Immune response against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in cancer patients after COVID-19 vaccination during the Omicron wave: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients often have weakened immune systems, resulting in a lower response to vaccines, especially those receiving immunosuppressive oncological treatment (OT). We aimed to assess the impact of OT on the humoral and T-cell response to the B.1 lineage and Omicron variant following COVID-19 vaccination in patients with solid and hematological neoplasms. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study on cancer patients, stratified into OT and non-OT groups, who received a two-dose series of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine and a booster six months later. The outcomes measured were the humoral (anti-SARS-CoV-2 S IgG titers and ACE2-S interaction inhibition capacity) and cellular (SARS-CoV-2 S-specific T-cell spots per million PBMCs) responses against the B.1 lineage and Omicron variant. These responses were evaluated four weeks after the second dose (n = 98) and eight weeks after the booster dose (n = 71). RESULTS: The humoral response after the second vaccine dose against the B.1 lineage and Omicron variant was significantly weaker in the OT group compared to the non-OT group (q-value<0.05). A booster dose of the mRNA-1273 vaccine significantly improved the humoral response in the OT group, making it comparable to the non-OT group. The mRNA-1273 vaccine, designed for the original Wuhan strain, elicited a weaker humoral response against the Omicron variant compared to the B.1 lineage, regardless of oncological treatment or vaccine dose. In contrast, T-cell responses against SARS-CoV-2, including the Omicron variant, were already present after the second vaccine dose and were not significantly affected by oncological treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer patients, particularly those receiving immunosuppressive oncological treatments, should require booster doses and adapted COVID-19 vaccines for new SARS-CoV-2 variants like Omicron. Future studies should evaluate the durability of the immune response and the efficacy of individualized regimens.

Genomic Context of SARS-CoV-2 Outbreaks in Farmed Mink in Spain during Pandemic: Unveiling Host Adaptation Mechanisms.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects various mammalian species, with farmed minks experiencing the highest number of outbreaks. In Spain, we analyzed 67 whole genome sequences and eight spike sequences from 18 outbreaks, identifying four distinct lineages: B.1, B.1.177, B.1.1.7, and AY.98.1. The potential risk of transmission to humans raises crucial questions about mutation accumulation and its impact on viral fitness. Sequencing revealed numerous not-lineage-defining mutations, suggesting a cumulative mutation process during the outbreaks. We observed that the outbreaks were predominantly associated with different groups of mutations rather than specific lineages. This clustering pattern by the outbreaks could be attributed to the rapid accumulation of mutations, particularly in the ORF1a polyprotein and in the spike protein. Notably, the mutations G37E in NSP9, a potential host marker, and S486L in NSP13 were detected. Spike protein mutations may enhance SARS-CoV-2 adaptability by influencing trimer stability and binding to mink receptors. These findings provide valuable insights into mink coronavirus genetics, highlighting both host markers and viral transmission dynamics within communities.

Community Health Workers Deliver Mental Health Intervention to Uninsured Latinx in Baltimore: Evaluation and Lessons Learned in a Pilot Program.

BACKGROUND: Implementation of evidence-based interventions to reduce depression among uninsured Latinx patients who are at high risk of depression are rare. OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to evaluate Strong Minds, a language and culturally tailored, evidence-based intervention adapted from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for mild-moderate depression and anxiety, delivered by community health workers (CHWs) in Spanish to uninsured Latinx immigrants. METHODS: As part of the pilot, 35 participants, recruited from a free community primary care clinic, completed Strong Minds. Assessments and poststudy interviews were conducted. Paired t-tests were used to assess change of depressive symptoms at 3 and 6 months. LESSONS LEARNED: CHW delivery of depression care to this population was feasible and among those who completed the program, preliminary evidence of depression outcomes suggests potential benefit. CHWs had specific training and support needs related to mental health care delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Further implementation studies of depression care interventions using CHWs for underserved Latinx is needed.

Grassroots and Digital Outreach Strategies Raise Awareness of COVID-19 Information and Research in Baltimore City.

