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1.
European Journal of Human Genetics ; 31(Supplement 1):706, 2023.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-20244996

ABSTRACT

Background/Objectives: The broad spectrum of clinical manifestations from SARS-COV-2 infection and observed risk factors for severe disease highlight the importance of understanding molecular mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 associated disease pathogenesis. Research studies have identified a large number of host proteins that play roles in viral entry, innate immune response, or immune signalling during infection. The ability to interrogate subsets of these genes simultaneously within SARSCOV-2 infected samples is critical to understanding how their expression contribute to phenotypic variability of the disease caused by the pathogen. Method(s): 30 Nasopharyngeal swab were obtained and included SARS-CoV-2 infected and control samples. RNA was extracted, reverse transcribed and loaded onto flexible TaqMan array panels designed specifically for targeting the most cited genes related to SARS-COV-2 entry and restriction factors as well as cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors involved in the pathogenesis. Result(s): Our data indicated that not only were the levels of several of these host factors differentially modulated between the two study groups, but also that SARS-CoV-2 infected subjects presented with greater frequency of several important inflammatory cytokines and chemokines such as CCL2, CCL3, IFNG, entry receptors such as ACE2, TMRPS11A, and host restriction factors including LY6E and ZBP1. Conclusion(s): TaqMan array plates provide a fast, midthroughput solution to determine the levels of several virus and host-associated factors in various cell types and add to our understanding of how the pathogenesis may vary depending on gender, age, infection site etc.

2.
Chinese Journal of Zoology ; 57(6):951-962, 2022.
Article in Chinese | CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-20244972

ABSTRACT

Many zoonotic diseases are found in wild animals and present a serious risk to human health, in particularly the virus carried by birds flying freely around the world is hard to control. There are three main bird migration routes which cover the most areas of China. It is important to investigate and fully understand the types of avian transmitted diseases in key areas on the bird migration routines and its impacts on both birds and human health. However, no literature is available in how about the risk of virus carried by migrating birds, and how to predict and reduce this risk of virus spreading to human being so far. In this paper, we first reviewed the main pathogen types carried by birds, including coronaviruses, influenza viruses, parasites, Newcastle disease virus (NDV), etc., and then discussed the spread risk of avian viruses to human being and animals in key areas of biosafety prevention. We also analyzed and discussed the risk of cross-spread of diseases among different bird species in nature reserves located on bird migration routes which provide sufficient food sources for migratory birds and attract numerous birds. Diseases transmitted by wild birds pose a serious threat to poultry farms, where high density of poultry may become avian influenza virus (AIV) reservoirs, cause a risk of avian influenza outbreaks. Airports are mostly built in suburban areas or remote areas with good ecological environment. There are important transit places for bird migration and densely populated areas, which have serious risk of disease transmission. Finally, this paper puts forward the following prevention suggestions from three aspects. First, establish and improve the monitoring and prediction mechanism of migratory birds, and use laser technology to prevent contact between wild birds and poultry. Second, examine and identify virus types carried by birds in their habitats and carry out vaccination. Third, protect the ecological environment of bird habitat, and keep wild birds in their natural habitat, so as to reduce the contact between wild birds and human and poultry, and thus reduce the risk of virus transmission.

3.
International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health ; 10(2):197-204, 2021.
Article in English | CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-20244729

ABSTRACT

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a COVID-19 pandemic on March 11, 2020. Therefore, the availability of vaccines will help develop immunity and protect people from this pandemic. The present systematic study examined knowledge, attitudes, and willingness of adolescents towards COVID-19 vaccine in Bangkok, Thailand. Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and willingness toward COVID-19 vaccine of key stage 4A-5 students at Satit Prasarnmit International Programme in Bangkok towards COVID-19 vaccine. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using an online questionnaire. A total of 136 students participated. Knowledge, attitudes, and willingness of adolescents toward the COVID-19 vaccine were assessed. Differences between outcomes and socio-demographic characteristics of participants were analyzed through independent t-tests and the ANOVA. The level of willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19 was analyzed by a generalized linear model. Results: Students revealed moderate knowledge about COVID-19, correctly answering 11.08 out of 15 points (SD = 1.74), a low level of attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccine 8.49 out of 15 points (SD = 2.51), and low level of willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19 vaccine 2.29 out of 5 points (SD = 1.26), in total of 35 points (28 questions). There are statistically significant positive correlations shown between attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine and the level of willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19 vaccine (I2 = 0.384, P < 0.01%). Conclusion: This study revealed students in Satit Prasarnmit International Programme had moderate knowledge towards COVID-19, negative attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccine and low willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19. Furthermore, it indicates that there is a casual relationship between attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccine and the willingness of individuals to be vaccinated against COVID-19 vaccine. Thus, attitude toward COVID-19 vaccine acts as a major predictive factor toward the willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, to increase peopleA's willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19 vaccine, it is necessary to increase peopleA's attitude toward COVID-19 vaccine.

