ABSTRACT
Whole genome sequencing provides rapid insight into key information about the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), such as virus typing and key mutation site, and this information is important for precise prevention, control and tracing of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in conjunction with the epidemiological information of the case. Nanopore sequencing is widely used around the world for its short sample-to-result time, simple experimental operation and long sequencing reads. However, because nanopore sequencing is a relatively new sequencing technology, many researchers still have doubts about its accuracy. The combination of the newly launched nanopore sequencing Q20+ kit (LSK112) and flow cell R10.4 is a qualitative improvement over the accuracy of the previous kits. In this study, we firstly used LSK112 kit with flow cell R10.4 to sequence the SARS-CoV-2 whole genome, and summarized the sequencing results of the combination of LSK112 kit and flow cell R10.4 for the 1200bp amplicons of SARS-CoV-2. We found that the proportion of sequences with an accuracy of more than 99% reached 30.1%, and the average sequence accuracy reached 98.34%, while the results of the original combination of LSK109 kit and flow cell R9.4.1 were 0.61% and 96.52%, respectively. The mutation site analysis showed that it was completely consistent with the final consensus sequence of next generation sequencing (NGS). The results showed that the combination of LSK112 kit and flow cell R10.4 allowed rapid whole-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 without the need for verification of NGS.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study is to screen an ideal adjuvant for an inactivated porcine deltacoronavirus(PDCoV) vaccine to induce mucosal immunity and reduce the side effect of the vaccine. We used different mucosal adjuvants to prepare the inactivated PDCoV vaccines. We then used mouse model to evaluate the humoral, cellular and mucosal immune responses induced by the inactivated vaccines via different immunization routes.
ABSTRACT
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induced the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are designed to control the transmission of the disease. However, post-vaccination subacute thyroiditis (SAT) also appears with increase vaccination rate. Three cases of SAT after SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are described in this study. We have reported the patients’ clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, and thyroid imaging. Tests for COVID-19 were all negative, and the patients did not report thyroid-related diseases, autoimmune diseases, or preceding upper respiratory system infections in their medical history. Three female patients showed neck pain on physical examination. The laboratory test results and imaging findings were consistent with the diagnostic criteria of SAT. The patients were carried out a standardized treatment according to their symptoms, and we closely followed up their response to the treatment. Clinicians must be aware of the possibility of SAT after receiving the vaccines and make timely therapy.
ABSTRACT
As evidence is rapidly accumulated and updated during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, rapid and living guidelines are needed to guide the clinical practice of Chinese medicine (CM), for which the WHO handbook of rapid guideline development should be referred to, and the characteristics of CM should be addressed. When constructing the body of evidence, we need to systematically search the studies related to COVID-19 (direct) and indirect diseases, and to collect the experience evidence from ancient documents and expert consensus, thereby maximumly presenting the advantages of CM. When the recommendations are developed, the co-existing direct and indirect evidence, as well as the co-existing research and experience evidence should be fully considered and synthesized by taking priority on whichever higher level evidence it is. The development of the rapid and living CM guidelines meets the ever-changing clinical needs during COVID-19 pandemic, and can provide CM evidence supports for decision making during public health emergencies.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 patients can recover with a median SARS-CoV-2 clearance of 20 days post initial symptoms (PIS). However, we observed some COVID-19 patients with existing SARS-CoV-2 for more than 50 days PIS. This study aimed to investigate the cause of viral clearance delay and the infectivity in these patients. Demographic data and clinical characteristics of 22 long-term COVID-19 patients were collected. SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid, peripheral lymphocyte count, and functionality were assessed. SARS-CoV-2-specific and neutralization antibodies were detected, followed by virus isolation and genome sequencing. The median age of the studied cohort was 59.83±12.94 years. All patients were clinically cured after long-term SARS-CoV-2 infection ranging from 53 to 112 days PIS. Peripheral lymphocytes counts were normal. Interferon gamma (IFN-ƴ)-generated CD4+ and CD8+ cells were normal as 24.68±9.60% and 66.41±14.87%. However, the number of IFN-ƴ-generated NK cells diminished (58.03±11.78%). All patients presented detectable IgG, which positively correlated with mild neutralizing activity (ID50=157.2, P=0.05). SARS-CoV-2 was not isolated, and a cytopathic effect was lacking. Only three synonymous variants were identified in spike protein coding regions. In conclusion, decreased IFN-γ production by NK cells and low neutralizing antibodies might favor SARS-CoV-2 long-term existence. Further, low viral load and weak viral pathogenicity was observed in COVID-19 patients with long-term SARS-CoV-2 infection.