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1.
Analyst ; 148(13): 2892-2900, 2023 Jun 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-20241189

ABSTRACT

The global spread of air-borne diseases, such as Covid-19 caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), has significantly impacted public health and economic development worldwide. Accurate and rapid detection of pathogens is the key to controlling the spread of infection and reducing severe illness and death. Compared to nucleic acid testing, rapid antigen testing for pathogen proteins shows unique advantages such as convenience, speed, and cost-effectiveness, but its sensitivity is limited. Here, we review the latest progress in the development of immunological assay methods for infectious diseases. We summarize the principles, performance, advantages and limitations of several representative methods. We highlight recent efforts in utilizing nanotechnology to engineer biosensing interfaces, offering enhanced sensitivity while maintaining convenience for on-site diagnosis. Finally, we provide an outlook on the development of this field.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Communicable Diseases , Humans , COVID-19/diagnosis , SARS-CoV-2 , COVID-19 Testing , Nanotechnology , Communicable Diseases/diagnosis
3.
Virol Sin ; 38(2): 257-267, 2023 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2286110

ABSTRACT

Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAb) are a major therapeutic strategy for the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The continuous emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants worldwide has increased the urgency for the development of new mAbs. In this study, we immunized mice with the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 prototypic strain (WIV04) and screened 35 RBD-specific mAbs using hybridoma technology. Results of the plaque reduction neutralization test showed that 25 of the mAbs neutralized authentic WIV04 strain infection. The 25 mAbs were divided into three categories based on the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results. A representative mAb was selected from each category (RD4, RD10, and RD14) to determine the binding kinetics and median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of WIV04 and two variants of concern (VOC): B.1.351 (Beta) and B.1.617.2 (Delta). RD4 neutralized the B.1.617.2 variant with an IC50 of 2.67 â€‹ng/mL; however, it completely lost neutralizing activity against the B.1.351 variant. RD10 neutralized both variants with an IC50 exceeding 100 â€‹ng/mL; whereas RD14 neutralized two variants with a higher IC50 (>1 â€‹mg/mL). Animal experiments were performed to evaluate the protective effects of RD4 and RD10 against various VOC infections. RD4 could protect Adv-hACE2 transduced mice from B.1.617.2 infection at an antibody concentration of 25 â€‹mg/kg, while RD10 could protect mice from B.1.351 infection at an antibody concentration of 75 â€‹mg/kg. These results highlight the potential for future modifications of the mAbs for practical use.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal , COVID-19 , Animals , Humans , Mice , Hybridomas , SARS-CoV-2 , Antibodies, Viral , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus , Antibodies, Neutralizing , Neutralization Tests
4.
Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications ; 614:128558.0, 2023.
Article in English | ScienceDirect | ID: covidwho-2245661

ABSTRACT

To sustain market stability, it is crucial to research the impact of risk resonance across industries. In this paper, we demonstrate the dynamic risk resonance between various sectors in the Chinese market. To do so, by using a recently developed method that divides spillover measures based on variance decompositions into their components at different frequency ranges, a set of frequency spillover matrices is obtained to show the overall risk resonance within sectors. Second, we use a complex network to investigate the risk contagion path among different industries. The research results show that: (1) the risk resonance effect varies significantly over time;(2) during our sample period, the transportation and utilities industries are net transmitters;(3) the risk resonance mechanism is frequency dependent. Spillovers generated at low-frequency, extreme occurrences have a long-lasting effect on the industry's risk resonance;and (4) extreme events such as the financial crisis and the COVID-19 will enhance the risk resonance effect. The results of our research can provide a reference for market participants to formulate corresponding regulatory and investment strategies.