4.
International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health ; 10(2):171-177, 2021.
Article in English | CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-20244538

ABSTRACT

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected all aspects of life globally and becomes a major threat to public health around the world. One of the most important actions that need to be taken to stop the pandemic is vaccinations. Managing the COVID-19 pandemic in the long-term, vaccine hesitancy and negative attitudes toward vaccines are major barriers. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate undergraduate students' knowledge, risk perceptions, and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccinations among undergraduate students in Chiang Mai University, Thailand. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using a questionnaire. A total of 280 students participated. COVID-19 related knowledge, risk perception, and attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines were assessed. Statistical test using SPSS statistics to analyze differences between intention to be vaccinated and socio-demographic was done using exact P-value, Pearson's Chi-square test, and Binary Logistic Regression. Results: Students revealed a moderate level of COVID-19 related knowledge. A moderate level of risk perception of getting COVID-19 has the highest number of students who want to get vaccinated (n = 76, 51.0%). Intention to get vaccinated was 53% (n = 148). The analysis of a binary logistic regression indicated that the monthly household income of students had a statistically significant effect on the intention to get vaccinated. Level of monthly household income predicted the deposition of intention to get vaccinated of students (Exp [B] = 0.773, P < 0.001). Most students had no intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19 due to concerns on side effects and efficacy of the current availability of COVID-19 vaccine in Thailand. Therefore, to increase more acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among students, more choices of COVID-19 vaccine with high efficacy should be provided. Conclusion: Government should take firm and faster action for the unavailability of vaccines in Thailand to decrease vaccine hesitancy rate and give Thai citizens more choices of vaccine brands with higher levels of vaccine efficacy. Side effects from vaccines are one of the reasons for increase in vaccine hesitancy. Therefore, if Thai people can choose a higher efficacy vaccine, the news about vaccine side effects will be lower. Government should start educating and letting people know about side effects and whether the side effects are life threatening or not.

5.
British Journal of Haematology ; 201(Supplement 1):59, 2023.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-20243984

ABSTRACT

Patients undergoing treatment for haematological malignancies have been shown to have reduced antibody responses to vaccination against SARS-COV2. This is particularly important in patients who have undergone allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), in whom there is limited data about vaccine efficacy. In this retrospective single-centre analysis, we present data on serologic responses following one, two, three or four doses of either Pfizer-BioNTech (PB), AstraZeneca (AZ) or Moderna (MU) SARS-CoV- 2 vaccines from a series of 75 patients who have undergone allogeneic HSCT within 2 years from the time they were revaccinated. The seroconversion rates following post-HSCT vaccination were found to be 50.7%, 78%, 79% and 83% following the first, second, third and fourth primary post -HSCT vaccine doses, respectively. The median time from allograft to first revaccination was 145 days (range 79-700). Our findings suggest that failure to respond to the first SARS-CoV- 2 vaccine post-HSCT was associated with the presence of acute GVHD (p = 0.042) and treatment with rituximab within 12 months of vaccination (p = 0.019). A statistical trend was observed with the presence of chronic GVHD and failure to seroconvert following the second (p = 0.07) and third (p = 0.09) post-HSCT vaccine doses. Patients who had received one or more SARS-CoV- 2 vaccines prior to having an allogeneic stem cell transplant were more likely to demonstrate a positive antibody response following the first dose of revaccination against Sars-CoV- 2 (p = 0.019) and retained this seropositivity following subsequent doses. The incidence of confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis among this cohort at the time of analysis was 16%. 17% of these were hospitalised and there was one recorded death (8%) secondary to COVID-19 in a patient who was 15.7 months post allogeneic transplant. In summary, this study suggests that despite the initial low seroconversion rates observed postallogeneic transplant, increasing levels of antibody response are seen post the second primary vaccine dose. In addition, there seems to be lower risk of mortality secondary to COVID-19 in this vaccinated population, compared to what was reported in the earlier phases of the pandemic prior to use of SARS-COV2 vaccination. This adds support to the widely adopted policy of early full revaccination with repeat of primary vaccine doses and boosters post-HSCT to reduce mortality in this population. Finally, we have identified rituximab use and active GVHD as potential risk factors influencing serological responses to SARS-COV2 vaccination and further work should focus on further characterising this risk and optimum dosing schedule both pre-and post-transplant.

