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Vaccines Jun 2024Suboptimal influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates have been reported before the COVID-19 pandemics in certain populations at risk for severe infection. The aim of...
BACKGROUND
Suboptimal influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates have been reported before the COVID-19 pandemics in certain populations at risk for severe infection. The aim of this longitudinal cohort study was to investigate changes in influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates and patient perceptions in patients with psoriasis (PsO) before and during the pandemic.
METHODS
Data on vaccination, patient and disease characteristics, comorbidity, and patient perceptions were collected with questionnaires before and during the pandemic approximately one year later.
RESULTS
Over the whole cohort who participated in the follow-up visit (n = 287; 59.2% male; mean age: 56.3 years), both influenza and pneumococcal lifetime vaccination prevalences increased significantly from 50.5% to 66.2% and from 16.0% to 41.5%, respectively. A total of 88.5% of PsO patients were interested in a COVID-19 vaccination or had already received it. The reasons for and against vaccinations changed significantly before and during the pandemic.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite a promising increase in the vaccination prevalence in our PsO cohort, it remains important that awareness for vaccinations is encouraged and closely monitored in future research, particularly in populations at risk.
PubMed: 38932343
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060614 -
Vaccines Jun 2024Introducing new recombinant protein antigens to existing pediatric combination vaccines is important in improving coverage and affordability, especially in low- and...
Evaluating the Compatibility of New Recombinant Protein Antigens (Trivalent NRRV) with a Mock Pentavalent Combination Vaccine Containing Whole-Cell Pertussis: Analytical and Formulation Challenges.
Introducing new recombinant protein antigens to existing pediatric combination vaccines is important in improving coverage and affordability, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This case-study highlights the analytical and formulation challenges encountered with three recombinant non-replicating rotavirus vaccine (NRRV) antigens (t-NRRV formulated with Alhydrogel adjuvant, AH) combined with a mock multidose formulation of a pediatric pentavalent vaccine used in LMICs. This complex formulation contained (1) vaccine antigens (i.e., whole-cell pertussis (wP), diphtheria (D), tetanus (T), (Hib), and hepatitis B (HepB), (2) a mixture of aluminum-salt adjuvants (AH and Adju-Phos, AP), and (3) a preservative (thimerosal, TH). Selective, stability-indicating competitive immunoassays were developed to monitor binding of specific mAbs to each antigen, except wP which required the setup of a mouse immunogenicity assay. Simple mixing led to the desorption of t-NRRV antigens from AH and increased degradation during storage. These deleterious effects were caused by specific antigens, AP, and TH. An AH-only pentavalent formulation mitigated t-NRRV antigen desorption; however, the Hib antigen displayed previously reported AH-induced instability. The same rank-ordering of t-NRRV antigen stability (P[8] > P[4] > P[6]) was observed in mock pentavalent formulations and with various preservatives. The lessons learned are discussed to enable future multidose, combination vaccine formulation development with new vaccine candidates.
PubMed: 38932338
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060609 -
Vaccines May 2024During the multi-dose formulation development of recombinant vaccine candidates, protein antigens can be destabilized by antimicrobial preservatives (APs). The...
A Combined LC-MS and Immunoassay Approach to Characterize Preservative-Induced Destabilization of Human Papillomavirus Virus-like Particles Adsorbed to an Aluminum-Salt Adjuvant.
During the multi-dose formulation development of recombinant vaccine candidates, protein antigens can be destabilized by antimicrobial preservatives (APs). The degradation mechanisms are often poorly understood since available analytical tools are limited due to low protein concentrations and the presence of adjuvants. In this work, we evaluate different analytical approaches to monitor the structural integrity of HPV16 VLPs adsorbed to Alhydrogel™ (AH) in the presence and absence of APs (i.e., destabilizing m-cresol, MC, or non-destabilizing chlorobutanol, CB) under accelerated conditions (pH 7.4, 50 °C). First, in vitro potency losses displayed only modest correlations with the results from two commonly used methods of protein analysis (SDS-PAGE, DSC). Next, results from two alternative analytical approaches provided a better understanding of physicochemical events occurring under these same conditions: (1) competitive ELISA immunoassays with a panel of mAbs against conformational and linear epitopes on HPV16 VLPs and (2) LC-MS peptide mapping to evaluate the accessibility/redox state of the 12 cysteine residues within each L1 protein comprising the HPV16 VLP (i.e., with 360 L1 proteins per VLP, there are 4320 Cys residues per VLP). These methods expand the limited analytical toolset currently available to characterize AH-adsorbed antigens and provide additional insights into the molecular mechanism(s) of AP-induced destabilization of vaccine antigens.
PubMed: 38932309
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060580 -
Viruses Jun 2024The serological surveillance of bluetongue in bulk tank milk is an efficient and cost-effective method for the early detection of bluetongue virus incursions in...