5.
BMC Public Health ; 23(1): 251, 2023 02 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2232442

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted racial and ethnic minorities in the United States, including Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (Asian Americans and NH/PIs). However, few studies have highlighted nor disaggregated these disparities by Asian Americans and NH/PIs ethnic subgroups. METHODS: This retrospective, cross-sectional observational study aimed to assess variation of Asian Americans and NH/PIs COVID-19 testing and outcomes compared to non-Hispanic Whites (NHW). The study utilized data from the electronic health records (EHR) and the COVID-19 Universal Registry for Vital Evaluations (CURVE) from all patients tested for SARS-CoV-2 (n = 556,690) at a large, health system in Northern and Central California between February 20, 2020 and March 31, 2021. Chi-square tests were used for testing differences in the severity of COVID-19 (hospitalization, ICU admission, death) and patient demographic and clinical characteristics across the Asian Americans and NH/PIs subgroups and NHW. Unadjusted and adjusted Odds Ratios (ORs) were estimated for measuring effect of race ethnicity on severity of COVID-19 using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the entire tested population, 70,564/556,690 (12.7%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 positivity of Asian subgroups varied from 4% in the Chinese and Korean populations, to 11.2%, 13.5%, and 12.5% for Asian Indian, Filipino, and "other Asian" populations respectively. Pacific Islanders had the greatest subgroup test positivity at 20.1%. Among Asian Americans and NH/PIs patients with COVID-19 disease, Vietnamese (OR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.30-3.25), "Other Asian" (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.79-2.54), Filipino (OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.34-2.23), Japanese (OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.10-2.88), and Chinese (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.34-2.23) subgroups had almost double the odds of hospitalization compared to NHW. Pacific Islander (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.19-2.10) and mixed race subgroups (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.10-2.20) had more than one and a half times odds of hospitalization compared to NHW. Adjusted odds of ICU admission or death among hospitalized patients by different Asian subgroups varied but were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Variation of COVID-19 testing and hospitalization by Asian subgroups was striking in our study. A focus on the Asian Americans and NH/PIs population with disaggregation of subgroups is crucial to understand nuances of health access, utilization, and outcomes among subgroups to create health equity for these underrepresented populations.


Subject(s)
Asian , COVID-19 , Healthcare Disparities , Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander , Humans , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19 Testing , Cross-Sectional Studies , Delivery of Health Care , Pacific Island People , Pandemics , Retrospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2 , United States
6.
Viruses ; 15(2)2023 02 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2236834

ABSTRACT

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused over six million deaths and huge economic burdens worldwide. Antivirals against its causative agent, SARS-CoV-2, are in urgent demand. Previously, we reported that heterocylic compounds, i.e., chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), are potent in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro. In this study, we discussed the syntheses of two novel heterocylic compounds: tert-butyl rel-4-(((3R,4S)-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1-oxo-2-propyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-4-yl)methyl)piperazine-1-carboxylate (trans-1) and rel-(3R,4S)-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-4-(piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-2-propyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1(2H)-one (trans-2), which effectively suppressed authentic SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells. Compound trans-1 showed higher anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity than trans-2, with a half maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 3.15 µM and a selective index (SI) exceeding 63.49, which demonstrated comparable potency to CQ or HCQ. Additional anti-SARS-CoV-2 tests on Calu-3 human lung cells showed that trans-1 efficiently inhibited viral replication (EC50 = 2.78 µM; SI: > 71.94) and performed better than CQ (EC50 = 44.90 µM; SI = 2.94). The time of an addition assay showed that the action mechanism of trans-1 differed from that of CQ, as it mainly inhibited the post-entry viral replication in both Vero E6 and Calu-3 cells. In addition, the differences between the antiviral mechanisms of these novel compounds and CQ were discussed.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Heterocyclic Compounds , Tetrahydroisoquinolines , Humans , SARS-CoV-2 , Pandemics , Tetrahydroisoquinolines/pharmacology , Chloroquine/pharmacology , Hydroxychloroquine/pharmacology , Antiviral Agents/pharmacology
7.
MedComm (2020) ; 4(1): e206, 2023 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2209138