6.
International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health ; 10(2):269-277, 2021.
Article in English | CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-20243689

ABSTRACT

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an epidemic that has greatly affected the daily life of people around the world. This epidemic, in addition to affecting lives, also affects other matters such as the economy or government administration that need to find ways to reduce the epidemic rate. That is to provide adequate quality vaccines for the people of the country. Finally, the government finds measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. Objectives: This study aimed to assess an acceptance to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Materials and Methods: Intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19 was measured with a question A"When a vaccine for COVID-19 is ready for you, will you get vaccinated?A" Response options were A"yes, A" A"not sureA" and A"no.A" Participants who responded A"not sureA" or A"noA" were asked to provide a reason. Results: A total of 400 responses were received. Overall, 38.5% (n = 154) of participants intended to get vaccinated, 29.5% (n = 117) were unsure, and 32.25% (n = 129) were not planning to get vaccinated. Factors that are independently related to vaccine hesitancy (A"not sureA" or A"yesA" response) include being male, risk perception of getting COVID-19, confidence in the government in handling the pandemic. Conclusion: A total of 400 participants, in the study, 38.5% (n = 154) of participants intended to get vaccinated, 29.5% (n = 117) were unsure, and 32.25% (n = 129) were not planning to get vaccinated. Male participants had a higher chance to refuse to vaccinate more than female 2.69 times. Predictive factors for COVID-19 vaccination were risk perception of contracting COVID-19 and lack of confidence in the government handling the pandemic of COVID-19.

7.
Acta Haematologica Polonica ; 54(2):51-52, 2023.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-20243353
8.
Turkish Journal of Public Health ; 21(1):1-15, 2023.
Article in English | CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-20242355

ABSTRACT

Objective: The present study aimed to assess the attitude and perception of Kabul city's residents toward COVID-19 vaccines hesitancy and acceptance. Methods: Applying a cross-sectional study design, the data was collected from 665 participants in Kabul city using a predesigned validated questionnaire. For statistical analysis, Spearman correlation, chi-square, and logistic regression techniques were used. Results: Although the vaccine availability was limited for the public during the survey period, 70.5% of the participants were willing to receive COVID-19 vaccines. Meanwhile, 49.2% participants were concerned about the COVID-19 vaccines side effects. The presence of positive COVID-19 cases among family members and friends (OR: 2.7), presence of fears during COVID-19 pandemic (OR: 4.4) and beliefs that vaccine has important and vital role in people's protection against COVID-19 (OR: 5.3), increase the likelihood of vaccine acceptance among the participants. On the other hand, participant's mistrust of the safety of COVID-19 vaccines (OR: 0.21) and disbelief on ministry of public health "MoPH" advice about COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficiency (OR: 0.27) decrease the odds of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among the respondents. In addition, a strong correlation was found between vaccine attitude and vaccine acceptance scales (Spearman p=0.52, p<0.001). Conclusion: Although majority of the participants were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccines, due to high level of participant's concerns about COVID-19 vaccines-related side effects, a great proportion of the respondents were hesitate to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. Accordingly, public awareness about COVID-19 vaccines must be increased to counteract incorrect and misleading propaganda about vaccination and immunization.

