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Qin J, Tian X, Liu S, Yang Z, Shi D, Xu S, Zhang Y. Rapid classification of SARS-CoV-2 variant strains using machine learning-based label-free SERS strategy. Talanta 2024; 267:125080. [PMID: 37678002 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.125080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
The spread of COVID-19 over the past three years is largely due to the continuous mutation of the virus, which has significantly impeded global efforts to prevent and control this epidemic. Specifically, mutations in the amino acid sequence of the surface spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have directly impacted its biological functions, leading to enhanced transmission and triggering an immune escape effect. Therefore, prompt identification of these mutations is crucial for formulating targeted treatment plans and implementing precise prevention and control measures. In this study, the label-free surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technology combined with machine learning (ML) algorithms provide a potential solution for accurate identification of SARS-CoV-2 variants. We establish a SERS spectral database of SARS-CoV-2 variants and demonstrate that a diagnostic classifier using a logistic regression (LR) algorithm can provide accurate results within 10 min. Our classifier achieves 100% accuracy for Beta (B.1.351/501Y.V2), Delta (B.1.617), Wuhan (COVID-19) and Omicron (BA.1) variants. In addition, our method achieves 100% accuracy in blind tests of positive and negative human nasal swabs based on the LR model. This method enables detection and classification of variants in complex biological samples. Therefore, ML-based SERS technology is expected to accurately discriminate various SARS-CoV-2 variants and may be used for rapid diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwang Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, PR China; Department of Translational Medicine, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China
| | - Xiangdong Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, PR China; Department of Translational Medicine, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China
| | - Siying Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, PR China; Department of Translational Medicine, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhengxia Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, PR China; Department of Translational Medicine, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Dawei Shi
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Sihong Xu
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Yun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, PR China; Department of Translational Medicine, Xiamen Institute of Rare Earth Materials, Haixi Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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Chambers BD, Fontenot J, McKenzie-Sampson S, Blebu BE, Edwards BN, Hutchings N, Karasek D, Coleman-Phox K, Curry VC, Kuppermann M. "It was just one moment that I felt like I was being judged": Pregnant and postpartum black Women's experiences of personal and group-based racism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Soc Sci Med 2023; 322:115813. [PMID: 36881972 PMCID: PMC9968447 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racial inequities in maternal and child health outcomes persist: Black women and birthing people experience higher rates of adverse outcomes than their white counterparts. Similar inequities are seen in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) mortality rates. In response, we sought to explore the intersections of racism and the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the daily lives and perinatal care experiences of Black birthing people. METHODS We used an intrinsic case study approach grounded in an intersectional lens to collect stories from Black pregnant and postpartum people residing in Fresno County (July-September 2020). All interviews were conducted on Zoom without video and were audio recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used to group codes into larger themes. RESULTS Of the 34 participants included in this analysis, 76.5% identified as Black only, and 23.5% identified as multiracial including Black. Their mean age was 27.2 years [SD, 5.8]. Nearly half (47%) reported being married or living with their partner; all were eligible for Medi-Cal insurance. Interview times ranged from 23 to 96 min. Five themes emerged: (1) Tensions about Heightened Exposure of Black Lives Matter Movement during the pandemic; (2) Fear for Black Son's Safety; (3) Lack of Communication from Health Care Professionals; (4) Disrespect from Health Care Professionals; and (5) Misunderstood or Judged by Health Care Professionals. Participants stressed that the Black Lives Matter Movement is necessary and highlighted that society views their Black sons as a threat. They also reported experiencing unfair treatment and harassment while seeking perinatal care. CONCLUSIONS Black women and birthing people shared that exposure to racism has heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing their levels of stress and anxiety. Understanding how racism impacts Black birthing people's lives and care experiences is critical to reforming the police force and revising enhanced prenatal care models to better address their needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany D Chambers
- Department of Human Ecology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA; California Preterm Birth Initiative, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Jazmin Fontenot
- California Preterm Birth Initiative, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Safyer McKenzie-Sampson
- California Preterm Birth Initiative, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bridgette E Blebu
- California Preterm Birth Initiative, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Brittany N Edwards
- Central Valley Health Policy Institute, College of Health and Human Services, California State University, Fresno. Fresno, CA, USA
| | | | - Deborah Karasek
- California Preterm Birth Initiative, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kimberly Coleman-Phox
- California Preterm Birth Initiative, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Venise C Curry