ABSTRACT

Tetrandrine (TET) has been used to treat silicosis in China for decades. The aim of this study was to facilitate rational repurposing of TET against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, we confirmed that TET exhibited antiviral potency against SARS-CoV-2 in the African green monkey kidney (Vero E6), human hepatocarcinoma (Huh7), and human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial (Calu-3) cell lines. TET functioned during the early-entry stage of SARS-CoV-2 and impeded intracellular trafficking of the virus from early endosomes to endolysosomes. An in vivo study that used adenovirus (AdV) 5-human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2)-transduced mice showed that although TET did not reduce pulmonary viral load, it significantly alleviated pathological damage in SARS-CoV-2-infected murine lungs. The systemic preclinical pharmacokinetics were investigated based on in vivo and in vitro models, and the route-dependent biodistribution of TET was explored. TET had a large volume of distribution, which contributed to its high tissue accumulation. Inhaled administration helped TET target the lung and reduced its exposure to other tissues, which mitigated its off-target toxicity. Based on the available human pharmacokinetic data, it appeared feasible to achieve an unbound TET 90% maximal effective concentration (EC90) in human lungs. This study provides insights into the route-dependent pulmonary biodistribution of TET associated with its efficacy.

8.
Fundamental Research ; 2022.
Article in English | ScienceDirect | ID: covidwho-2086223

ABSTRACT

Airborne diseases including SARS, bird flu, and the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have stimulated the demand for developing novel bioassay methods competent for early-stage diagnosis and large-scale screening. Here, we briefly summarize the state-of-the-art methods for the detection of infectious pathogens and discuss key challenges. We highlight the trend for next-generation technologies benefiting from multidisciplinary advances in microfabrication, nanotechnology and synthetic biology, which allow sensitive, rapid yet inexpensive pathogen assays with portable intelligent device.

9.
Complexity ; 2022, 2022.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-2064342

ABSTRACT

With the normalization of epidemic prevention and control, the expression of the public’s demand for health information on online platforms continues to increase, while knowledge hiding behavior has seriously hindered the communication and dissemination of epidemic prevention knowledge and has a negative impact on public communication and access to health information in the socialized Q&A communities. Therefore, further stimulating diving users' activity and reducing their knowledge hiding behavior have become the key to the sustainable development of epidemic prevention and control and communities. Based on the social cognition theory, from the perspective of individual cognition and external environment, this study constructs a theoretical model of the influencing factors of users’ knowledge hiding behavior in the socialized Q&A communities in the post-epidemic era and puts forward relevant assumptions. 151 effective questionnaires are collected and an empirical analysis is carried out by using the structural equation model. The results show that outcome expectation, community atmosphere, and requesting negatively affect knowledge hiding behavior;self-efficacy, outcome expectation, and community atmosphere negatively affect the three different types of knowledge hiding behavior, which are evasive hiding, playing dumb, and rationalized hiding;community atmosphere positively affects outcome expectation, which plays a significant intermediary effect between community atmosphere and knowledge hiding behavior. The research content and relevant conclusions of this study deepen and expand the connotation and extension of knowledge hiding behavior in the negative performance of Q&A communities. From the perspective of practical application, it can also effectively reduce knowledge hiding behavior, grasp the development direction of public health needs, and strengthen the dissemination of epidemic prevention and control knowledge.

10.
Frontiers in public health ; 10, 2022.
Article in English | EuropePMC | ID: covidwho-1999034

ABSTRACT

Green space around the university campus is of paramount importance for emotional and psychological restorations in students. Positive emotions in students can be aroused when immersed in green space and naturalness. However, to what extent can perceived naturalness influence students' positive emotion remains unclear, especially in the context of COVID-19 countermeasures. This study, therefore, attempts to investigate in-depth the nature and strength of the relationships between students' positive emotion and their perceived naturalness, place attachment, and landscape preference, which are potentially varying across universities in different social and environmental contexts and different restrictions policies regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. A course of questionnaire-based surveys was administered on two university campuses in Heilongjiang and Hunan Provinces, China, resulting in 474 effective samples. Structural equation modeling was used to explore the hypothetical conceptual framework of latent variables and the indicators. The findings indicate that the higher students' perceived naturalness results in greater positive emotion. Students' perceived naturalness in green spaces of campus has a positive effect on their place attachment and landscape preference. Moreover, the difference between mediate effects of place attachment and landscape preference were addressed, which verifies the contextual influences.