9.
International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health ; 10(2):191-196, 2021.
Article in English | CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-20242317

ABSTRACT

Background: COVID-19 or coronavirus disease 2019 has rapidly affected all aspects of life around and becomes a major threat to public health around the world. One of the most important actions that need to be taken to stop the pandemic is vaccinations. Managing the COVID-19 pandemic in the long term, unwillingness to receive vaccinations and negative attitudes toward vaccines are major barriers. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate community knowledge, risk perceptions, and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccinations among high school students in Chonburi, Thailand. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using a questionnaire. A total of 303 students participated. COVID-19-related knowledge, risk perception, and attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines were assessed. Independent t-test and ANOVA were used to analyze differences between outcomes and sociodemographic. Attitudes toward vaccination were analyzed by a generalized linear model. Results: Students revealed a moderate level of COVID-19-related knowledge, correctly answering 7.09 (SD = 1.56) questions in a total of 10, a moderate level of risk perception of getting COVID-19, average score was 9.7 (SD = 3.03) of 12, and attitude toward vaccine against, the average scores at 3.02 (SD = 1.64), questions in a total of 21. Conclusion: This study revealed a moderate level of knowledge about COVID-19, risk perception, and attitude against COVID-19 vaccination among high school students at Princess Chulabhorn Science School, Chonburi, Thailand. Moreover, it reinforces that there is no relation between those factors and the attitude for accepting COVID-19 vaccines. However, the reasons behind the attitude against the COVID-19 vaccination were efficacy of vaccines. News about the side effects of the vaccines, such as chest pain, muscle pain, dizziness, fatigue, breathing problems, numbness, and facial tics, was widespread among people and brought more attitudes against COVID-19 vaccination. Considering precisely, increasing efficacy of the vaccine will lead to higher vaccine acceptance. Therefore, to control the pandemic in the long term, providing high vaccine efficacy will be one of the recommended solutions.

10.
Nieren- und Hochdruckkrankheiten ; 52(4):134-135, 2023.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-20241899

ABSTRACT

Objective: COVID-19 has emerged as a significant global health crisis causing devastating effects on world population accounting for over 6 million deaths worldwide. Although acute RTI is the prevalent cause of morbidity, kidney outcomes centered on a spectrum of AKI have evolved over the course of the pandemic. Especially the emerging variants have posed a daunting challenge to the scientific communities, prompting an urging requirement for global contributions in understanding the viral dynamics. In addition to canonical genes, several subgroup- specific accessory genes are located between the S and E genes of coronaviruses regarding which little is known. Previous studies have shown that accessory proteins (aps) in viruses function as viroporins that regulate viral infection, propagation and egress [1]. In this study we attempted to characterize the function of aps of coronavirus variants as ion channels. Furthermore, we also probed the interaction of ap4 with the host system. Method(s): Serial passaging (selection pressure), growth kinetics, confocal imaging, genome sequence analysis and proteomics were performed in Huh-7, MRC5 cells and/or human monocyte derived macrophages. Potassium uptake assay was performed in a Saccharo myces cerevisiae strain, which lacks the potassium transporters trk1 and trk2. Ion conductivity experiments were performed in Xenopus laevis oocytes using Two Electrode Voltage Clamp (TEVC) method. Result(s): Serial passaging demonstrated the acquisition of several frameshift mutations in ORF4 resulting in C-terminally truncated protein versions (ap4 and ap4a) and indicate a strong selection pressure against retaining a complete ORF4 in vitro. Growth kinetics in primary cells illustrated a reduction of viral titers when the full-length ap4 was expressed compared to the C-terminally truncated protein ap4a. Confocal imaging showed that ap4 and ap4a are not exclusively located in a single cellular compartment. Potassium uptake assay in yeast and TEVC analyses in Xenopus oocytes showed that ap4 and ap4a act as a weak K+ selective ion channel. In addition, accessory proteins of other virus variants also elicited microampere range of currents. Conclusion(s): Our study provides the first evidence that ap4 and other accessory proteins of coronavirus variants act as viroporins. Future studies are aimed at demonstrating the role of ap4 during the viral life cycle by modulating ion homeostasis of host cell in vivo (interacting proteins obtained from proteomic studies) and thereby serve as a tool for potential drug target.

