Articles: sars-cov-2.
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The WHO emergency use-listed (EUL) COVID-19 vaccines were developed against early strains of SARS-CoV-2. With the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) - Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron, it is necessary to assess the neutralizing activity of these vaccines against the VOCs. PubMed and preprint platforms were searched for literature on neutralizing activity of serum from WHO EUL vaccine recipients, against the VOCs, using appropriate search terms till November 30, 2021. ⋯ The wide range of variability was due to differences in the choice of virus strains selected for neutralization assays (pseudovirus or live virus), timing of serum sample collection after the final dose of vaccine (day 0 to 8 months) and sample size (ranging from 5 to 470 vaccinees). The reasons for this variation have been discussed and the possible way forward to have uniformity across neutralization assays in different laboratories have been described, which will generate reliable data. Though in vitro neutralization studies are a valuable tool to estimate the performance of vaccines against the backdrop of emerging variants, the results must be interpreted with caution and corroborated with field-effectiveness studies.
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J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Jan 2022
Clinical TrialAnti-CD20 therapies decrease humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in patients with multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.
SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion rate after COVID-19 may be influenced by disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMO-SD). ⋯ SARS-CoV-2 antibody response was decreased in patients with MS or NMO-SD treated with anti-CD20 therapies. Monitoring long-term risk of reinfection and specific vaccination strategies in this population may be warranted.
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B Acad Nat Med Paris · Jan 2022
Review[The different phases of molecular and antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 viruses during the 20 months following its emergence].
From its emergence in December 2019 and until the end of the fourth pandemic wave in October 2021, SARS-CoV-2 circulation has been associated with significant molecular evolutions of the virus. These were linked to mutations that have led to new virus linages with replication advantages as a result of increased transmission, or partial immune escape in the context of progressively increasing global immunisation. The pandemic context with large scale epidemics massive outbreaks observed in highly populated areas has favoured this emergence of "variants". ⋯ For the first time, an unprecedented worldwide surveillance effort has been conducted to monitor the circulation of the emerging virus, with rapid data sharing. This molecular surveillance system has provided an accurate description of the circulating viruses, and their evolution. The implementation of these tools and skills able to provide SARS-CoV-2 molecular epidemiological data has upgraded the global capacity for surveillance worldwide, and may allow us to be better prepared for a future pandemic episode.
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The pandemic of SARS-COV-2 began in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and has caused more than 101 million cases worldwide. Diagnostic technologies possessing sensitivity and specificity equivalent to real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assays are needed to ramp up testing capacity in most countries. Newer platforms need to be technically less demanding, require minimum equipment and reduce turn-around time for reporting results. The objective of this study was to exploit loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and evaluate its performance by comparison with rRT-PCR. ⋯ SARS-CoV-2 RT-LAMP assay was designed, standardized and evaluated. The assay showed diagnostic sensitivity and specificity equivalent to rRT-PCR assays. The assay will be useful to increase testing capacity for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the country.
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Observational Study
Short-term outcomes of COVID-19 in pregnant women unvaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 in the first, second, and third trimesters: a retrospective study.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be asymptomatic or symptomatic in pregnant women. Compared to non-pregnant reproductive-aged women, symptomatic individuals appear to have a higher risk of acquiring severe illness sequelae. ⋯ The study results reveal the importance of careful follow-up of hospitalized cases as a necessary step by means of regular clinical and laboratory examinations in pregnant COVID-19 patients. With further studies, after implementing vaccination programs for COVID-19 in pregnant women, these data may help determine the impact of vaccination on the outcomes of pregnant COVID-19 patients.