RESUMO
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic perpetuated by SARS-CoV-2 variants, has highlighted the continued need for broadly protective vaccines that elicit robust and durable protection. Here, the vaccinia virus-based, replication-defective Sementis Copenhagen Vector (SCV) was used to develop a first-generation COVID-19 vaccine encoding the spike glycoprotein (SCV-S). Vaccination of mice rapidly induced polyfunctional CD8 T cells with cytotoxic activity and robust Th1-biased, spike-specific neutralizing antibodies, which are significantly increased following a second vaccination, and contained neutralizing activity against the alpha and beta variants of concern. Longitudinal studies indicated neutralizing antibody activity was maintained up to 9 months post-vaccination in both young and aging mice, with durable immune memory evident even in the presence of pre-existing vector immunity. This immunogenicity profile suggests a potential to expand protection generated by current vaccines in a heterologous boost format, and presents a solid basis for second-generation SCV-based COVID-19 vaccine candidates incorporating additional SARS-CoV-2 immunogens.
RESUMO
We report a case of a 76-year old Filipino male from the province of Porac, Pampanga who presented with pain, redness, and blurring of vision of the right eye (oculus dexter, OD) on 25 February 2009. One and a half weeks prior to consultation, patient complained of right eye discharge and lid swelling. The patient consulted an ophthalmologist and was given unrecalled topical eye medications. There was no improvement from the symptoms and patient complained of worsening pain and redness in the right eye. The patient was a non-contact lens wearer and he denied any trauma to the right eye. However, he admitted to washing both eyes with tap water. Visual acuity in the right eye was counting fingers at 3 feet. Slit lamp examination showed diffuse conjunctival injection. There was note of a ring-like infiltrate in the cornea almost extending to the limbus. There was also note of significant anterior chamber cells reaction and hypopyon. Primary working impression was Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), OD. Corneal scraping was done and sent to the St. Luke's Research and Biotechnology for detection and identification of the infectious agent. Morphological detection was done by allowing the organism from the scraping to grow in 1.5% non-nutrient agar plate with heat-killed E. coli. Trophozoites with acanthopodia and double-walled cysts characteristic of Acanthamoeba were observed within the first and second week of observations, respectively. Molecular identification of the amoebae at the genus level based on the presence of Acanthamoeba-specific amplimer S1, ASA. S1 (a partial 18S ribosomal DNA gene) confirmed the morphological identification (band at 461-bp). Genotyping through sequence revealed that the organism belonged to T4, which is the genotype commonly present from the eye of keratitis patients.
RESUMO
We report the case of a 76-year old Filipino male who presented with pain, redness, and blurring of vision of the right eye. Corneal scraping was done and sent to the St. Luke’s Research and Biotechnology Group for detection and identification of the infectious agent. Morphological detection was performed by allowing the organism from the scraping to grow in 1.5% non-nutrient agar plate with heat-killed <i>E. coli</i>. Trophozoites with acanthopodia and double-walled cysts characteristic of <i>Acanthamoeba</i> were observed within the first and second week of observations, respectively. Molecular identification of the amoebae at the genus level based on the presence of <i>Acanthamoeba</i>-specific amplimer S1, ASA.S1 confirmed the morphological identification. Genotyping through sequence revealed that the organism belonged to T4, which is the genotype commonly present in the eye of keratitis patients.