11.
Romanian Journal of Veterinary Medicine & Pharmacology ; 5(37):316-328, 2022.
Article in Romanian | CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-20241771

ABSTRACT

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the current COVID-19 pandemic, has evolved to have a wide range of hosts, including non-human primates, wild and domestic animals. Determining the susceptibility of different animal species to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the role of animals in the epidemiology of the disease will be critical to designing appropriate human and veterinary public health responses to this pandemic. A better understanding of the susceptibility of animal species to SARS-CoV-2 may help clarify transmission mechanisms and identify potential reservoirs and sources of infection that are important for both animal and human health. The current pandemic produced by SARS CoV-2 and its variants represents an example of the unique concept of health (One Health) in which humans and animals are components of the same epidemiological chain. In this paper, only the natural infections found in different animals species will be reviewed, according to literature data, regarding the species of affected animals, the transmission patterns (human-animal, animal-human), clinical aspects, diagnosis confirmation and a brief presentation of the prevention possibilities through vaccination.

12.
Journal of Contemporary Drama in English ; 11(1):39-58, 2023.
Article in English | Web of Science | ID: covidwho-20241634

ABSTRACT

As COVID-19-related closures affected theatre and performance venues worldwide, the question of how theatrical practices might be adapted to these new circumstances became particularly pertinent in the context of immersive theatre and site-specific performance, forms which heavily draw on the audience's experiential encounter with site and performers for its process of meaning-making. Focussing on ANU Productions' The Party to End All Parties (2020) as a hybrid form of site-specific pandemic theatre set in the cityscape of Dublin, this article investigates how the production translated the "host/ghost" relationship as a central aspect of site-specific theatre to the virtual realm. It demonstrates how this notion is transformed into a thematic thread woven into the performance, arguing that it engages with the host/ghost relationship through spatial as well as temporal "ghosting," which blurs the lines between the contemporary setting of lockdown Dublin and the historical landmark of O'Connell Bridge as a site inextricably connected to the emergence of Ireland as a republic. At the same time, this notion is explored through the connections between presence and absence, visibility and invisibility (or, indeed, spectrality) in the three characters' personal journeys.

13.
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ; 82(Suppl 1):2045, 2023.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-20240488

ABSTRACT

BackgroundThe workload at rheumatology clinics have been growing relentlessly and an audit on new.referrals helps to identify referral behaviour of primary care doctors and improvement can be done by providing further training.ObjectivesTo audit on new referral cases to rheumatology clinic from 2020-2022 and to identify new cases with misdiagnosis for future training purpose.MethodsThis was a retrospective study. The medical records of all new referral to rheumatology clinic Hospital Sultan Ismail and Hospital Pakar Sultanah Fatimah from 1st January 2020 to 31th November 2022 were reviewed. The referral diagnosis and final diagnosis were identified and analysed.ResultsThere were total of 927 new cases referral throughout the 35 months during Covid-19pandemic. Majority of them were diagnosed to have rheumatoid arthritis (217/927)followed by systemic lupus erythematosus (190/927), psoriatic arthritis (147/927),gout (62/927), osteoarthritis (58/927), systemic sclerosis (25/927), ankylosing spondylitis (25/927), soft tissue rheumatism (24/927), Sjogren syndrome (24/927),mixed connective tissue disease (14/927), vasculitis (11/927), fibromyalgia (10/927),polymyositis (7/927) and miscellaneous (39/927).45 out of the new cases were diagnosed as unlikely rheumatic diseases. There were 29pending cases awaiting final diagnosis.212 of the referrals were identified as misdiagnosis with the highest as nodal osteoarthritis.(55/212) followed by unlikely rheumatic disease (43/212), soft tissue rheumatism (24/212),psoriatic arthritis (20/212), Sjogren syndrome (14/212), gout (8/212), rheumatoid arthritis (7/212), fibromyalgia (6/212), systemic lupus erythematosus (5/212), ankylosing spondylitis (4/212), mixed connective tissue disease (3/212), systemic sclerosis (2/212), polymyositis (2/212) and others (19/212): diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, hypermobility syndrome, RS3PE syndrome, idiopathic uveitis, graft versus host disease, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, antiphospholipid syndrome, hypothyroidism, post streptococcal arthritis, prolapsed intervertebral disc, cerebrovascular disease, traumatic sternoclavicular joint subluxation, ledderhose disease, paraspinal muscle spasm and viral myalgia).ConclusionNodal osteoarthritis and soft tissue rheumatism can be great mimicker for inflammatory.arthritis and if wrongly diagnosed will lead to unnecessary anxiety or wrong treatment. More training is needed to improve clinical skills amongst primary care doctors.ReferencesNA.Acknowledgements:NIL.Disclosure of InterestsNone Declared.