We aimed to disseminate reliable COVID-19 information to the Black and Latino communities of Baltimore City, Maryland, between July 2020 and December 2022. With community partners, we disseminated evidence-based COVID-19 information via grassroots and digital strategies, including Hopkins Opportunity for Participant Engagement, and connected volunteers to COVID-19 research. Using a multimodal approach facilitated dissemination of reliable information and raised awareness of research; evaluation of trust is ongoing. Robust, multimodal strategies are needed to foster trust and equity among diverse communities. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S1):S69-S73. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307492).

IgG antibody levels against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in mother-child dyads after COVID-19 vaccination.

PURPOSE: We aimed to assess IgG antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (anti-SARS-CoV-2 S IgG) in vaccinated mothers and their infants at delivery and 2-3 months of age. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study on mothers who received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BNT162b2, Moderna mRNA-1273, or Oxford-AstraZeneca ChAdOx1-S) during pregnancy and on their infants. The baseline was at the time of delivery (n = 93), and the end of follow-up was 2 to 3 months post-partum (n = 53). Serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 S IgG titers and ACE2 binding inhibition levels were quantified by immunoassays. RESULTS: Mothers and infants had high anti-SARS-CoV-2 S IgG titers against the B.1 lineage at birth. However, while antibody titers were maintained at 2-3 months post-partum in mothers, they decreased significantly in infants (p < 0.001). Positive and significant correlations were found between anti-SARS-CoV-2 S IgG titers and ACE2-binding inhibition levels in mothers and infants at birth and 2-3 months post-partum (r > 0.8, p < 0.001). Anti-S antibodies were also quantified for the Omicron variant at 2-3 months post-partum. The antibody titers against Omicron were significantly lower in mothers and infants than those against B.1 (p < 0.001). Again, a positive correlation was observed for Omicron between IgG titers and ACE2-binding inhibition both in mothers (r = 0.818, p < 0.001) and infants (r = 0.386, p < 0.005). Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination near delivery positively impacted anti-SARS-CoV-2 S IgG levels. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 mRNA vaccines induce high anti-SARS-CoV-2 S titers in pregnant women, which can inhibit the binding of ACE2 to protein S and are efficiently transferred to the fetus. However, there was a rapid decrease in antibody levels at 2 to 3 months post-partum, particularly in infants.

New Insights on Antennal Sensilla of Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae) Using Advanced Microscopy Techniques.

Using light, transmission, scanning electron, and confocal microscopy, we carried out a morphological study of antennal sensilla and their ultrastructures of the Mexican Fruit Fly Anastrepha ludens (Loew), an economically important species that is a pest of mangos and citrus in Mexico and Central America. Our goal was to update the known information on the various sensilla in the antennae of A. ludens, involved in the perception of odors, temperature, humidity, and movement. Based on their external shape, size, cuticle-thickness, and presence of pores, we identified six types of sensilla with 16 subtypes (one chaetica in the pedicel, four clavate, two trichoid, four basiconic, one styloconic, and one campaniform-like in the flagellum, and three additional ones in the two chambers of the sensory pit (pit-basiconic I and II, and pit-styloconic)), some of them described for the first time in A. ludens. We also report, for the first time, two types of pores in the sensilla (hourglass and wedge shapes) that helped classify the sensilla. Additionally, we report a campaniform-like sensillum only observed by transmission electronic microscopy on the flagellum, styloconic and basiconic variants inside the sensory pit, and an "hourglass-shaped" pore in six sensilla types. We discuss and suggest the possible function of each sensillum according to their characteristics and unify previously used criteria in the only previous study on the topic.

Antifungal and Insecticidal Activities of Selected Plant Species from Cloud Forest of Veracruz, Mexico: A Contribution to the Search of Novel Control Agents against Ambrosia Pest Complexes.

The antifungal and insecticidal activities of 34 extracts from 27 plant species were evaluated against fungal phytopathogens of the genus Fusarium and Xyleborus Scolytine ambrosia beetles involved in Fusarium dieback (FD) and laurel wilt (LW) diseases. Sixteen extracts caused mycelial growth inhibition (MGI) above 23 % at 2 mg mL-1 against F. solani, those from S. nudum and M. argyrophylla exhibited the highest MGI (57 % and 49 %, respectively). Thirteen extracts displayed significant antifungal activity against F. kuroshium, those from C. nocturnum and M. argyrophylla exhibited the highest MGI (100 % and 54.9 %, respectively). Additionally, ten plants extracts caused mortality in at least one of the beetle species tested, mainly from Solanaceae species. In the most active species, 39 phenolics were identified that may have contributed to their biological effects. This study is one of the first to report the potential of plant-derived natural products against the causative agents of FD and LW.

