INTERRELATIONS BETWEEN VIRAL LOAD AND CELLULAR IMMUNITY IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 OF VARYING SEVERITY.

Assessment of viral load levels in various biological samples taken from the respiratory tract can be an indicator of an ongoing process of active viral replication and may be used to monitor severe respiratory viral infections. The study of the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 viral load and immunological laboratory parameters is an important step in the search for clinical markers of COVID-19. The aim of this research was to quantify viral load in patients with COVID-19 and to identify the relationship between viral load and changes in the parameters of the cellular component of the immune system. A laboratory examination was carried out on 74 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, they were divided into 3 groups based on the severity of the disease: mild, moderate, severe. Total viral load in clinical samples was determined by the number of SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies per 100 copies of the reference RNaseP gene. A comprehensive assessment of the cellular component of the immune system was performed using flow cytometry and direct monoclonal antibodies, and the IL-6, and C-reactive protein concentrations were determined. We revealed a relationship between the development of serious clinical conditions in the patients with COVID-19, and the levels of viral load. High levels of viral RNA in biological samples correlate with main indicators of the T cell component of the immune system associated with disease severity. In a subgroup of patients with an extremely high viral load, strong positive correlations were found between the relative numbers of cytotoxic lymphocytes (CD3+CD8+), activated T lymphocytes (CD3+HLA-DR+), as well as absolute and relative numbers of activated B lymphocytes and NK cells (CD3-CD25+). Laboratory monitoring of the cellular component of the immune system, along with the assessment of viral loads, should improve early assessment of clinical condition in the patients with COVID-19. Changes in expression levels of activation markers on immune cells can be potentially viewed as indicators of recovery during COVID-19.Copyright © Nikitin Yu.V. et al., 2023 The article can be used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

INTERRELATIONS BETWEEN VIRAL LOAD AND CELLULAR IMMUNITY IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 OF VARYING SEVERITY.

Assessment of viral load levels in various biological samples taken from the respiratory tract can be an indicator of an ongoing process of active viral replication and may be used to monitor severe respiratory viral infections. The study of the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 viral load and immunological laboratory parameters is an important step in the search for clinical markers of COVID-19. The aim of this research was to quantify viral load in patients with COVID-19 and to identify the relationship between viral load and changes in the parameters of the cellular component of the immune system. A laboratory examination was carried out on 74 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, they were divided into 3 groups based on the severity of the disease: mild, moderate, severe. Total viral load in clinical samples was determined by the number of SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies per 100 copies of the reference RNaseP gene. A comprehensive assessment of the cellular component of the immune system was performed using flow cytometry and direct monoclonal antibodies, and the IL-6, and C-reactive protein concentrations were determined. We revealed a relationship between the development of serious clinical conditions in the patients with COVID-19, and the levels of viral load. High levels of viral RNA in biological samples correlate with main indicators of the T cell component of the immune system associated with disease severity. In a subgroup of patients with an extremely high viral load, strong positive correlations were found between the relative numbers of cytotoxic lymphocytes (CD3+CD8+), activated T lymphocytes (CD3+HLA-DR+), as well as absolute and relative numbers of activated B lymphocytes and NK cells (CD3-CD25+). Laboratory monitoring of the cellular component of the immune system, along with the assessment of viral loads, should improve early assessment of clinical condition in the patients with COVID-19. Changes in expression levels of activation markers on immune cells can be potentially viewed as indicators of recovery during COVID-19.Copyright © Nikitin Yu.V. et al., 2023 The article can be used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Public sector leadership during the COVID-19 crisis in Ghana