The serological surveillance of bluetongue in bulk tank milk is an efficient and cost-effective method for the early detection of bluetongue virus incursions in unvaccinated free areas of the disease. In addition, the availability of standardized and reliable reagents and refined diagnostic procedures with high sensitivity and specificity are essential for surveillance purposes. However, no available reference materials for bluetongue virus serological surveillance in bulk tank milk exist. This study shows the production and characterization of reference material for the implementation of a commercially available bluetongue milk ELISA test in official laboratories, as well as the evaluation of a procedure to increase the sensitivity in samples with low levels of antibodies. This procedure, based on milk protein concentration, allowed us to notably increase the ELISA test's analytical sensitivity, which is useful for milk samples from farms with low within-herd prevalence or pools of bulk tank milk samples. The standardized milk reference material produced here, together with the evaluated procedure to improve analytical sensitivity, could be applied as tools to ensure an accurate diagnosis by official laboratories in bluetongue unvaccinated free areas.
Topics: Animals; Milk; Bluetongue; Bluetongue virus; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sheep; Cattle; Milk Proteins; Antibodies, Viral; Serologic Tests; Reference Standards; Female
PubMed: 38932207
DOI: 10.3390/v16060915 -
Viruses May 2024The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most impactful events in our lifetime, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Multiple... (Review)
Review
The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most impactful events in our lifetime, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants were reported globally, and a wide range of symptoms existed. Individuals who contract COVID-19 continue to suffer for a long time, known as long COVID or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). While COVID-19 vaccines were widely deployed, both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals experienced long-term complications. To date, there are no treatments to eradicate long COVID. We recently conceived a new approach to treat COVID in which a 15-amino-acid synthetic peptide (SPIKENET, SPK) is targeted to the ACE2 receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2, which prevents the virus from attaching to the host. We also found that SPK precludes the binding of spike glycoproteins with the receptor carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) of a coronavirus, murine hepatitis virus-1 (MHV-1), and with all SARS-CoV-2 variants. Further, SPK reversed the development of severe inflammation, oxidative stress, tissue edema, and animal death post-MHV-1 infection in mice. SPK also protects against multiple organ damage in acute and long-term post-MHV-1 infection. Our findings collectively suggest a potential therapeutic benefit of SPK for treating COVID-19.
Topics: SARS-CoV-2; Humans; COVID-19; Animals; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; Mice; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; Peptides; Antiviral Agents; COVID-19 Drug Treatment
PubMed: 38932130
DOI: 10.3390/v16060838 -
Viruses May 2024The COVID-19 pandemic, which emerged in early 2020, has had a profound and lasting impact on global health, resulting in over 7.0 million deaths and persistent...
The COVID-19 pandemic, which emerged in early 2020, has had a profound and lasting impact on global health, resulting in over 7.0 million deaths and persistent challenges. In addition to acute concerns, there is growing attention being given to the long COVID health consequences for survivors of COVID-19 with documented cases of cardiovascular abnormalities, liver disturbances, lung complications, kidney issues, and noticeable cognitive deficits. Recent studies have investigated the physiological changes in various organs following prolonged exposure to murine hepatitis virus-1 (MHV-1), a coronavirus, in mouse models. One significant finding relates to the effects on the gastrointestinal tract, an area previously understudied regarding the long-lasting effects of COVID-19. This research sheds light on important observations in the intestines during both the acute and the prolonged phases following MHV-1 infection, which parallel specific changes seen in humans after exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Our study investigates the histopathological alterations in the small intestine following MHV-1 infection in murine models, revealing significant changes reminiscent of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease. Notable findings include mucosal inflammation, lymphoid hyperplasia, goblet cell hyperplasia, and immune cell infiltration, mirroring pathological features observed in IBD. Additionally, MHV-1 infection induces villous atrophy, altered epithelial integrity, and inflammatory responses akin to celiac disease and IBD. SPIKENET (SPK) treatment effectively mitigates intestinal damage caused by MHV-1 infection, restoring tissue architecture and ameliorating inflammatory responses. Furthermore, investigation into long COVID reveals intricate inflammatory profiles, highlighting the potential of SPK to modulate intestinal responses and restore tissue homeostasis. Understanding these histopathological alterations provides valuable insights into the pathogenesis of COVID-induced gastrointestinal complications and informs the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.
Topics: Animals; Mice; COVID-19; Disease Models, Animal; Murine hepatitis virus; SARS-CoV-2; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestines; Intestine, Small; Female
PubMed: 38932125
DOI: 10.3390/v16060832 -
Polymers Jun 2024The roll coating method is of considerable significance in several industries, as it is applied practically in the production of paint, the manufacturing of PVC-coated...
The roll coating method is of considerable significance in several industries, as it is applied practically in the production of paint, the manufacturing of PVC-coated cloth, and the plastic industry. The current study theoretically and computationally analyses the Powell-Eyring fluids with variable viscosity during the non-isothermal roll-over web phenomenon. Based on the lubrication approximation theory (LAT), the problem was formulated. The system of partial differential equations (PDEs) obtained from the mathematical modeling was further simplified to a set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using suitable transformations. A regular perturbation method was implemented to obtain the solution in terms of velocity, pressure gradient, pressure, and flow rate per unit width. This study also captures important engineering characteristics such as coating thickness, Nusselt number, shear stress, roll/sheet separating force, and roll-transmitted power to the fluid. Along with a comparison between the present work and published work, both graphical and tabular representations wer made to study the effects of various factors. It was observed that the velocity profile is the decreasing function of non-Newtonian and Reynold viscosity parameters. In addition, the response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to investigate the sensitivity of the shear stress and the Nusselt number.