Biocontrol and plant growth promoting traits of two avocado rhizobacteria are orchestrated by the emission of diffusible and volatile compounds.

Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is a tree crop of great social and economic importance. However, the crop productivity is hindered by fast-spreading diseases, which calls for the search of new biocontrol alternatives to mitigate the impact of avocado phytopathogens. Our objectives were to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of diffusible and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by two avocado rhizobacteria (Bacillus A8a and HA) against phytopathogens Fusarium solani, Fusarium kuroshium, and Phytophthora cinnamomi, and assess their plant growth promoting effect in Arabidopsis thaliana. We found that, in vitro, VOCs emitted by both bacterial strains inhibited mycelial growth of the tested pathogens by at least 20%. Identification of bacterial VOCs by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed a predominance of ketones, alcohols and nitrogenous compounds, previously reported for their antimicrobial activity. Bacterial organic extracts obtained with ethyl acetate significantly reduced mycelial growth of F. solani, F. kuroshium, and P. cinnamomi, the highest inhibition being displayed by those from strain A8a (32, 77, and 100% inhibition, respectively). Tentative identifications carried out by liquid chromatography coupled to accurate mass spectrometry of diffusible metabolites in the bacterial extracts, evidenced the presence of some polyketides such as macrolactins and difficidin, hybrid peptides including bacillaene, and non-ribosomal peptides such as bacilysin, which have also been described in Bacillus spp. for antimicrobial activities. The plant growth regulator indole-3-acetic acid was also identified in the bacterial extracts. In vitro assays showed that VOCs from strain HA and diffusible compounds from strain A8a modified root development and increased fresh weight of A. thaliana. These compounds differentially activated several hormonal signaling pathways involved in development and defense responses in A. thaliana, such as auxin, jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA); genetic analyses suggested that developmental stimulation of the root system architecture by strain A8a was mediated by the auxin signaling pathway. Furthermore, both strains were able to enhance plant growth and decreased the symptoms of Fusarium wilt in A. thaliana when soil-inoculated. Collectively, our results evidence the potential of these two rhizobacterial strains and their metabolites as biocontrol agents of avocado pathogens and as biofertilizers.

Mental Health Stigma Among Spanish-Speaking Latinos in Baltimore, Maryland.

To assess mental health-related stigma in an emerging Latino immigrant community and explore demographic characteristics associated with stigma. We surveyed 367 Spanish-speaking Latino adults recruited at community-based venues in Baltimore, Maryland. The survey included sociodemographic questions, the Depression Knowledge Measure, Personal Stigma Scale, and the Stigma Concerns about Mental Health Care (SCMHC) assessment. Multiple regression models examining associations between personal stigma and stigma concerns about mental health care, respectively, were constructed using variables that were statistically significant in bivariate analyses. Being male, having less than high school education, reporting high importance of religion, and having lower depression knowledge contributed to higher personal stigma. When controlling for other variables, only depression knowledge contributed unique variance to the prediction of higher SCMHC. Efforts to improve access to and quality of mental health care must be paralleled by ongoing efforts to reduce depression stigma within emergent immigrant Latino communities.

Assessment of the Molecular Responses of an Ancient Angiosperm against Atypical Insect Oviposition: The Case of Hass Avocados and the Tephritid Fly Anastrepha ludens.

Anastrepha spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) infestations cause significant economic losses in commercial fruit production worldwide. However, some plants quickly counteract the insertion of eggs by females by generating neoplasia and hindering eclosion, as is the case for Persea americana Mill., cv. Hass (Hass avocados). We followed a combined transcriptomics/metabolomics approach to identify the molecular mechanisms triggered by Hass avocados to detect and react to the oviposition of the pestiferous Anastrepha ludens (Loew). We evaluated two conditions: fruit damaged using a sterile pin (pin) and fruit oviposited by A. ludens females (ovi). We evaluated both of the conditions in a time course experiment covering five sampling points: without treatment (day 0), 20 min after the treatment (day 1), and days 3, 6, and 9 after the treatment. We identified 288 differentially expressed genes related to the treatments. Oviposition (and possibly bacteria on the eggs' surface) induces a plant hypersensitive response (HR), triggering a chitin receptor, producing an oxidative burst, and synthesizing phytoalexins. We also observed a process of cell wall modification and polyphenols biosynthesis, which could lead to polymerization in the neoplastic tissue surrounding the eggs.