- Central Valley Health Policy Institute, College of Health and Human Services, California State University, Fresno. Fresno, CA, USA
| | - Miriam Kuppermann
- California Preterm Birth Initiative, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Chen L, Qi X, Liang D, Li G, Peng X, Li X, Ke B, Zheng H, Liu Z, Ke C, Liao G, Liu L, Feng Q. Human Fc-Conjugated Receptor Binding Domain-Based Recombinant Subunit Vaccines with Short Linker Induce Potent Neutralizing Antibodies against Multiple SARS-CoV-2 Variants. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10091502. [PMID: 36146579 PMCID: PMC9505662 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10091502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has been ongoing since December 2019, with more than 6.3 million deaths reported globally as of August 2022. Despite the success of several SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, the rise in variants, some of which are resistant to the effects of vaccination, highlights the need for a so-called pan-coronavirus (universal) vaccine. Here, we performed an immunogenicity comparison of prototype vaccines containing spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) residues 319–541, or spike protein regions S1, S2 and S fused to a histidine-tagged or human IgG1 Fc (hFC) fragment with either a longer (six residues) or shorter (three residues) linker. While all recombinant protein vaccines developed were effective in eliciting humoral immunity, the RBD-hFc vaccine was able to generate a potent neutralizing antibody response as well as a cellular immune response. We then compared the effects of recombinant protein length and linker size on immunogenicity in vivo. We found that a longer recombinant RBD protein (residues 319–583; RBD-Plus-hFc) containing a small alanine linker (AAA) was able to trigger long-lasting, high-titer neutralizing antibodies in mice. Finally, we evaluated cross-neutralization of wild-type and mutant RBD-Plus-hFc vaccines against wild-type, Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants. Significantly, at the same antigen dose, wild-type RBD-Plus-hFc immune sera induced broadly neutralizing antibodies against wild-type, Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omicron variants. Taken together, our findings provide valuable information for the continued development of recombinant protein-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and a basic foundation for booster vaccinations to avoid reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqing Chen
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Qi
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Dan Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guiqi Li
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaofang Peng
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaohui Li
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bixia Ke
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Huanying Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhongqiu Liu
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Changwen Ke
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guochao Liao
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Hengda Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510006, China
- Correspondence: (G.L.); (L.L.); (Q.F.)
| | - Liang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Hengda Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Correspondence: (G.L.); (L.L.); (Q.F.)
| | - Qian Feng
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Correspondence: (G.L.); (L.L.); (Q.F.)
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Izzo R, Trimarco V, Mone P, Aloè T, Capra Marzani M, Diana A, Fazio G, Mallardo M, Maniscalco M, Marazzi G, Messina N, Mininni S, Mussi C, Pelaia G, Pennisi A, Santus P, Scarpelli F, Tursi F, Zanforlin A, Santulli G, Trimarco B. Combining L-Arginine with vitamin C improves long-COVID symptoms: The LINCOLN Survey. Pharmacol Res 2022; 183:106360. [PMID: 35868478 PMCID: PMC9295384 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Recent evidence suggests that oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction play critical roles in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and Long-COVID. We hypothesized that a supplementation combining L-Arginine (to improve endothelial function) and Vitamin C (to reduce oxidation) could have favorable effects on Long-COVID symptoms. METHODS We designed a survey (LINCOLN: L-Arginine and Vitamin C improves Long-COVID), assessing several symptoms that have been associated with Long-COVID to be administered nationwide to COVID-19 survivors; the survey also included effort perception, measured using the Borg scale. Patients receiving the survey were divided in two groups, with a 2:1 ratio: the first group included patients that received L-Arginine + Vitamin C, whereas the second group received a multivitamin combination (alternative treatment). RESULTS 1390 patients successfully completed the survey. Following a 30-day treatment in both groups, the survey revealed that patients in the L-Arginine + Vitamin C treatment arm had significantly lower scores compared to patients who had received the multivitamin combination. There were no other significant differences between the two groups. When examining effort perception, we observed a significantly lower value (p < 0.0001) in patients receiving L-Arginine + Vitamin C compared to the alternative-treatment arm. CONCLUSIONS Our survey indicates that the supplementation with L-Arginine + Vitamin C has beneficial effects in Long-COVID, in terms of attenuating its typical symptoms and improving effort perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Izzo
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Valentina Trimarco
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Pasquale Mone
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Simone Mininni
- Associazione Scientifica Interdisciplinare Aggiornamento Medico (ASIAM), Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Mussi
- Department of Biomedical and Metabolic Sciences and Neuroscience, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Girolamo Pelaia
- Department of Health Science, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Gaetano Santulli
