An updated atlas of antibody evasion by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-variants including BQ.1.1 and XBB

Emerging Omicron sub-variants are causing global concerns, and their immune evasion should be monitored continuously. We previously evaluated the escape of Omicron BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2 and BA.3 from an atlas of 50 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), covering seven epitope classes of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD). Here, we update the atlas of totally 77 mAbs against emerging sub-variants including BQ.1.1 and XBB and find that BA.4/5, BQ.1.1 and XBB display further evasion. Besides, investigation into the correlation of binding and neutralization of mAbs reveals the important role of antigenic conformation in mAb functioning. Moreover, the complex structures of BA.2 RBD/BD-604/S304 and BA.4/5 RBD/BD-604/S304/S309 further elucidate the molecular mechanism of antibody evasion by these sub-variants. By focusing on the identified broadly potent mAbs, we find a general hotspot epitope on the RBD, which could guide the design of vaccines and calls for new broad-spectrum countermeasures against COVID-19. Graphical Immune evasion of SARS-CoV-2 variants needs to be monitored continuously. He et al. assess the efficacy of 77 neutralizing mAbs against recently emerging Omicron sub-variants including BQ.1.1 and XBB. They reveal the binding-neutralization correlation of mAbs and point out a hotspot epitope targeting by broadly neutralizing antibodies.

An updated atlas of antibody evasion by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-variants including BQ.1.1 and XBB.

Emerging Omicron sub-variants are causing global concerns, and their immune evasion should be monitored continuously. We previously evaluated the escape of Omicron BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, and BA.3 from an atlas of 50 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), covering seven epitope classes of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor-binding domain (RBD). Here, we update the atlas of totally 77 mAbs against emerging sub-variants including BQ.1.1 and XBB and find that BA.4/5, BQ.1.1, and XBB display further evasion. Besides, investigation into the correlation of binding and neutralization of mAbs reveals the important role of antigenic conformation in mAb functioning. Moreover, the complex structures of BA.2 RBD/BD-604/S304 and BA.4/5 RBD/BD-604/S304/S309 further elucidate the molecular mechanism of antibody evasion by these sub-variants. By focusing on the identified broadly potent mAbs, we find a general hotspot epitope on the RBD, which could guide the design of vaccines and calls for new broad-spectrum countermeasures against COVID-19.

The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on abortion access and pre-abortion mental health in Shanghai.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the barriers to abortion in Shanghai during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to compare pre-abortion mental health status before and during the crisis. METHODS: In this case-control study, two groups of women seeking abortion (age ≥18 years, pregnancy duration <98 days) were recruited from March to September, 2021 (n = 1070) and from February to April 2022 (n = 625). The evaluation included COVID-19-related abortion stress questions, the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Family Environment Scale Chinese version. The researchers conducted interviews and collected questionnaires. RESULTS: The median pregnancy duration at abortion among women during the pandemic was 65 days, compared with 51 days in the pre-pandemic group (P < 0.001). Anxiety and depression symptoms increased during the crisis (P < 0.001). Sleep disturbances were more common. Higher PSQI scores were related to increased anxiety and depression symptoms. A more negative family climate was described during the pandemic. CONCLUSION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, abortion access was delayed and pre-abortion mental disorders increased. More attention should be paid to the mental health of women seeking abortions, and innovations should be promoted to ensure abortion services without delay.

Long Noncoding RNA: A Novel Insight into the Pathogenesis of Acute Lung Injury.

Acute lung injury (ALI) and its severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), represent an acute stage of lung inflammation where the alveolar epithelium loses its functionality. ALI has a devastating impact on the population as it not only has a high rate of incidence, but also has high rates of morbidity and mortality. Due to the involvement of multiple factors, the pathogenesis of ALI is complex and is not fully understood yet. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of non-protein-coding transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides. Growing evidence has shown that lncRNAs have a decisive role in the pathogenesis of ALI. LncRNAs can either promote or hinder the development of ALI in various cell types in the lungs. Mechanistically, current studies have found that lncRNAs play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of ALI via the regulation of small RNAs (e.g., microRNAs) or downstream proteins. Undoubtedly, lncRNAs not only have the potential to reveal the underlying mechanisms of ALI pathogenesis but also serve as diagnostic and therapeutic targets for the therapy of ALI.