14.
African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology ; 24(1):1-8, 2023.
Article in English | CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-20240203

ABSTRACT

The current monkeypox outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern and is coming in the wake of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Human monkeypox is a viral zoonotic infection caused by monkeypox virus, an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus of the genus Orthopoxvirus and family Poxviridae that also contain smallpox, cowpox, Orf, and vaccinia viruses. Online databases including PubMed, Google Scholar and Web of Science were searched to obtain relevant publications on the epidemiology, treatment, vaccines and the economic impacts of the current monkeypox (Mpox) outbreak.

15.
Journal of Economic Animal ; 27(1):74-78, 2023.
Article in Chinese | CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-20239651

ABSTRACT

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCOV) is a new type of pig intestinal coronavirus, which targets pig small intestinal epithelial cells to cause severe enteritis. After infecting the host, PDCoV finishes its proliferation in the host cell by antagonism or escape the innate immune signaling transduction pathway. In order to understand the action mechanism of PDCOV 0n the congenital immune signal transduction pathways, this paper reviews the effects of PDCOV on RLR, Jak-STAT, MAPK and mitochondrial signaling pathway to clarify the relationship between PDCOV and host innate immune signaling transduction pathways in order to provide help for the prevention and treatment of PDCOV infection.

16.
Cytotherapy ; 25(6 Supplement):S72, 2023.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-20239522

ABSTRACT

Background & Aim: The pro-angiogenic, immunoregulatory and anti- inflammatory properties of MSCs are being exploited for the development of cellular therapies, including the treatment of graft versus host disease (GvHD), inflammatory bowel disease and COVID-19. SNBTS have developed a GMP process to bank umbilical cord MSCs (UC-MSCs) whereby we can reliably bank 100 vials of 10 million P2 UC-MSCs per cord. Each of these vials can be extensively expanded and stored for specific applications. The ultimate aim of the bank is for off-the-shelf clinical use, e.g., in GvHD or as an adjuvant therapy in Islet transplantations. Methods, Results & Conclusion(s): During process development, different basal media and supplements were screened for proliferation and MSC marker expression. Cells grown in promising media combinations were then tested for tri-lineage differentiation (identity), their chemokine/cytokine expression and T-cell inhibition (function) assessed. Medium selected for further GMP development and scale up was ultimately determined by all round performance and regulatory compliance. GMP-like UC-MSCs were shown to have immune-modulatory activity in T-cell proliferation assays at 4:1 or 16:1 ratios. Co-culture of UC-MSCs and freshly isolated leukocytes, +/- the immune activating agent LPS, show a dose dependent survival effect on leukocytes. In particular, neutrophils, which are normally very short lived in vitro demonstrated increased viability when co-cultured with UCMSCs. The survival effect was partially reproduced when UC-MSC were replaced with conditioned medium or cell lysate indicating the involvement of soluble factors. This improved neutrophil survival also correlates with results from leukocyte migration studies that demonstrate neutrophils to be the main cell type attracted to MSCs in in vitro and in vivo. Genetic modification of UC-MSC may improve their therapeutic potential. We have tested gene editing by CRISPR/Cas9 technology in primary UC-MSCS. The CXCL8 gene, highly expressed in UC-MSC, was targeted in isolates from several different donors with editing efficiencies of 78-96% observed. This translated to significant knockdown of CXCL8 protein levels in resting cells, however after stimulation levels of CXCL8 were found to be very similar in edited and non-edited UC-MSCs. This observation requires further study, but overall the results show the potential to generate future banks of primary UC-MSCS with genetically enhanced pro-angiogenic, immunoregulatory and/or anti-inflammatory activities.Copyright © 2023 International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy

17.
Al Ameen Journal of Medical Sciences ; 16(1):80-91, 2023.
Article in English | CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-20239476

ABSTRACT

Background: "Covishield" and "Covaxin" were the two vaccines which were approved for emergency use in India. As there is uncertainty regarding these vaccines, this study aimed to estimate the proportion of acceptance of vaccination against COVID-19 in West Bengal;to identify the possible barriers of vaccine acceptance prevalent among the study population and;to find out the association of acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination with the socio-demographic and other predictor variables. Methods: Oobservational study with cross sectional design was conductedon 294 participants in Muchisa, Budge Budge II and Ward No. 81 of Borough 10, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) selected by Stratified Random Sampling in 2021 using a predesigned, pretested and structured schedule. The statistical analysis was done using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Version 16.0. The data were explored using Pearson's chi-square test and logistic regression. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The potential acceptance of Covid-19 vaccination was 59.5% with higher adoption in urban population. The most potential barrier in acceptance of vaccine was "fear of side effects". Higher level of education and history of Covid-19 in the locality were associated with higher acceptance of the vaccination in both the urban and rural areas. Conclusion: A study emphasized on the need for mass campaigns and other behavior change communication activities for addressing the myths surrounding the disease and the newer vaccines and hence improving the currently low vaccine acceptance.

18.
International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health ; 10(2):212-218, 2021.
Article in English | CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-20238961

ABSTRACT

Background: Over a year of the spreading of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), there is now the development of COVID- 19 vaccines with various developers. In Thailand, there are two developers;Sinovac and AstraZeneca. Due to the limited supply, the government of Thailand announced the first very first group to be vaccinated is health workers and persons younger than 18 were not recommended to take the vaccine. According to the Thailand situation, knowing the willingness of Grade 12 students is important because they are the next group of people to take the vaccine. The government should consider the factors that make them or make them not take the vaccine for the country to pass through the COVID-19. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge and understanding regarding COVID19, risk perception of getting COVID-19, level of news perception about COVID-19, and the concern with the willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19 among grade 12 students of Chonkanyanukoon school. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using a questionnaire in April 2021. A total of 246 students participated. Questions related to knowledge and understanding regarding COVID19, risk perception of getting COVID-19, level of news perception about COVID-19, and the concern with a willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19 were assessed. Differences between outcomes and socio-demographics were analyzed through independent t-test and the ANOVA. For the willingness to vaccinate was analyzed by a generalized linear model. This study is quantitative research, which involves developing a survey. The survey is in the format of Google Forms which was developed from March 01 to April 27, 2021, and was sent out to Grade 12 students of Chonkanyanukoon school, Chonburi, Thailand students on April 08. The survey was voluntary and 246 responses were received. Results: Students revealed good knowledge and understanding regarding COVID-19, correctly answering 8.5 scores (standard deviation [S.D.] = 1.64) from 10 questions, moderate level of risk perception at an average score of 17.17 (S.D. = 5.99) out of 25 questions, and a high Level of COVID-19 news perception which the average score of 7.97 (S.D. = 1.48) from ten questions and willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19 with the average score of 3.10 (S.D. = 1.73) out of five questions. The news perceptions of COVID-19 (Beta = 0.314, P = 0.01) and the chance of contracting COVID-19 (Beta= 0.130, P = 0.01). Conclusion: This study provides useful data to identify the probability of the students taking the COVID- 19 vaccine. Consistency is essential to promote good knowledge and attitude in taking the COVID19 vaccine.

