What's Next for C0VID-19 Vaccines and Variants?

Telma Lery Janssen EMEA therapeutic area lead for infectious diseases and vaccines at Johnson & Johnson, explains that the company's COVID-19 vaccine candidate (also known as Ad26.COV2.S, Ad26COVS1, VAC31518, JNJ-78436735, or Ad26-S.PP) is a monovalent, recombinant, inactivated/non-infective adenovirus vector (similar to a cold virus), which contains a transgene that codes for the coronavirus spike (S) protein. The vaccine technology, AdVac, is based on the development and production of adenovirus vectors (gene carriers). Adenovirus vectors (gene carriers) are genetically altered forms of an adenovirus and lack the DNA needed to replicate. Some of the main differences between a COVID-19 oral tablet vaccine from injectable COVID-19 vaccines, according to Tucker, include: * Immune responses are triggered in the mucosa and the serum with a COVID-19 oral tablet vaccine (based on preclinical and clinical testing), unlike the existing vaccines that are serum-only. * Ease of distribution and vaccination with a COVID-19 oral tablet vaccine, which eliminates the need for special accommodations to transport injectable vaccines that require cold chain infrastructure as well as the need for trained professionals to administer vaccines.

Preventive Measures against Ebola and COVID-19 and Their Impact on Human Dirty-Hand Disease Mitigation in Côte d'Ivoire

Hygiene is the most useful public health measure for preventing infections of important endemic and emerging diseases of global significance. This study aimed to assess the impact of these public health preventive measures on dirty hand diseases. A retrospective survey was conducted in the rural general hospitals of Taabo (south-central Côte d'Ivoire) and Marcory (urban Abidjan) to collect clinical data on dirty hand diseases in the patients' records from 2013 to 2020. In addition, focus group discussions (N = 8) were conducted in the communities in both settings to identify the sociocultural and economic hindering or fostering factors that affected the adoption of and the compliance with handwashing and disinfection practices. A total of 3245 and 8154 patients' records were examined in the general hospitals of Taabo and Marcory, respectively. Compared with women, men were more affected by typhoid fever (OR, 0.68 [95%CI, 0.53–0.88]) and influenza (OR, 0.87 [95%CI, 0.75–1]). Hygiene measures promoted during Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks had no impact on the prevalence of typhoid fever in both settings;however, a positive impact was observed regarding influenza infections. Populations were aware of the importance of handwashing for public health but had difficulties adhering due to financial constraints, access to drinking water, and the absence or scarcity of handwashing facilities.

COVID-19: Challenges, Preventive Measures and Remediation

This review highlights origin, symptoms, diagnosis, causative agents, mode of transmission and persistence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) through human activities. In the current scenario researchers, doctors and scientists are striving to combat the transmission of COVID-19 among society. Origin and growth of pandemic has raised the serious concern to address the causative agents, mode of transmission, persistence, preventive measures, diagnosis and possibilities of treatment. The broad-spectrum antiviral antiphrastic, complementary and alternative medicines are currently proposed for possible eradication of the pandemic. The current world is relying on, prevention and control of infection through sanitization and quarantine and onwards waiting for appropriate virucidal agents, sanitizers and strategic vaccination and immunization to combat the pandemic of SARS-CoV-2. Eradication of COVID-19 under stringent guidelines of WHO regarding social practices, intensive care, administration of complementary medicines and innovation of vaccines are under active considerations across the world to combat the pandemic.

Organization of Work on the Prevention of Common Colds and Infectious Diseases with the Involvement of ICT

The article discusses the features of the organization of work on the prevention of colds and infectious diseases with the involvement of ICT. The author notes that due to the recent massive spread of coronavirus infection, specialists considered it necessary to turn to the potential of information technologies for the purpose of prevention, as well as providing timely necessary assistance to patients. The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the most effective paradigms in an intelligent world in which artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, such as cloud computing and big data analysis, play a vital role, for example, in preventing the spread of a virus, the COVID-19 pandemic. Artificial intelligence and 5G technologies are developing by leaps and bounds, further strengthening the intellectual capabilities and connectivity of IoT applications, and traditional IoT is gradually being upgraded to become more powerful AI + IoT (AIoT). Their use is optimal, for example, from the point of view of remote screening and diagnosis of patients with COVID-19. Artificial intelligence technologies based on machine learning and deep learning have recently significantly upgraded medical equipment and changed the workflow with minimal contact with patients, so medical professionals can make clinical decisions more effectively, providing the best protection not only for patients, but also for specialists themselves

Immunopterin: A prospective therapy and preventative to fight COVID-19?