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy; Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Bruno Trimarco
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
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Mosbahi N, Pezy JP, Dauvin JC, Neifar L. COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: An Excellent Opportunity to Study the Effects of Trawling Disturbance on Macrobenthic Fauna in the Shallow Waters of the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia, Central Mediterranean Sea). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031282. [PMID: 35162301 PMCID: PMC8834931 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study describes for the first time in the central Mediterranean Sea the effects of bottom trawling on macrobenthic fauna in tidal channels of the Kneiss Islands in the Gulf of Gabès, Tunisia. Following a BACI protocol, two control stations (protected by artificial reefs) and two trawled stations (impacted stations) were sampled during a period with the absence of bottom trawling activity (the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period from March to May 2020) and during a trawled period. Although bottom trawling had no impact on sediment composition, this anthropogenic activity reduced the concentration of dissolved oxygen and had a noticeable effect on water column turbidity. The absence of trawling led to a significant increase in biomass, number of species, and abundance of total macrofauna. This illustrated the negative effect of trawling activity in shallow waters and the high resilience of macrobenthic communities of the tidal ecosystem of the Kneiss Islands. In the future, it would be very important to control the use of this destructive fishing gear due to its negative impact on the marine habitat and macrofauna, which represents essential prey for fishes and birds living in this protected area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nawfel Mosbahi
- Laboratoire de Biodiversité Marine et Environnement, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax, BP 1171, Sfax 3038, Tunisia;
- Correspondence: or
| | - Jean-Philippe Pezy
- Laboratoire Morphodynamique Continentale et Côtière, Normandie University, UNICAEN, CNRS, UMR 6143 M2C, 24 Rue des Tilleuls, 14000 Caen, France; (J.-P.P.); (J.-C.D.)
| | - Jean-Claude Dauvin
- Laboratoire Morphodynamique Continentale et Côtière, Normandie University, UNICAEN, CNRS, UMR 6143 M2C, 24 Rue des Tilleuls, 14000 Caen, France; (J.-P.P.); (J.-C.D.)
| | - Lassad Neifar
- Laboratoire de Biodiversité Marine et Environnement, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax, BP 1171, Sfax 3038, Tunisia;
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Impact of Vaccination on the Sense of Security, the Anxiety of COVID-19 and Quality of Life among Polish. A Nationwide Online Survey in Poland. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9121444. [PMID: 34960190 PMCID: PMC8707505 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9121444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The pandemic state has a destructive effect on the human psyche and induces fear for one’s own health. By reducing the risk of severe COVID-19, vaccination may indirectly improve the mental state. This study aims to assess the effects of vaccination on respondents’ mental well-being, their attitudes towards adherence to government recommendations limiting viral transmission, and to identify factors that may influence the decision to get vaccinated. The survey took the form of the authors’ own, fully voluntary, anonymous, online questionnaire. Standardised psychometric tools were used in the survey: Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7) and Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA). The survey involved 1696 respondents, the vast majority of whom were women, and were aged 18–29. The vaccination status was declared by 1677 respondents (98.9%), 430 (25.4%) of whom were vaccinated with at least one dose of vaccine, while 303 (17.9%) respondents were not only unvaccinated at all, and declared no intention to get vaccinated in the future. Fully vaccinated individuals were found to have lower levels of anxiety, higher MANSA scores and lower subjective anxiety about being infected with COVID-19 than those awaiting vaccination or those with an incomplete vaccination regimen (one dose). Those who are not willing to get vaccinated have the lowest sense of anxiety and fear of being infected and they have the lowest adherence to government recommendations limiting SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccination reduces the level of anxiety about being infected and anxiety due to COVID-19 disease in people from the immediate environment. Those who are not willing to get vaccinated have extreme attitudes that negate the pandemic as a whole, including the need for COVID-19 vaccination. Fully vaccinated individuals still adhere to the SARS-CoV-2 prevention policies in place.
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Effect of Age on Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10204798. [PMID: 34682920 PMCID: PMC8538457 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10204798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
An effective but balanced cellular and inflammatory immune response may limit the severity of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), whereas uncontrolled inflammation leads to disease progression. Older age is associated with higher risk of COVID-19 and a worse outcome, but the underlying immunological mechanisms for this age-related difference are not clear. We investigated the impact of age on viral replication, inflammation, and innate and adaptive cellular immune responses in 205 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. During the early symptomatic phase of COVID-19, we found that patients above 65 years had significantly higher viral load, higher levels of proinflammatory markers, and inadequate mobilization and activation of monocytes, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and CD8 T cells compared to those below 65 years. Our study points toward age-related deficiencies in the innate immune cellular response to SARS-CoV-2 as a potential cause of poorly controlled viral replication and inflammation during the early symptom phase and subsequent disease progression.
