognitive overload HCWs experience, robots need to understand various levels of patient acuity so they avoid disrupting care delivery. In this invention, we introduce the Safety-Critical Deep Q-Network (SafeDQN) system, a new acuity-aware navigation system for mobile robots. SafeDQN is based on two insights about care in EDs: high-acuity patients tend to have more HCWs in attendance and those HCWs tend to move more quickly. We compared SafeDQN to three classic navigation methods, and show that it generates the safest, quickest path for mobile robots when navigating in a simulated ED environment. We hope this work encourages future exploration of social robots that work in safety-critical, human-centered environments, and ultimately help to improve patient outcomes and save lives. Figure 1. - link

• A SYSTEM BASED ON DEEP LEARNING FOR ANALYZING DELAYED ENHANCEMENT MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING TO IDENTIFY COVID 19 AND METHOD THEREOF - The present invention discloses a system based on deep learning for analyzing delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging to identify COVID 19 and method thereof. The method and system include, but not limited to, a processing unit adapted to process the data based on deep learning data modelling in the magnetic resonance imaging associated with the digital image scanning system for diagnosis COVID 19 with the spatial resolution that each frame is deposited is 256 * 256, and being creating that level and vertical resolution respectively are 256 pixels (pixel), the read/write address that the read/write address of each image element, which is controlled by processing unit and forms circuit and finishes; And the data that will be stored in memory are input to a real-time microcontroller, it is characterized in that: analyze and compare by the Multi-source Information Fusion analytical system by using the real-time microcontroller to deliver the D/A changer then, digital signal is become analogue signal output. - link

• 一种特异性结合新型冠状病毒S蛋白的抗体及其应用 - 本发明涉及一种特异性结合新型冠状病毒S蛋白的抗体及其应用，属于生物技术领域。本发明提供了一种抗原，所述抗原包括氨基酸序列如SEQ ID NO.1所示的多肽，氨基酸序列如SEQ ID NO.2所示的多肽，与SEQ ID NO.1所示氨基酸序列具有80%以上同源性，且具有诱发针对SARS‑CoV‑2 S蛋白免疫反应功能的衍生多肽，和/或，与SEQ ID NO.2所示氨基酸序列具有80%以上同源性，且具有诱发针对SARS‑CoV‑2 S蛋白免疫反应功能的衍生多肽；使用所述抗原对动物进行免疫可获得能够与SARS‑CoV‑2 S蛋白特异性结合的多克隆抗体。 - link

• 检测SARS-CoV-2变异株的组合物、试剂盒、方法及其用途 - 本发明属于分子生物学检测领域；涉及SARS‑CoV‑2奥密克戎（Omicron）变异株的检测。本发明提供了包含所述组合物的试剂盒，所述组合物的用途，以及用于检测SARS‑CoV‑2变异株并分型的方法。通过检测SARS‑CoV‑2变异株S基因上的4个不同的特征功能变异位点，对奥密克戎变异株进行分型，从而在单管反应体系中同时实现SARS‑CoV‑2病毒及奥密克戎变异株分型的检测。本发明的组合物，结合荧光探针熔解曲线法，其成本低，通量高。并且操作简便，结果读取过程通过熔解峰Tm值即可以判定。检测全过程均在单管封闭条件下进行，避免了由于样本间交叉引起的假阳性和环境污染。 - link

• 一种用于检测病毒的试剂盒 - 本发明提供了一种用于检测病毒的试剂盒，包括裂解病毒的试剂和病毒的免疫层析检测装置，通过在试纸条上设置连接标记区域和检测区域的缓冲过渡区域，以及在卡壳盖上设置三条压住试纸条的压条，减缓样本的流速，提高样本在试纸条上的层析和过滤效果，并搭配裂解病毒的试剂，暴露出更多的抗原或者抗原位点，从而大幅提高待测物的检测灵敏度，特别是针对新型冠状病毒的裂解，可以明显提高样本中的病毒抗原浓度，从而采用特定结构的免疫荧光测试条，提高检测的最低阀值，防止漏检。 - link

