Perspectives About Modulating Host Immune System in Targeting SARS-CoV-2 in India

Impact of the New Coronavirus Infection on the Immune System of Children and Adolescents in the Region of the Russian Federation

The emergence of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has presented public health professionals with new challenges in the diagnosis of the disease and treatment of patients. Nowadays, the epidemiology, clinical features, prevention and treatment of the disease are studied poorly due to continuous mutation of the pathogen. One of the consequences of the new coronavirus infection could be changes in the immune system of the human population. A detailed analysis of the immunological status of different racial groups under the influence of the new coronavirus infection is currently studied insufficiently, making this work of particular relevance. There is also a reluctance among some Russian residents to be vaccinated, including the population of Perm Krai, due to a lack of research on possible deviations in cellular immunity due to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. At the start of the third wave caused by the new coronavirus infection, only 40% of the Russian population had been vaccinated, which was insufficient to acquire collective immunity. In the autumn of 2021, a QR code measure was introduced for vaccinated residents, which resulted in exceeding the necessary barrier for acquiring collective immunity. Due to the high growth and severity of the disease, we analysed the immunograms of children and adolescents, aged from 5 months to 17 years, in Perm Krai during the pandemic years 2020-2021. The patients' immunological status results were divided into three categories. Laboratory diagnosis of the human immune system was carried out using serological and flow cytophotometric analyses. A total of 247 samples were analysed. The aim of this work was to investigate changes in the immune system of children and adolescents during the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus infection. The methodology was based on the analysis of immunograms, including biochemical studies, immune status and flow cytophotometric analysis. The immunograms were pre-sorted by IgA, IgM, IgG immunoglobulin status into four categories: absence of disease-k₁ in which IgA, IgM, IgG immunoglobulin values were within the reference interval, active disease stage-k₂ in which IgA, IgM immunoglobulins had gone beyond the reference interval, passive disease stage-k₃ characterised by IgG and IgM immunoglobulin status, and patient recovery process-k₄. In the immunograms, three immune status indicators were selected for further investigation: phagocytosis absolute value, phagocytic number and phagocytic index and five flow cytometry indices: leukocytes, lymphocytes, NK cells (CD16+CD56+), T helpers (CD3+CD4+) and CD4+/CD8+ immunoregulation index. A quantitative analysis of the deviations of these indicators from the reference intervals was performed in the three studied age groups of children and adolescents living in Perm Krai of the Russian Federation during the pandemic of 2020-2021.

Throat Spray With Blended Essential Oils Promotes Healthy Lung Function Among Women: A Randomized, Double Blinded, Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial

Introduction

There are numerous internal and external environmental threats to lung health. Compromised respiratory health can affect a person's quality of life. This clinical trial evaluated the effects of Teramune Bronchus on lung health among healthy adult women.

Methods

The participants were women, aged 18 - 60 years old (n = 35). They sprayed either the proprietary essential oil based blended product (Teramune Bronchus) or a placebo into their throats 4-6 times per day during waking hours for 3 days. There was a baseline survey before using the spray and then follow-up data were collected at the end of day 3. The three primary outcomes for this study include a total bronchial symptom score, the chest domain in the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Scale (WURSS), and subjective bronchial wellbeing.

Results

On day 3, the bronchial health of the participants who received the throat spray had significantly larger change scores when compared those with the placebo spray. All chest-related symptoms were resolved fully by the end of the trial for the participants who used Teramune. Participants using the intervention were almost twice as likely to say they felt better and believed the product helped them achieve lung health.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence that the use of Teramune Bronchus supports respiratory health. Teramune Bronchus boosts respiratory health among healthy women through the use of plant-based essential oils.

Genomic Surveillance and Phylodynamic Analyses Reveal the Emergence of Novel Mutations and Co-mutation Patterns Within SARS-CoV-2 Variants Prevalent in India

Identification of the genomic diversity and the phylodynamic profiles of prevalent variants is critical to understand the evolution and spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants. We performed whole-genome sequencing of 54 SARS-CoV-2 variants collected from COVID-19 patients in Kolkata, West Bengal during August–October 2020. Phylogeographic and phylodynamic analyses were performed using these 54 and other sequences from India and abroad that are available in the GISAID database. We estimated the clade dynamics of the Indian variants and compared the clade-specific mutations and the co-mutation patterns across states and union territories of India over the time course. Frequent mutations and co-mutations observed within the major clades across time periods do not show much overlap, indicating the emergence of newer mutations in the viral population prevailing in the country. Furthermore, we explored the possible association of specific mutations and co-mutations with the infection outcomes manifested in Indian patients.