11.
Tob Use Insights ; 15: 1179173X221114799, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1993176

ABSTRACT

Introduction: COVID-19 continues to impact vulnerable populations disproportionally. Identifying modifiable risk factors could lead to targeted interventions to reduce infections. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors for testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Using electronic health records collected from a large ambulatory care system in northern and central California, the study identified patients who had a test for SARS-CoV-2 between 2/20/2020 and 3/31/2021. The adjusted effect of active and passive smoking and other risk factors on the probability of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 were estimated using multivariable logistic regression. Analyses were conducted in 2021. Results: Of 556 690 eligible patients in our sample, 70 564 (12.7%) patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Younger age, being male, racial/ethnic minorities, and having mild major comorbidities were significantly associated with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Current smokers (adjusted OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.66-0.73) and former smokers (adjusted OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.89-0.95) were less likely than nonsmokers to be lab-confirmed positive, but no statistically significant differences were found when comparing passive smokers with non-smokers. The patients with missing smoking status (25.7%) were more likely to be members of vulnerable populations with major comorbidities (adjusted OR ranges from severe: 2.52, 95% CI = 2.36-2.69 to mild: 3.28, 95% CI = 3.09-3.48), lower income (adjusted OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.85-0.86), aged 80 years or older (adjusted OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.07-1.16), have less access to primary care (adjusted OR: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.07-0.07), and identify as racial ethnic minorities (adjusted OR ranges from Hispanic: 1.61, 95% CI = 1.56-1.65 to Non-Hispanic Black: 2.60, 95% CI = 2.5-2.69). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the odds of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 were significantly lower in smokers compared to nonsmokers. Other risk factors include missing data on smoking status, being under 18, being male, being a racial/ethnic minority, and having mild major comorbidities. Since those with missing data on smoking status were more likely to be members of vulnerable populations with higher smoking rates, the risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 among smokers may have been underestimated due to missing data on smoking status. Future studies should investigate the risk of severe outcomes among active and passive smokers, the role that exposure to tobacco smoke constitutes among nonsmokers, the role of comorbidities in COVID-19 disease course, and health disparities experienced by disadvantaged groups.

12.
Front Neurol ; 13: 984467, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1987530
13.
researchsquare; 2022.
Preprint in English | PREPRINT-RESEARCHSQUARE | ID: ppzbmed-10.21203.rs.3.rs-1838856.v1

ABSTRACT

Objective Identifying the biological subsets of severe COVID-19 could provide a basis for finding biomarkers for the early prediction of the prognosis of severe COVID-19 and poor prognosis, and may facilitate specific treatment for COVID-19.Methods In this study we downloaded microarray dataset GSE172114 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database in NCBI, and screened differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) by using the limma package in R software. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted, and the results were presented by volcano, Venn, heat, and enrichment pathway bubble maps in the R language package. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to explore and demonstrate the signal pathways related to severe COVID-19. Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) Network analysis and visualization were performed by using STRING and Cytoscape. Seven key protein expression molecules were screened by the MOCDE plug-in. Then, the cytoHubba plug-in was used to screen 10 candidate genes with maximal clique centrality (MCC) algorithm as the standard, and the intersection with the Venn diagram was used to obtain seven Hub genes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to determine the area under the curve (AUC), and the predictive value of the key genes was evaluated.Results A total of 210 DEGs were identified, including 186 upregulated genes as well as downregulated ones. GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis were used, and the results were presented by volcano, Venn, heat, and enrichment pathway bubble maps in the R language package. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to explore and demonstrate the signal pathways related to severe COVID-19. Protein interaction network (PPI) analysis and visualization were performed by using STRING and Cytoscape. Seven key protein expression molecules were screened by the MOCDE plug-in. Then, the cytoHubba plug-in was used to screen 10 candidate genes with maximal clique centrality (MCC) algorithm as the standard, and the intersection with the Venn diagram was used to obtain seven Hub genes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to determine the area under the curve (AUC), and the predictive value of the key genes was evaluated. The AUC of the PLSCR1 gene was 0.879, which was the most significantly upregulated key gene in critically ill COVID-19 patients.Conclusions Based on bioinformatics analysis, we found that the screened candidate gene, PLSCR1, may be closely related to the occurrence of severe COVID-19, and can thus be used for the early prediction of patients with severe COVID-19, and may provide meaningful research direction for their treatment.