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González-Candelas F, Shaw MA, Phan T, Kulkarni-Kale U, Paraskevis D, Luciani F, Kimura H, Sironi M. One year into the pandemic: Short-term evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and emergence of new lineages. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2021; 92:104869. [PMID: 33915216 PMCID: PMC8074502 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic was officially declared on March 11th, 2020. Since the very beginning, the spread of the virus has been tracked nearly in real-time by worldwide genome sequencing efforts. As of March 2021, more than 830,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes have been uploaded in GISAID and this wealth of data allowed researchers to study the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 during this first pandemic year. In parallel, nomenclatures systems, often with poor consistency among each other, have been developed to designate emerging viral lineages. Despite general fears that the virus might mutate to become more virulent or transmissible, SARS-CoV-2 genetic diversity has remained relatively low during the first ~ 8 months of sustained human-to-human transmission. At the end of 2020/beginning of 2021, though, some alarming events started to raise concerns of possible changes in the evolutionary trajectory of the virus. Specifically, three new viral variants associated with extensive transmission have been described as variants of concern (VOC). These variants were first reported in the UK (B.1.1.7), South Africa (B.1.351) and Brazil (P.1). Their designation as VOCs was determined by an increase of local cases and by the high number of amino acid substitutions harboured by these lineages. This latter feature is reminiscent of viral sequences isolated from immunocompromised patients with long-term infection, suggesting a possible causal link. Here we review the events that led to the identification of these lineages, as well as emerging data concerning their possible implications for viral phenotypes, reinfection risk, vaccine efficiency and epidemic potential. Most of the available evidence is, to date, provisional, but still represents a starting point to uncover the potential threat posed by the VOCs. We also stress that genomic surveillance must be strengthened, especially in the wake of the vaccination campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando González-Candelas
- Joint Research Unit Infection and Public Health FISABIO-University of Valencia, Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio) and CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marie-Anne Shaw
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Tung Phan
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Urmila Kulkarni-Kale
- Bioinformatics Centre, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, Maharashtra, India
| | - Dimitrios Paraskevis
- Department of Hygiene Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Fabio Luciani
- University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hirokazu Kimura
- Department of Health Science, Gunma Paz University Graduate School, Takasaki, Gunma 370-0006, Japan
| | - Manuela Sironi
- Bioinformatics Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Bosisio Parini (LC), Italy.
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Narasimhan M, Mahimainathan L, Muthukumar A. 'nAb' the self-reactive activity in the COVID-19 combat. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:105. [PMID: 33654054 PMCID: PMC7921608 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00518-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lenin Mahimainathan
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Alagarraju Muthukumar
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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10
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Li L, Li J, Gao M, Fan H, Wang Y, Xu X, Chen C, Liu J, Kim J, Aliyari R, Zhang J, Jin Y, Li X, Ma F, Shi M, Cheng G, Yang H. Interleukin-8 as a Biomarker for Disease Prognosis of Coronavirus Disease-2019 Patients. Front Immunol 2021; 11:602395. [PMID: 33488599 PMCID: PMC7820901 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.602395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The widespread prevalence of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) which is caused by severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, has resulted in a severe global public health emergency. However, there are no sensitive biomarkers to predict the disease prognosis of COVID-19 patients. Here, we have identified interleukin-8 (IL-8) as a biomarker candidate to predict different disease severity and prognosis of COVID-19 patients. While serum IL-6 become obviously elevated in severe COVID-19 patients, serum IL-8 was easily detectible in COVID-19 patients with mild syndromes. Furthermore, lL-8 levels correlated better than IL-6 levels with the overall clinical disease scores at different stages of the same COVID-19 patients. Thus, our studies suggest that IL-6 and IL-8 can be respectively used as biomarkers for severe COVID-19 patients and for COVID-19 disease prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Li
- Center for Systems Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Cheng Lab, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, TaiHe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Meiling Gao
- Center for Systems Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Cheng Lab, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, TaiHe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Huimin Fan
- Center for Systems Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Cheng Lab, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou, China
| | - Yanan Wang
- Department of Scientific Research, Suzhou Func Biotech Inc, Suzhou, China
| | - Xin Xu
- Center for Systems Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Cheng Lab, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou, China
| | - Chunfeng Chen
- Department of Scientific Research, Suzhou Func Biotech Inc, Suzhou, China
| | - Junxiao Liu
- Center for Systems Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Cheng Lab, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou, China
| | - Jocelyn Kim
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Roghiyh Aliyari
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jicai Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, TaiHe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Yujie Jin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, TaiHe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Xiaorong Li
- Center for Systems Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Cheng Lab, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou, China
| | - Feng Ma
- Center for Systems Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Cheng Lab, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou, China
| | - Minxin Shi
- Department of Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Genhong Cheng
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Heng Yang
- Center for Systems Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Cheng Lab, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou, China
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