Emerging variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are of clinical concern. In a cohort of 417 persons who had received the second dose of BNT162b2 (Pfizer–BioNTech) or mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccine at least 2 weeks previously, we identified 2 women with vaccine breakthrough infection. Despite evidence of vaccine efficacy in both women, symptoms… Continue reading Vaccine Breakthrough Infections with #SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Category: Infectivology
#Ivermectin for Prevention and Treatment of #COVID-19 InfectionA Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Trial Sequential Analysis to Inform Clinical Guidelines
Repurposed medicines may have a role against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The antiparasitic ivermectin, with antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, has now been tested in numerous clinical trials. Areas of uncertainty:We assessed the efficacy of ivermectin treatment in reducing mortality, in secondary outcomes, and in chemoprophylaxis, among people with, or at high risk of, COVID-19 infection. Data… Continue reading #Ivermectin for Prevention and Treatment of #COVID-19 InfectionA Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Trial Sequential Analysis to Inform Clinical Guidelines
Dynamic innate immune response determines susceptibility to #SARS-CoV-2 infection and early replication kinetics
Initial replication of SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract is required to establish infection, and the replication levelcorrelates with the likelihood of viral transmission. Here, we examined the role of host innate immune defenses in restrictingearly SARS-CoV-2 infection using transcriptomics and biomarker-based tracking in serial patient nasopharyngeal samples andexperiments with airway epithelial organoids. SARS-CoV-2 initially… Continue reading Dynamic innate immune response determines susceptibility to #SARS-CoV-2 infection and early replication kinetics
Multiple #SARS-CoV-2 variants escape neutralization by #vaccine-induced humoral immunity
Vaccination elicits immune responses capable of potently neutralizing SARS-CoV-2. However, ongoing surveillance has revealed the emergence of variants harboring mutations in spike, the main target of neutralizing antibodies. To understand the impact of these variants, we evaluated the neutralization potency of 99 individuals that received one or two doses of either BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 vaccines… Continue reading Multiple #SARS-CoV-2 variants escape neutralization by #vaccine-induced humoral immunity
First case of postmortem study in a patient vaccinated against #SARS-CoV-2
Highlights•We report on a patient with a single dose of vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. •He developed relevant serum titer levels but died 4 weeks later. •By postmortem molecular mapping, we found viral RNA in nearly all organs examined. •However, we did not observe any characteristic morphological features of COVID-19. •Immunogenicity might be elicited, while sterile immunity… Continue reading First case of postmortem study in a patient vaccinated against #SARS-CoV-2
Human #immune system adaptations to simulated #microgravity revealed by single-cell mass cytometry
Exposure to microgravity (µG) during space flights produces a state of immunosuppression, leading to increased viral shedding, which could interfere with long term missions. However, the cellular mechanisms that underlie the immunosuppressive effects of µG are ill-defined. A deep understanding of human immune adaptations to µG is a necessary first step to design data-driven interventions… Continue reading Human #immune system adaptations to simulated #microgravity revealed by single-cell mass cytometry
#Calcifediol treatment and #COVID-19-related outcomes
COVID-19 is a major health problem because of saturation of intensive care units (ICU) and mortality. Vitamin D has emerged as a potential treatment able to reduce the disease severity. ObjectiveTo elucidate the effect of calcifediol [25OHD3] treatment on COVID-19-related outcomes. DesignObservational cohort study from March to May, 2020. SettingPatients admitted to COVID-19 wards of… Continue reading #Calcifediol treatment and #COVID-19-related outcomes
Prognostic value of #D-dimer for adverse outcomes in patients with infective #endocarditis: an observational study
Increased D-dimer levels have been shown to correlate with adverse outcomes in various clinical conditions. However, few studies with a large sample size have been performed thus far to evaluate the prognostic value of D-dimer in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). Methods613 patients with IE were included in the study and categorized into two groups… Continue reading Prognostic value of #D-dimer for adverse outcomes in patients with infective #endocarditis: an observational study
Potential anti-COVID-19 agents, #cepharanthine and #nelfinavir, and their usage for combination treatment
Nelfinavir (NFV) inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication•Cepharanthine (CEP) inhibits SARS-CoV-2 attachment to target cells•Combination of NFV and CEP can synergistically augment antiviral activity•NFV and CEP are estimated to shorten the time to viral elimination at clinical doses SummaryAntiviral treatments targeting the coronavirus disease 2019 are urgently required. We screened a panel of already approved drugs in a… Continue reading Potential anti-COVID-19 agents, #cepharanthine and #nelfinavir, and their usage for combination treatment