Compartment-Specific Antibody Correlates of Protection to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in Macaques (preprint)

Antibodies represent a primary mediator of protection against respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. Serum neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) are often considered a primary correlate of protection. However, detailed antibody profiles including characterization of antibody functions in different anatomic compartments are not well understood. Here we show that antibody correlates of protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge are different in systemic versus mucosal compartments in rhesus macaques. In serum, neutralizing antibodies were the strongest correlate of protection and were linked to Spike-specific binding antibodies and other extra-neutralizing antibody functions that create a larger protective network. In contrast, in bronchiolar lavage (BAL), antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) proved the strongest correlate of protection rather than NAbs. Within BAL, ADCP was linked to mucosal Spike-specific IgG, IgA/secretory IgA, and Fc{gamma}-receptor binding antibodies. Our results support a model in which antibodies with different functions mediate protection at different anatomic sites. The correlation of ADCP and other Fc functional antibody responses with protection in BAL suggests that these antibody responses may be critical for protection against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron challenge in mucosa.

Concurrent administration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines enhances Spike-specific antibody responses (preprint)

The bivalent COVID-19 mRNA boosters became available in fall 2022 and were recommended alongside the seasonal influenza vaccine. However, the immunogenicity of concurrent versus separate administration of these vaccines remains unclear. Here, we analyzed antibody responses in healthcare workers who received the bivalent COVID-19 booster and the influenza vaccine on the same day or different days. IgG1 responses to SARS-CoV-2 Spike were higher at peak immunogenicity and 6 months following concurrent administration compared with separate administration of the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. These data suggest that concurrent administration of these vaccines may yield higher and more durable SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses.

IMPACTS AND MEASURES COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND TOURISM INDUSTRY IN SABAH

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant adverse influence on the country’s economic and social situation, especially with regard to the tourism industry. This study examines the implications of the global pandemic on the tourism industry in Sabah, the study will consider the impact of the movement control order (MCO) and other mitigating measures adopted by tourism industry players. The survey and focus group findings indicate that the pandemic has had a significant impact on the tourism industry in the state, compelling operators and policymakers to re-evaluate current response strategies. The adoption of the MCO in response to the pandemic has resulted in business interruptions and income loss for tourism industry service-providers, with most of them losing more than 80% of their revenues. Diversification is one of the strategies used by operators in the industry to ensure long and short-term viability. Meanwhile, a government vaccination program is a long-term strategy aimed at ensuring that the tourism sector in Sabah can return to normalcy. As with any study, this study too has limitations in terms of the number of industry sectors studied and sample size used to collect data © Penerbit UMT

Intimate partner violence and family dispute resolution: 1-year follow-up findings from a randomized controlled trial comparing shuttle mediation, videoconferencing mediation, and litigation

We report 1-year follow-up outcomes from a randomized controlled trial involving parents resolving separation or divorce-related disputes and reporting high levels of intimate partner violence (IPV). We compared traditional litigation to two mediation approaches designed to protect parent safety (i.e., shuttle and videoconferencing) at a court-annexed mediation division. The sample was not nationally representative, limiting generalizability. We found no significant differences across conditions in parent reports of satisfaction with the process, level of continuing IPV or interparental conflict, parenting quality, parent functioning, or child functioning. Parents in traditional litigation, relative to parents in mediation, reported significantly more social support. Also, parents in videoconferencing, versus those in shuttle, mediation reported more PTSD symptoms from IPV. Based on coding of legal records, no significant condition differences emerged in relitigation rates in the family court case or charges of study case IPV-related incidents. Given few differences across study conditions, including in satisfaction levels, in contrast to the immediate outcomes, the 1-year follow-up findings do not clearly favor mediation or litigation. We conclude that when both parents in cases with reported high IPV are willing to mediate, mediation designed with safety protocols and carried out in a protected environment by well-trained staff may be an appropriate alternative to traditional litigation. We consider implications of our findings;for example, we discuss implications of the form of videoconferencing mediation examined for conducting online mediation, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)