Subject(s)
COVID-19
14.
Journal of Translational Critical Care Medicine ; 4(1):1-7, 2022.
Article in English | EuropePMC | ID: covidwho-1824555

ABSTRACT

Background: There are controversies regarding corticosteroids using in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia in the current pandemic. Objectives: This study investigates the efficacy and safety profiles of corticosteroids therapy in COVID-19 patients. Methods: Retrospective, multicenter study case series of consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection at the whole hospital from January 1 to March 1, 2020, were enrolled. Demographic, clinical, radiological, laboratory, and treatment data were collected and analyzed. The effect of corticosteroids therapy on death and organ-failure complications of pneumonia were analyzed by logistic regression. Results: A total of 470 COVID-19 patients at the whole hospital were enrolled. According to the time of corticosteroids initiation and severity of illness, there were 159 patients stratified into critical ill group and 64% (102 of 159) patients received corticosteroids treatments. Ninety-four percent (166 of 176) of corticosteroids were methylprednisolone. The median cumulative corticosteroids dosage was 300 mg equivalent of methylprednisolone over a median duration of 6 days. Multivariate regression analysis showed that corticosteroids use did not affect the mortality. However, corticosteroids therapy at moderate cumulative doses (total exposure 480 mg to 1200 mg) was associated with deceased occurrence of organ-failure complications in critically ill COVID-19. Conclusions: Corticosteroids have no effect to mortality in COVID-19 patients. The moderate cumulative doses of corticosteroids might decrease organ-failure complications in critically ill COVID-19. Further large-scale randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm our findings, until then use of corticosteroids should be used with caution COVID-19 patients.

15.
International Hospitality Review ; 35(2):260-279, 2021.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-1570180

ABSTRACT

PurposeThis study aims to (1) examine the effect of customer awareness of restaurant philanthropic activities on customer loyalty;(2) investigate the mediating roles of customer social benevolence trust, perceived restaurant reputation and affective commitment on the relationship between their awareness of restaurant philanthropic activities and customer loyalty;and (3) test the path effect differences between the directed and general philanthropic activities during the COVID-19 pandemic period.Design/methodology/approachThis study used online scenario-based surveys to collect data. Based on 293 useable surveys, partial least squares structural equation modeling was applied for data analysis.FindingsThis study finds that customer awareness of restaurant philanthropic activities positively relates to customer loyalty. Moreover, customer social benevolence trust, perceived restaurant reputation and affective commitment have positive mediating effects on the relationship between their awareness of restaurant philanthropic activities and customer loyalty. There is no significant path effect difference between the directed and general philanthropic activities.Practical implicationsThis study suggests that restaurant decision-makers should conduct either directed or general philanthropic activities as a marketing tool to sustain customers during the COVID-19 recovery.Originality/valueThis study is the first study that discusses the marketing role of corporate philanthropy in the restaurant industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and stresses the importance of proactive strategic donations that helps restaurants' recovery.

16.
BMC Public Health ; 21(1): 2067, 2021 11 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1526615

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to investigate the association between content-based problematic smartphone use and obesity in school-age children and adolescents, including variations in the association by educational stage and sex. METHODS: Two-stage non-probability sampling was used to recruit 8419 participants from nineteen primary schools, five middle schools, and thirteen high schools in Shanghai in December 2017. Obesity was identified by body mass index (BMI), which was obtained from the school physical examination record, while problematic smartphone use was measured by the Revised Problematic Smartphone Use Classification Scale as the independent variable. RESULTS: The rates of obesity varied with educational stages, while problematic smartphone use increased with educational stages. Male students reported higher obesity rates (37.1%vs19.4%, P < 0.001) and greater problematic smartphone use scores (25.65 ± 10.37 vs 22.88 ± 8.94, P < 0.001) than female students. Problematic smartphone use for entertainment (smartphone users addicted to entertainment games, music, videos, novels and other applications) was positively associated to obesity status for primary school [odds ratio (OR), 1.030; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.005-1.057] and high school students (OR, 1.031; 95% CI, 1.004-1.059). For female students, problematic smartphone use for entertainment was positively associated with obesity status (OR, 1.046; 95% CI, 1.018-1.075). CONCLUSIONS: Problematic smartphone use may be associated with obesity in children and adolescents. The association differed based on the educational stage and sex, and the difference possessed dimensional specificity.