Antibody levels to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in mothers and children from delivery to six months later.

INTRODUCTION: Pregnant women are vulnerable to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein protect from severe disease. This study analyzes the antibody titers to SARS-CoV-2 S protein in pregnant women and their newborns at delivery, and six months later. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study on pregnant women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and newborns. Antibody (IgG, IgM, and IgA) titers were determined using immunoassays in serum and milk samples. An angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor-binding inhibition assay to the S protein was performed on the same serum and milk samples. RESULTS: At birth, antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were detected in 81.9% of mothers' sera, 78.9% of cord blood samples, and 63.2% of milk samples. Symptomatic women had higher antibody titers (IgG, IgM, and IgA) than the asymptomatic ones (P < 0.05). At six months postpartum, IgG levels decreased drastically in children's serum (P < 0.001) but remained high in mothers' serum. Antibody titers correlated positively with its capacity to inhibit the ACE2-spike protein interaction at baseline in maternal sera (R2  = 0.203; P < 0.001), cord sera (R2  = 0.378; P < 0.001), and milk (R2  = 0.564; P < 0.001), and at six months in maternal sera (R2  = 0.600; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: High antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were found in most pregnant women. Due to the efficient transfer of IgG to cord blood and high IgA titers in breast milk, neonates may be passively immunized to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings could guide newborn management and maternal vaccination policies.

Digital and virtual strategies to advance community stakeholder engagement in research during COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the adversity presented by COVID-19 pandemic, it also pushed for experimenting with innovative strategies for community engagement. The Community Research Advisory Council (C-RAC) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), is an initiative to promote community engagement in research. COVID-19 rendered it impossible for C-RAC to conduct its meetings all of which have historically been in person. We describe the experience of advancing the work of the C-RAC during COVID-19 using digital and virtual strategies. Since March 2020, C-RAC transitioned from in person to virtual meetings. The needs assessment was conducted among C-RAC members, and individualized solutions provided for a successful virtual engagement. The usual working schedule was altered to respond to COVID-19 and promote community engaged research. Attendance to C-RAC meetings before and after the transition to virtual operation increased from 69% to 76% among C-RAC members from the community. In addition, the C-RAC launched new initiatives and in eighteen months since January 2020, it conducted 50 highly rated research reviews for 20 research teams. The experience of the C-RAC demonstrates that when community needs are assessed and addressed, and technical support is provided, digital strategies can lead to greater community collaborations.

Identification of Antifungal Compounds from Avocado Rhizobacteria (Bacillus spp.) against Fusarium spp., by a Bioassay-Guided Fractionation Approach.

Antimicrobial compounds produced by bacteria have been increasingly acknowledged as an important resource for the control of phytopathogens. We used a bioassay-guided fractionation approach to identify antifungal metabolites produced by two avocado rhizobacteria (INECOL-4742 and INECOL-5927), both members of the Bacillus subtilis/B. amyloliquefaciens species complex, against Fusarium solani and F. kuroshium, causal agent of Fusarium dieback in avocado and other hosts. The butanol (BuOH) organic extract from INECOL-4742 (B1-Bu) exhibited the highest percentage of inhibition (PI) against F. solani (78.76 %), also inhibiting F. kuroshium by up to 44.30 %. Primary fractions, Bu-F3, Bu-F12 and Bu-F15, obtained by silica gel open column chromatography, exhibited the highest PI against F. solani (28.57 % to 33.50 %) and F. kuroshium (38.78 % to 45.00 %). The presence of cyclic lipopeptides from the iturin, surfactin and fengycin families in B1-Bu extracts and primary fractions was determined by UPLC-ESI-HRMS. The Confocal Laser Microscopy analysis revealed deformations in the hyphae of F. kuroshium exposed to extracts, primary fractions and C-13 surfactin chemical standard. These results emphasize the potential of natural products from Bacillus for the control of the emerging phytopathogenic fungus F. kuroshium.