• 一种用于检测病毒的试剂和试剂盒 - 本发明提供了一种用于检测病毒的试剂和试剂盒，包括裂解病毒的试剂和试纸条，通过在试纸条上设置连接标记区域和检测区域的缓冲过渡区域，减缓样本的流速，提高样本在试纸条上的层析和过滤效果，并搭配裂解病毒的试剂裂解病毒，暴露出更多的抗原或者抗原位点，从而提高检测的灵敏度。在样本中病毒量特别低的时候，希望能够获得阳性结果，就希望获得更多的抗原片段或者病毒片段，采用本发明提供的裂解液对样本进行裂解，可以明显提高样本中的病毒抗原浓度，从而采用免疫荧光测试条，提高检测的最低阀值，防止漏检，特别适用于针对新型冠状病毒的裂解。 - link

• 一种结合冠状病毒双特异性抗体的抗药抗体及其制备方法和应用 - 本发明公开了一种结合冠状病毒双特异性抗体的抗药抗体及其制备方法和应用。所述抗药抗体包含重链可变区和轻链可变区，所述重链可变区包含HCDR1、HCDR2和HCDR3，所述轻链可变区包含LCDR1、LCDR2和LCDR3，其中各功能区的序列详见本发明。本发明筛选得到的抗药抗体具有较高的结合亲和力和特异性。 - link

• FOLDABLE KIDS NEST - The objective of the present invention is to provide a bird’s nest bag which allows a kid to sleep or sit inside. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the bird nest bag is used to isolate kids below 2 years, who are affected by COVID-19. The netted portion of the bag allows a clear visibility to check on the user by the medical assistants, during emergency situations. The children below two years of age can be isolated in the bags for a shorter duration. (Refer Fig. 1) - link

• IDENTIFICATION AND ALARM SYSTEM FOR FACIAL CORONA MASK USING CNN BASED IMAGE PROCESSING - tThe covid-19 epidemic is the world’s largest wake-up call for people to pay attention to their own and society’s health. One thing to keep in mind is that there is a segment of the population that has been exposed to the covid-19 virus and has generated antibodies without developing any significant illnesses and is continuing to be healthy. This indicates that a significant section of the population, even excluding the elderly, lacks the necessary bodily immunity to combat a Viral infection. As terrible as covid-19 is on a global scale, developing personal health standards and preventative measures for any pathogenic virus as a community would have spared many lives. In’this work, a camera is combined with an image processing system to recognise facial masks, which may be improved in a variety of ways. First and foremost, this method is meant to identify masks on a single person’s face. While this method is efficient in identifying someone has a mask, it does not ensure that they will wear it all of the time. The most effective update for this task is to install a camera with a wide field of view so that many individuals can be seen in the frame, and the faces of those who aren’t wearing markings can be identified, as well as the number of people and the timing. - link

• 一种腺病毒载体重组新冠病毒B.1.429变异株疫苗及其应用 - 本发明公开了一种以人5型复制缺陷型腺病毒为载体的新冠变异株疫苗。所述疫苗以E1、E3联合缺失的复制缺陷型人5型腺病毒为载体，基因组中整合有经优化设计的新型冠状病毒B.1.429变异株抗原基因（Ad5‑nCoV‑B.1.429）。该疫苗在宿主细胞中可以有效表达保护性抗原蛋白。使用该疫苗单次免疫即可激发针对新冠野生株以及B.1.351、B.1.617.2变异株的抗体反应。与2019野生型新型冠状病毒疫苗联用，疫苗加强免疫后可以激发强烈且广谱的新冠病毒变异株中和抗体反应。无论用作单独免疫，还是同新冠野生株疫苗联用作异型加强免疫时，该疫苗均能激发较为广谱的中和抗体反应，具有一定的应用优势，可作为疫苗候选株，用于应对持续蔓延的新冠变异株疫情。 - link