Purpose: This article examines public sector leadership during the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic in Ghana. It focuses on the Bank of Ghana – the nation's central bank responsible for monetary policy and financial sector leadership – and examines the critical leadership attributes that the central bank demonstrated through its administrative and policy responses to the crisis. Design/methodology/approach: Text-based content analysis is the method of investigation in this study. The analysis relies on textual data from the Bank of Ghana's monetary policy committee press briefings. The textual data are analyzed in three steps, namely pre-analysis, analysis and interpretation to identify patterns, themes and emphases and to make inferences about the central bank's public sector leadership during the coronavirus crisis in Ghana. Findings: The findings from textual analysis of monetary policy committee press briefings show that the central bank demonstrated several criteria of effective public service leadership during the crisis, namely sensemaking, critical decision-making, communication, accountability, adaptability and, to an extent, learning. However, the textual evidence suggests that the Bank of Ghana needs to broaden its collaboration and coordination across a wider spectrum of stakeholders in economic crisis management, while not compromising its policy independence. Originality/value: This article contributes to the emerging literature on public sector leadership during the COVID-19 crisis. It provides a unique perspective on public sector leadership through the lens of economic crisis management in a developing country context. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Clinical efficacy and safety of convalescent plasma therapy for patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Aim: to evaluate the efficacy and safety of convalescent plasma therapy for patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Material(s) and Method(s): the study included 64 patients with laboratory-confirmed severe new coronavirus infection. The control group consisted of 58 patients who, in addition to standard therapy, received a transfusion of plasma from donors who had recovered from COVID-19. The effectiveness of immune plasma was assessed by the duration of fever, the level of oxygen (SpO2%) in dynamics, the detection of SARSCoV-2 RNA in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs using PCR method in dynamics, as well as by the dynamics of blood tests results. Adverse events (any medically adverse events that occurred after immune plasma transfusion) were recorded as safety criteria. Result(s): patients who received convalescent plasma, showed a significantly shorter period of SARS-CoV-2 replication compared with the control group. The use of immune plasma did not have a statistically significant effect on the duration of the fever, as well as the dynamics of blood oxygenation. Also, there were no significant differences compared with the control group when assessing blood tests parameters. Conclusion(s): The use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma to treat severe COVID-19 did not show significant clinical effect but reduced the period of viral replication. It also showed no unexpected or serious adverse events.Copyright © 2022 Interregional public organization Association of infectious disease specialists of Saint-Petersburg and Leningrad region (IPO AIDSSPbR). All rights reserved.

Clinical efficacy and safety of convalescent plasma therapy for patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Aim: to evaluate the efficacy and safety of convalescent plasma therapy for patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Material(s) and Method(s): the study included 64 patients with laboratory-confirmed severe new coronavirus infection. The control group consisted of 58 patients who, in addition to standard therapy, received a transfusion of plasma from donors who had recovered from COVID-19. The effectiveness of immune plasma was assessed by the duration of fever, the level of oxygen (SpO2%) in dynamics, the detection of SARSCoV-2 RNA in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs using PCR method in dynamics, as well as by the dynamics of blood tests results. Adverse events (any medically adverse events that occurred after immune plasma transfusion) were recorded as safety criteria. Result(s): patients who received convalescent plasma, showed a significantly shorter period of SARS-CoV-2 replication compared with the control group. The use of immune plasma did not have a statistically significant effect on the duration of the fever, as well as the dynamics of blood oxygenation. Also, there were no significant differences compared with the control group when assessing blood tests parameters. Conclusion(s): The use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma to treat severe COVID-19 did not show significant clinical effect but reduced the period of viral replication. It also showed no unexpected or serious adverse events.Copyright © 2022 Interregional public organization Association of infectious disease specialists of Saint-Petersburg and Leningrad region (IPO AIDSSPbR). All rights reserved.

ROLE OF IFNgamma IN PATHOGENESIS OF SARS-CoV-2 INFECTION.