"The First Step to Changing Something": Addressing Latinx Childhood Obesity through Photovoice.

BACKGROUND: Latinx children in immigrant families have disproportionately high obesity rates; effective obesity treatment for this subset of Latinx children is critically needed. OBJECTIVES: To inform the development of weight management interventions we explored: 1) community facilitators and barriers to achieving childhood healthy weight through photovoice; and 2) participant reflections on the photovoice process. METHODS: Photovoice was conducted using established methods in a local church. After photovoice, participants completed semi-structured interviews to reflect on their experience. Transcripts were analyzed using a general thematic analysis approach to arrive at preliminary themes, which were presented to participants for validation. Participant input was used to finalize the themes. RESULTS: Six adults and two youth Latinx immigrants identified photograph themes over seven sessions. Four themes emerged regarding community barriers and facilitators to achieving childhood healthy weight: 1) family habits, 2) cultural influences on food, 3) built environment, and 4) food marketing. Participant reflections revealed they were motivated to participate in photovoice to learn more about health, recognized personal growth as a result of group sharing, valued representation as a community, and felt empowered to be role models. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from both photovoice and participant reflections reinforced the need for multi-level approaches to treating childhood obesity. Though participant reflections were gathered to inform continued engagement of Latinx families, they ultimately had a significant impact on our conclusions about priority intervention components.

Corrigendum: Brief Research Report: Virus-Specific Humoral Immunity at Admission Predicts the Development of Respiratory Failure in Unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2 Patients.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.878812.].

Towards Control and Oversight of SARS-CoV-2 Diagnosis and Monitoring through Multiplexed Quantitative Electroanalytical Immune Response Biosensors.

The development of versatile and sensitive biotools to quantify specific SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins in SARS-CoV-2 infected and non-infected individuals, built on the surface of magnetic microbeads functionalized with nucleocapsid (N) and in-house expressed recombinant spike (S) proteins is reported. Amperometric interrogation of captured N- and S-specific circulating total or individual immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes (IgG, IgM, and IgA), subsequently labelled with HRP-conjugated secondary antibodies, was performed at disposable single or multiplexed (8×) screen-printed electrodes using the HQ/HRP/H2O2 system. The obtained results using N and in-house expressed S ectodomains of five SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (including the latest Delta and Omicron) allow identification of vulnerable populations from those with natural or acquired immunity, monitoring of infection, evaluation of vaccine efficiency, and even identification of the variant responsible for the infection.

Responding to the Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 Among Latinx Patients in Baltimore: The JHM Latinx Anchor Strategy.

Latinx immigrants have been profoundly impacted by COVID-19. As the Johns Hopkins Health System faced a surge in admissions of limited English proficiency patients with COVID-19, it became evident that an institutional strategy to address the needs of this patient population was needed. The Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) Latinx Anchor Strategy was established in April 2020 with diverse stakeholder engagement to identify the most urgent community needs and develop timely solutions. The JHM Latinx Anchor Strategy provided a platform for information sharing to promote equitable access to resources for Latinxs with limited English proficiency who were impacted by COVID-19. Leveraging institutional, community, and government resources and expertise, the JHM Latinx Anchor Strategy helped establish interventions to improve access to COVID-19 testing and care for low-income immigrants without a primary care doctor and helped mitigate economic vulnerability through the distribution of food for 2,677 individuals and cash to 446 families and 95 individuals (May to August 2020). Expanded linguistic and culturally competent communication through webinars and livestream events reached more than 10,000 community members and partners. Over 7,500 limited English proficiency patients received linguistically congruent direct patient services through the Esperanza Center bilingual hotline, community testing resulting efforts, and inpatient consultations. The first stage of the JHM Latinx Anchor Strategy relied heavily on volunteer efforts. Funding for a sustainable response will be required to address ongoing COVID-19 needs, including expansion of the bilingual/bicultural healthcare workforce, expanded access to primary care, and investments in population health strategies addressing social determinants of health.

Brief Research Report: Virus-Specific Humoral Immunity at Admission Predicts the Development of Respiratory Failure in Unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2 Patients.