Subject(s)
Pediatric Obesity , Smartphone , Adolescent , Body Mass Index , China/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Pediatric Obesity/epidemiology , Schools
17.
J Leukoc Biol ; 110(6): 1253-1268, 2021 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1437055

ABSTRACT

Systemic infections, especially in patients with chronic diseases, may result in sepsis: an explosive, uncoordinated immune response that can lead to multisystem organ failure with a high mortality rate. Patients with similar clinical phenotypes or sepsis biomarker expression upon diagnosis may have different outcomes, suggesting that the dynamics of sepsis is critical in disease progression. A within-subject study of patients with Gram-negative bacterial sepsis with surviving and fatal outcomes was designed and single-cell transcriptomic analyses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) collected during the critical period between sepsis diagnosis and 6 h were performed. The single-cell observations in the study are consistent with trends from public datasets but also identify dynamic effects in individual cell subsets that change within hours. It is shown that platelet and erythroid precursor responses are drivers of fatal sepsis, with transcriptional signatures that are shared with severe COVID-19 disease. It is also shown that hypoxic stress is a driving factor in immune and metabolic dysfunction of monocytes and erythroid precursors. Last, the data support CD52 as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for sepsis as its expression dynamically increases in lymphocytes and correlates with improved sepsis outcomes. In conclusion, this study describes the first single-cell study that analyzed short-term temporal changes in the immune cell populations and their characteristics in surviving or fatal sepsis. Tracking temporal expression changes in specific cell types could lead to more accurate predictions of sepsis outcomes and identify molecular biomarkers and pathways that could be therapeutically controlled to improve the sepsis trajectory toward better outcomes.


Subject(s)
COVID-19/immunology , Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/immunology , Leukocytes , Sepsis/immunology , Transcriptome/immunology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Inflammation/immunology , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2 , Single-Cell Analysis
19.
Virol Sin ; 36(6): 1484-1491, 2021 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1359969

ABSTRACT

The sudden emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) has caused global panic in 2003, and the risk of SARS-CoV outbreak still exists. However, no specific antiviral drug or vaccine is available; thus, the development of therapeutic antibodies against SARS-CoV is needed. In this study, a nanobody phage-displayed library was constructed from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of alpacas immunized with the recombinant receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV. Four positive clones were selected after four rounds of bio-panning and subjected to recombinant expression in E. coli. Further biological identification demonstrated that one of the nanobodies, S14, showed high affinity to SARS-CoV RBD and potent neutralization activity at the picomole level against SARS-CoV pseudovirus. A competitive inhibition assay showed that S14 blocked the binding of SARS-CoV RBD to either soluble or cell-expressed angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). In summary, we developed a novel nanobody targeting SARS-CoV RBD, which might be useful for the development of therapeutics against SARS.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus , Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral/metabolism , Escherichia coli/metabolism , Humans , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism , Protein Binding , Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus/metabolism , SARS-CoV-2 , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism
20.
Int J Environ Res Public Health ; 18(16)2021 08 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1354976

ABSTRACT

This study addresses students' perceptions of using urban green spaces (UGSs) after the easing of COVID-19 lockdown in China. We questioned whether they are still mindful of the risks from the outdoor gathering, or conversely, starting to learn the restoration benefits from the green spaces. Online self-reported surveys were distributed to the Chinese students aging from 14 to 30 who study in Hunan and Jiangsu Provinces, China. We finally obtained 608 complete and valid questionnaire forms from all participants. Their intentions of visiting UGSs were investigated based on the extended theory of planned behavior model. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the hypothesized psychological model. The results have shown good estimation performance on risk perception and perceived knowledge to explain the variances in their attitudes, social norms, and perceived behavior control. Among these three endogenous variables, the perceived behavior control owns the greatest and positive influence on the behavioral intention, inferring that controllability is crucial for students to make decisions of visiting green spaces in a post-pandemic context.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Intention , China , Communicable Disease Control , Humans , Parks, Recreational , SARS-CoV-2 , Students , Surveys and Questionnaires
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