To date, there is no consensus explaining the relationship between varying concentrations of IFNgamma and the severity of infection caused by SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this article was to analyze and formulate conclusions from the selected studies and publications, which, in sum, provide a potentially reasonable view on the role of IFNgamma in COVID-19 pathogenesis. This article highlights current data on the immunological role of IFNgamma which affects differentiation of naive T helper cells, acting as a polarizing factor. It activates the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II, by increasing the expression of MHC I/II subunits, inhibiting replication of the viral particles by initiating activation of interferon-stimulated genes followed by subsequent synthesis of antiviral proteins. Moreover, IFNgamma activates the production of cytokines by T cells, enhancing cytotoxic activity of the T killers. IFNgamma exerts immunostimulatory and immunomodulatory effects via STAT1, SOCS1 and PIAS genes, thus regulating activation of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. A number of studies were considered where the patterns of changes in serum IFNgamma concentration were examined in viral infections and SARS-CoV-2. We performed a systemic analysis of the results of studies that showed a relationship between high concentrations of IFNgamma and COVID-19 severity. In a number of studies, the significantly high levels of IFNgamma in COVID-19 patients were often associated with a poor outcome of the disease. The median values of the IFNgamma concentration in severe COVID-19 were found to be significantly higher compared to the results obtained in the cases of moderate severity. It shows an increase, in parallel with viral load in the nasopharyngeal samples upon worsening of the clinical condition. Based on the data on the decreased IFNgamma concentrations in convalescent patients, the mechanism of antagonism between IFNgamma and IL-4 is considered, where the decreases serum concentrations of IFNgamma along with increasing level of IL-4 may be an indirect proof of normal adaptive immune response with subsequent development of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and gradual elimination of the virus from the body. Moreover, the evidence is discussed that the patients harboring some parasitic infections (Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium, Blastocystis hominis, Giardia duodenalis, Entamoeba histolytica) with persistently elevated level of IFNgamma are at reduced risk for severe course of COVID-19. Copyright © 2022, SPb RAACI.

ROLE OF IFNgamma IN PATHOGENESIS OF SARS-CoV-2 INFECTION

To date, there is no consensus explaining the relationship between varying concentrations of IFNgamma and the severity of infection caused by SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this article was to analyze and formulate conclusions from the selected studies and publications, which, in sum, provide a potentially reasonable view on the role of IFNgamma in COVID-19 pathogenesis. This article highlights current data on the immunological role of IFNgamma which affects differentiation of naive T helper cells, acting as a polarizing factor. It activates the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II, by increasing the expression of MHC I/II subunits, inhibiting replication of the viral particles by initiating activation of interferon-stimulated genes followed by subsequent synthesis of antiviral proteins. Moreover, IFNgamma activates the production of cytokines by T cells, enhancing cytotoxic activity of the T killers. IFNgamma exerts immunostimulatory and immunomodulatory effects via STAT1, SOCS1 and PIAS genes, thus regulating activation of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. A number of studies were considered where the patterns of changes in serum IFNgamma concentration were examined in viral infections and SARS-CoV-2. We performed a systemic analysis of the results of studies that showed a relationship between high concentrations of IFNgamma and COVID-19 severity. In a number of studies, the significantly high levels of IFNgamma in COVID-19 patients were often associated with a poor outcome of the disease. The median values of the IFNgamma concentration in severe COVID-19 were found to be significantly higher compared to the results obtained in the cases of moderate severity. It shows an increase, in parallel with viral load in the nasopharyngeal samples upon worsening of the clinical condition. Based on the data on the decreased IFNgamma concentrations in convalescent patients, the mechanism of antagonism between IFNgamma and IL-4 is considered, where the decreases serum concentrations of IFNgamma along with increasing level of IL-4 may be an indirect proof of normal adaptive immune response with subsequent development of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and gradual elimination of the virus from the body. Moreover, the evidence is discussed that the patients harboring some parasitic infections (Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium, Blastocystis hominis, Giardia duodenalis, Entamoeba histolytica) with persistently elevated level of IFNgamma are at reduced risk for severe course of COVID-19. Copyright © 2022, SPb RAACI.

Development of a Test System to Detect the Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2 and the Frequency of Its Detection in Patients.