PubMed: 38932073
DOI: 10.3390/polym16121723 -
Polymers Jun 2024Novel functionalized and/or grafted crosslinked chitosan adsorbents were synthesized and used to remove several toxic heavy metal ions such as nickel, lead, chromium,...
Novel functionalized and/or grafted crosslinked chitosan adsorbents were synthesized and used to remove several toxic heavy metal ions such as nickel, lead, chromium, and cadmium ions from contaminated water. The chitosan biopolymer was functionalized by maleic anhydride (CS_MA) acting also as a crosslinking agent. Glutaraldehyde-crosslinked chitosan (CS_GA) grafted with poly(methyl methacrylate) (CS_MMA) was also synthesized. The synthesized adsorbents were characterized using a variety of analytical techniques such as SEM, TGA, and FTIR, which confirmed their chemical structures and morphology. The adsorption capacity of the adsorbents was analyzed under various conditions of contact time, adsorbent dose, initial concertation, temperature, and pH and evaluated against those of pure chitosan (CS) and the crosslinked chitosan(CS_GA). The ultimate removal conditions were 0.5 g/100 mL adsorbent dose, an initial metal ion concentration of 50 ppm, a temperature of 45 °C, and pH 9. CS_MMA had the highest removal percentages for all metal ions, ranging from 92% to 94%. The adsorption was demonstrated to fit a pseudo-first-order model that followed a Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The results highlight the capacity of the synthesized polymers to efficiently remove major toxic contaminants at low cost from contaminated water, present especially in low-income areas, without harming the environment.
PubMed: 38932067
DOI: 10.3390/polym16121718 -
Polymers Jun 2024This study aims to demonstrate the possibility of incorporating a natural antioxidant biomolecule into polymeric porous scaffolds. To this end, Poly-l-Lactic Acid (PLLA)...
This study aims to demonstrate the possibility of incorporating a natural antioxidant biomolecule into polymeric porous scaffolds. To this end, Poly-l-Lactic Acid (PLLA) scaffolds were produced using the Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS) technique and additivated with different amounts of rosmarinic acid (RA). The scaffolds, with a diameter of 4 mm and a thickness of 2 mm, were characterized with a multi-analytical approach. Specifically, Scanning Electron Microscopy analyses demonstrated the presence of an interconnected porous network, characterized by a layer of RA at the level of the pore's surfaces. Moreover, the presence of RA biomolecules increased the hydrophilic nature of the sample, as evidenced by the decrease in the contact angle with water from 128° to 76°. The structure of PLLA and PLLA containing RA molecules has been investigated through DSC and XRD analyses, and the obtained results suggest that the crystallinity decreases when increasing the RA content. This approach is cost-effective, and it can be customized with different biomolecules, offering the possibility of producing porous polymeric structures containing antioxidant molecules. These scaffolds meet the requirements of tissue engineering and could offer a potential solution to reduce inflammation associated with scaffold implantation, thus improving tissue regeneration.
PubMed: 38932024
DOI: 10.3390/polym16121672 -
Polymers Jun 2024Nanomaterials have attracted specific consideration due to their specific characteristics and uses in several promising fields. In the present study, was employed as a...
Cellulosic Powders with Immobilized AgO and CuO Nanoparticles: Preparation, Characterization of the Nanocomposites, and Application to the Catalytic Degradation of Azo Dyes.
Nanomaterials have attracted specific consideration due to their specific characteristics and uses in several promising fields. In the present study, was employed as a biological extract to facilitate the reduction of copper and silver ions within garlic peel powders. The resulting garlic-CuO and garlic-AgO nanocomposites were characterized using several analytical methods including FTIR, TGA/DTG, SEM, TEM, and XRD analyses. The garlic peel exhibited a rough surface. The nanoparticles were evenly dispersed across its surface. The incorporation of CuO and AgO nanoparticles affected the crystal structure of garlic peel. The establishment of CuO and AgO nanoparticles was evidenced by the highest residual mass values observed for the prepared nanocomposites. The thermogravimetric analysis showed that the prepared nanocomposites had lower thermal stability compared with garlic peel powders. The prepared nanocomposites were used for catalytic degradation of naphthol blue black B and calmagite. The decolorization process depended on the quantity of HO, initial concentration of azo dyes, duration of contact, and temperature of the bath. The calculated activation energy (Ea) values for the garlic-CuO nanocomposites were found to be 18.44 kJ mol and 23.28 kJ mol for calmagite and naphthol solutions, respectively. However, those calculated for garlic-AgO nanocomposites were found to be 50.01 kJ mol and 12.44 kJ mol for calmagite and naphthol, respectively.
PubMed: 38932011
DOI: 10.3390/polym16121661