Introduction: There is robust evidence indicating that the SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral response is associated with protection against severe disease. However, relatively little data exist regarding how the humoral immune response at the time of hospital admission correlates with disease severity in unimmunized patients. Our goal was toidentify variables of the humoral response that could potentially serve as prognostic markers for COVID-19 progressionin unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2 patients. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in a cohort of 160 unimmunized, adult COVID-19 patients from the Hospital Universitario 12Octubre. Participants were classified into four clinical groups based on disease severity: non-survivors with respiratory failure (RF), RF survivors, patients requiring oxygen therapy and those not receiving oxygen therapy. Serum samples were taken on admission and IgM, IgG, IgG subclass antibody titers were determined by ELISA, and neutralizing antibody titersusing a surrogate neutralization assay. The differences in the antibody titers between groups and the association between the clinical and analytical characteristics of the patients and the antibody titers were analyzed. Results: Patients that developed RF and survived had IgM titers that were 2-fold higher than non-survivors (p = 0.001), higher levels of total IgG than those who developed RF and succumbed to infection (p< 0.001), and than patients who required oxygen therapy (p< 0.05), and had 5-fold higher IgG1 titers than RF non-survivors (p< 0.001) and those who needed oxygen therapy (p< 0.001), and 2-fold higher than patients that did not require oxygen therapy during admission (p< 0.05). In contrast, RF non-survivorshad the lowest neutralizing antibodylevels, which were significantly lower compared those with RF that survived (p = 0.03). A positive correlation was found between IgM, total IgG, IgG1 and IgG3 titers and neutralizing antibody titers in the total cohort (p ≤ 0.0036). Conclusions: We demonstrate that patients with RF that survived infection had significantly higher IgM, IgG, IgG1 and neutralizing titers compared to patients with RF that succumb to infection, suggesting that using humoral response variables could be used as a prognostic marker for guiding the clinical management of unimmunized patients admitted to the hospital for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Towards Control and Oversight of SARS-CoV-2 Diagnosis and Monitoring through Multiplexed Quantitative Electroanalytical Immune Response Biosensors.

The development of versatile and sensitive biotools to quantify specific SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins in SARS-CoV-2 infected and non-infected individuals, built on the surface of magnetic microbeads functionalized with nucleocapsid (N) and in-house expressed recombinant spike (S) proteins is reported. Amperometric interrogation of captured N- and S-specific circulating total or individual immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes (IgG, IgM, and IgA), subsequently labelled with HRP-conjugated secondary antibodies, was performed at disposable single or multiplexed (8×) screen-printed electrodes using the HQ/HRP/H2 O2 system. The obtained results using N and in-house expressed S ectodomains of five SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (including the latest Delta and Omicron) allow identification of vulnerable populations from those with natural or acquired immunity, monitoring of infection, evaluation of vaccine efficiency, and even identification of the variant responsible for the infection.

Isolation and Identification of Pennogenin Tetraglycoside from Cestrum nocturnum (Solanaceae) and Its Antifungal Activity against Fusarium kuroshium, Causal Agent of Fusarium Dieback.

Antifungal assay-guided fractionation of the methanolic crude extract of Cestrum nocturnum (Solanaceae), popular known as 'lady of the night', led the isolation and identification of the steroidal saponin named pennogenin tetraglycoside, which was identified for the first time in this plant species by spectroscopic means. The crude extract, fractions and pennogenin tetraglycoside exhibited mycelial growth inhibition of Fusarium solani and F. kuroshium. F. solani is a cosmopolitan fungal phytopathogen that affects several economically important crops. However, we highlight the antifungal activity displayed by pennogenin tetraglycoside against F. kuroshium, since it is the first plant natural product identified as active for this phytopathogen. This fungus along with its insect symbiont known as Kuroshio shot hole borer (Euwallacea kuroshio) are the causal agents of the plant disease Fusarium dieback that affects more than 300 plant species including avocado (Persea americana) among others of ecological relevance. Scanning electron microscopy showed morphological alterations of the fungal hyphae after exposure with the active fractions and 12 phenolic compounds were also identified by mass spectrometry dereplication as part of potential active molecules present in C. nocturnum leaves.