We developed a new test system to detect the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 using allele-specific reverse transcription PCR and estimated the frequency of its detection in patients living in the Novosibirsk Region. Clinical samples were divided into 3 groups: samples collected from December 1 to December 30, 2021 (group 1; n=66), from December 30, 2021 to January 10, 2022 (group 2; n=20), and from January 11 to January 22, 2022 (group 3; n=101). Based on the identification of 5 mutations specific to SARS-CoV-2 (B.1.1.529), two systems of oligonucleotide primers and probes were developed for detecting this coronavirus genotype in clinical samples. Limit of detection (LOD95) was 4×103 genome equivalents per 1 ml of clinical sample for the first test system and 2×103 for the for the second test system. The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 was absent in group 1 of studied samples, but was detected in 20% (4/20) of group 2 samples and 88% of group 2 samples collected within less than 2 weeks of January 2022. Using developed test system, we showed that in less than 2 weeks the omicron variant has become dominant in patients, which confirms previously published data on its exceptional contagiousness.

Comparative Cohort Epidemiological Study of Collective Immunity against New Coronavirus Infection among Different Groups of Military Personnel

Background. The need to study the population immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus is due to the intensive spread of COVID-19 and the implementation of immunoprophylaxis of this infection. The identification of the features of the formation of immunoresistance in organized military collectives will allow us to predict the development of the epidemic situation, including among comparable population groups. Aims ' the study of population immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic against the background of specific immunoprophylaxis in organized military collectives. Methods. According to epidemiological indications, an epidemiological study of collective immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus was conducted against the background of vaccination among cadets of military educational organizations. The study involved 497 people, divided into groups by epidemiological and vaccination history for COVID-19, blood groups and Rh factor. The assessment of the immunity intensity was carried out by the levels of class G immunoglobulins (IgG) to SARS-CoV-2 in the blood serum by the method of solid-phase enzyme immunoassay. Results. Seroprevalence in the total sample was 92.6%. The highest rates were observed among vaccinated patients: those who were not ill and vaccinated ' 99.0 ± 0.7%, those who were ill and vaccinated-100% (mean geometric antibody titers ' 1:2234 and 1:4399). Among the ill, unvaccinated individuals, the seroprevalence index was 84.5 ± 3.2% (1:220). Among those who were not ill, not vaccinated ' 8.2 ± 3.1% (1:113), which may indicate a hidden course of the epidemic process in the team. A negative immune response was more common (tSt = 2.01;p < 0.05) in individuals A(II)Rh+ blood group. The highest proportion of maximum antibody titers (1:3200-1:6400) was determined in AB(IV) individuals. Rh-blood groups (tSt=2.21;p < 0.05). Conclusions. For the first time, the formation of combined immunity with the highest concentrations of specific antibodies was revealed in patients who have been ill and vaccinated has been revealed, which allows us to recommend vaccination to those who have suffered from COVID-19. The emergence of post-infectious immunity in organized groups with a latent epidemic process has been established. The relationship between the intensity of immunity with blood groups and the Rh factor was found. © 2021 Izdatel'stvo Meditsina. All rights reserved.

Optimization of diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection using polymerase chain reaction in a large multi-specialty hospital

We consider the possibility of optimizing the diagnosis of infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 using polymerase chain reaction in a multi-specialty hospital, repurposed for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, using the example Of the military medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov. The analysis of scientific publications selected in accordance with the purpose of the study, analyzed data from 218 samples of polymerase chain reaction in patients with COVID-19, who were in the clinics Of the military medical Academy named after Sm. Time intervals were established depending on the clinical forms and severity of the infectious process, in which the probability of a positive and negative result of a polymerase chain reaction to SARS-CoV-2 RNA was maximum and minimum. It was shown that during the examination and treatment, molecular biological diagnostics were performed excessively (4 times in more than 50% of patients) and in 97,3% of patients unreasonably early (8,5+or-0,4 days). At the same time, the highest frequency of negative results of polymerase chain reaction to SARS-CoV-2 RNA was observed in the period from 9 to 10 and from 12 to 14 days, while it depended on the clinical form and severity of the infectious process. In this regard, the volume diagnosis using polymerase chain reaction should be reduced and to conduct research when entering the hospital, on the 9th-10th day (in patients inapparently forms and acute respiratory diseases, lung flow) and 12-14 days before discharge in patients with moderate and severe course of the infectious process.