Background The authors explore the therapeutic and prophylactic efficacies of Immunopterin (calcium pterin-6-carboxylate chelate) against coronavirus colds and as a therapy against COVID-19. Methods To determine Immunopterin’s therapeutic efficacy against colds and flus, a 5-year observational study was conducted with 34 subjects who took Immunopterin when feeling symptoms of a cold or flu. The mean sample cold recovery time was compared to the US population mean. A review of the Moheno (2014) 2-year observational study was conducted to evaluate the prophylactic efficacy of Immunopterin against colds. Early COVID-19 case studies, treated with Immunopterin, were collected to explore Immunopterin’s efficacy as a therapeutic and prophylactic against COVID19 disease. Results The mean cold recovery time for the therapeutic sample in the cold/flu observational study was 30 h compared to the US population mean of 168 h (N = 34;p < 0.001). Subjects taking prophylactic Immunopterin reported 0% incidences of colds and flus (N = 31). Immunopterin successfully treated four confirmed COVID-19 subjects. A fifth clinical nurse case study demonstrates COVID-19 prevention. Conclusions The therapeutic and prophylactic efficacies of Immunopterin against coronavirus colds, along with reported cross-reactivity between coronavirus colds and SARS-CoV-2 strongly suggest Immunopterin can act as a therapy and preventative against COVID- 19 infection associated disease.

The traditional Mediterranean diet is effective in the prevention and treatment of acute and recurrent inflammatory diseases of childhood.

In the recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, disease severity was found to be more related to the immune system hyper-response than the invasive or destructive capacity of the virus. Similarly, most common childhood diseases, which are generally recurrent and inflammatory, may be caused by a hyper-response or inability of the immune system. Individuals will react differently to causal noxa and outcomes will depend on the balance and maturity of their immune system. Conventionally, childhood diseases are symptomatically treated with little attention being devoted to balancing and stimulating the maturation of the immune system. Recently, there has been an increase in publications that consider lifestyle as an important factor in the maintenance of health. One controversial angle is an abandonment of the traditional diet and the inclusion of foods that are potentially less well-assimilated by the human species. An increasing number of studies are demonstrating the anti-inflammatory effects of the Mediterranean Diet while illustrating the pro-inflammatory effects of many other food types. We believe that the Traditional Mediterranean Diet consists of foods that support the establishment and maintenance of a healthy microbiota and a mature immune system that, in turn, can aid in the prevention of common inflammatory and recurrent diseases of childhood.

Vitamin C-An Adjunctive Therapy for Respiratory Infection, Sepsis and COVID-19.

There are limited proven therapies for COVID-19. Vitamin C's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating effects make it a potential therapeutic candidate, both for the prevention and amelioration of COVID-19 infection, and as an adjunctive therapy in the critical care of COVID-19. This literature review focuses on vitamin C deficiency in respiratory infections, including COVID-19, and the mechanisms of action in infectious disease, including support of the stress response, its role in preventing and treating colds and pneumonia, and its role in treating sepsis and COVID-19. The evidence to date indicates that oral vitamin C (2-8 g/day) may reduce the incidence and duration of respiratory infections and intravenous vitamin C (6-24 g/day) has been shown to reduce mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stays, and time on mechanical ventilation for severe respiratory infections. Further trials are urgently warranted. Given the favourable safety profile and low cost of vitamin C, and the frequency of vitamin C deficiency in respiratory infections, it may be worthwhile testing patients' vitamin C status and treating them accordingly with intravenous administration within ICUs and oral administration in hospitalised persons with COVID-19.