The Potential of Lung Epithelium Specific Proteins as Biomarkers for COVID-19-Associated Lung Injury.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was first reported in Wuhan, China, and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 20 March 2020. The respiratory system is the major organ system affected by COVID-19. Numerous studies have found lung abnormalities in patients with COVID-19, including shortness of breath, respiratory failure, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The identification of lung-specific biomarkers that are easily measurable in serum would be valuable for both clinicians and patients with such conditions. This review is focused on the pneumoproteins and their potential to serve as biomarkers for COVID-19-associated lung injury, including Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), surfactant proteins (SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, SP-D), and Clara cell secretory protein (CC16). The current findings indicate the aforementioned pneumoproteins may reflect the severity of pulmonary manifestations and could serve as potential biomarkers in COVID-19-related lung injury.

Cross the river by feeling the stones: How did nonlocal grassroots nonprofits overcome administrative barriers to provide quick responses to COVID-19?

This field report explores how nonlocal grassroots organizations provided effective and quick responses during the initial stage of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan and surrounding regions. Despite the lack of resources and local connections, they were able to overcome administrative failures and provide quick responses to the crisis. Built on a researcher-practitioner collaborative action research project, three strategies facilitating grassroots organizations' quick and effective responses are analyzed and discussed: putting pandemic relief as the strategic priority of their organizations, leveraging social media platforms to scale up existing organizational networks and foster cross-sector collaboration, and effective online trust-building. As COVID-19 unprecedently pushes nonprofits to transform how they deliver services and engage stakeholders, these findings have important policy and theoretical implications for an expanded view of how nonprofits may engage in disaster responses and how public and private funders may shift their funding strategies to cultivate such capacities of grassroots nonprofits.

Alteration in the psychologic status and family environment of pregnant women before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To compare mental distress and COVID-19-related family environment changes among pregnant women before and during the pandemic. METHODS: In a survey-based study in Lishui City, Zhejiang, China, pregnant women were recruited before (March-December, 2019; n = 2657) and during (January-August, 2020; n = 689) the COVID-19 pandemic. They completed the Symptom Check List-90 Revised (SCL90-R) questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and were asked about their families via the Family Environment Scale (FES). RESULTS: Higher SCL90-R scores of somatization (P = 0.003), depression (P = 0.043), anxiety (P = 0.041), hostility (P = 0.009), and others (P = 0.025) were reported by women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sleep disorder also occurred more frequently among pregnant women during the pandemic (P = 0.002). Social environmental characteristics of families showed impaired family cohesion, and increased levels of conflict and independence during the pandemic (all P < 0.05). The FES score for family cohesion was negatively related with obsessive-compulsive, depression, anxiety, and hostility symptoms, whereas that for conflict was positively related with these symptoms (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The mental health, sleep, and family environment of pregnant women was impaired during the COVID-19 pandemic. Potential protective factors including increased social support might help to mitigate long-lasting negative consequences.

Advances in the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is spreading worldwide. Antiviral therapy is the most important treatment for COVID-19. Among the drugs under investigation, anti-malarials, chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), are being repurposed as treatment for COVID-19. CQ/HCQ were shown to prevent receptor recognition by coronaviruses, inhibit endosome acidification, which interferes with membrane fusion, and exhibit immunomodulatory activity. These multiple mechanisms may work together to exert a therapeutic effect on COVID-19. A number of in vitro studies revealed inhibitory effects of CQ/HCQ on various coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 although conflicting results exist. Several clinical studies showed that CQ/HCQ alone or in combination with a macrolide may alleviate the clinical symptoms of COVID-19, promote viral conversion, and delay disease progression, with less serious adverse effects. However, recent studies indicated that the use of CQ/HCQ, alone or in combination with a macrolide, did not show any favorable effect on patients with COVID-19. Adverse effects, including prolonged QT interval after taking CQ/HCQ, may develop in COVID-19 patients. Therefore, current data are not sufficient enough to support the use of CQ/HCQ as therapies for COVID-19 and increasing caution should be taken about the application of CQ/HCQ in COVID-19 before conclusive findings are obtained by well-designed, multi-center, randomized, controlled studies.