19.
Veterinaria Italiana ; 58(1):41-45, 2022.
Article in English | CAB Abstracts | ID: covidwho-20238514

ABSTRACT

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is among the most impactful poultry pathogens, whose control, based on biosecurity and routine vaccination, is hampered by the existence of countless genetic variants sharing poor cross-protection. A retrospective study was conducted on IBV positive samples collected in Italian broiler farms from 2012 to 2019. In 2015, the adopted vaccination protocol shifted from a Mass and 793B-based vaccines to the administration of Mass and QX vaccines, allowing to study how changes in vaccination strategies may affect IBV epidemiology, control and diagnosis in the field. The most frequently detected lineages were QX (70.3%), 793B (15.8%) and Mass (11.9%). The relative frequencies of QX and 793B detections remained stable throughout the study, while Mass detections significantly increased after the vaccination change. Rather than to an actual growth of Mass population size, this finding may be attributable to different vaccine interactions, with Mass strains being more frequently concealed by 793B vaccines than by QX ones. Based on the obtained results, the two vaccination protocols appear to be similarly effective in fighting IB outbreaks, which in the last decade have been caused primarily by QX field strains in Italy. These results indicate that vaccination strategies may significantly affect IBV epidemiology and diagnosis, and should therefore be considered when choosing and interpreting diagnostic assays and planning control measures.

20.
American Journal of Reproductive Immunology ; 89(Supplement 1):54-55, 2023.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-20238235

ABSTRACT

Problem: Although it is rare for a SARS-CoV-2 infection to transmit vertically to the fetus during pregnancy, there is a significantly increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes due to maternalCOVID- 19. However, there is a poor understanding of such risks because mechanistic studies on how SARS-CoV-2 infection disrupts placental homeostasis are significantly lacking. The SARS-CoV-2 proteome includes multiple structural and non-structural proteins, including the non-structural accessory proteinORF3a. The roles of these proteins in mediating placental infection remain undefined. We and others have shown that autophagy activity in placental syncytium is essential for barrier function and integrity. Here, we have used clinical samples and cultured trophoblast cells to evaluate syncytial integrity of placenta exposed to SARS-CoV-2. The objective of our study was to investigate potential mechanisms through which SARS-CoV-2 impairs placental homeostasis and causes adverse pregnancy outcomes. We tested the central hypothesis that an essential SARS-CoV-2 non-structural and accessory protein, ORF3a, uniquely (amongst multiple viral proteins tested) with a novel three-dimensional structure andwith no homology to any other proteins is a key modulator of placental trophoblast cell dynamics via autophagy and intracellular trafficking of a tight junction protein (TJP), ZO-1. Method(s): We used clinical samples and cultured trophoblast cells to evaluate syncytial integrity of placentas exposed to SARS-CoV- 2. Autophagic flux was measured in placental villous biopsies from SARS-CoV-2-exposed and unexposed pregnant women by quantifying the expression of autophagy markers, LC3 and P62. Trophoblast cells (JEG-3, Forskolin-treated JEG-3, HTR8/SVneo, or primary human trophoblasts (PHTs)) were transfected with expression plasmids encoding SARS-CoV-2 proteins including ORF3a. Using western blotting, multi-label immunofluorescence, and confocal imaging, we analyzed the effect of ORF3a on the autophagy, differentiation, invasion, and intracellular trafficking of ZO-1 in trophoblasts. Using coimmunoprecipitation assays, we tested ORF3a interactions with host proteins. t-tests and one-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) with post hoc tests were used to assess the data, with significance set at P < .05. Result(s): We discovered :1) increased activation of autophagy, but incomplete processing of autophagosome-lysosomal degradation;2) accumulation of protein aggregates in placentas exposed to SARS-CoV- 2. Mechanistically, we showed that the SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a protein, uniquely 3) blocks the autophagy-lysosomal degradation process;4) inhibits maturation of cytotrophoblasts into syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs);5) reduces production ofHCG-beta, a key pregnancy hormone that is also essential for STB maturation;and 6) inhibits trophoblast invasive capacity. Furthermore, ORF3a harbors an intrinsically disordered C-terminus withPDZ-bindingmotifs.We show for the first time that, 7) ORF3a binds to and co-localizes with the PDZ domain of ZO-1, a junctional protein that is essential for STB maturation and the integrity of the placental barrier. Conclusion(s): Our work outlines a new molecular and cellular mechanism involving the SARS-CoV-2 accessory protein ORF3a that may drive the virus's ability to infect the placenta and damage placental syncytial integrity. This implies that the mechanisms facilitating viral maturation, such as the interaction of ORF3a with host factors, can be investigated for additional functionality and even targeted for developing new intervention strategies for treatment or prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection at the maternal-fetal interface.

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