scholarly journals Long-term and herd immunity against SARS-CoV-2: implications from current and past knowledge

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Papachristodoulou ◽  
Loukas Kakoullis ◽  
Konstantinos Parperis ◽  
George Panos

ABSTRACT Effective herd immunity against SARS-CoV-2 will be determined on many factors: the percentage of the immune population, the length and effectiveness of the immune response and the stability of the viral epitopes. The required percentage of immune individuals has been estimated to be 50–66% of the population which, given the current infection rates, will take long to be achieved. Furthermore, data from SARS-CoV suggest that the duration of immunity may not be sufficiently significant, while the immunity response against SARS-CoV-2 may not be efficiently effective in all patients, as relapses have already been reported. In addition, the development of mutant strains, which has already been documented, can cause the reemergence of the epidemic. In conclusion, the development of an effective vaccine is an urgent necessity, as long-term natural immunity to SARS-CoV-2 may not be sufficient for the control of the current and future outbreaks.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon Pae

In the span of 1.5 years, COVID-19 has caused more than 4 million deaths worldwide. To prevent such a catastrophe from reoccurring, it is necessary to test and refine current epidemiological models that impact policy decisions. Thus, we developed a deterministic SIR model to examine the long-term transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in South Korea. Using this model, we analyzed how vaccines would affect the number of cases. We found that a 70% vaccination coverage with a 100% effective vaccine would effectively eliminate the number of cases and herd immunity would have been obtained approximately 85 days after February 15 had there not been a reintroduction of cases.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon Pae

UNSTRUCTURED In the span of 1.5 years, COVID-19 has caused more than 4 million deaths worldwide. To prevent such a catastrophe from reoccurring, it is necessary to test and refine current epidemiological models that impact policy decisions. Thus, we developed a deterministic SIR model to examine the long-term transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in South Korea. Using this model, we analyzed how vaccines would affect the number of cases. We found that a 70% vaccination coverage with a 100% effective vaccine would effectively eliminate the number of cases and herd immunity would have been obtained approximately 85 days after February 15 had there not been a reintroduction of cases.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Adrian Kent

I critique a recent analysis (Miles, Stedman & Heald, 2020) of COVID-19 lockdown costs and benefits, focussing on the United Kingdom (UK). Miles et al. (2020) argue that the March-June UK lockdown was more costly than the benefit of lives saved, evaluated using the NICE threshold of £30000 for a quality-adjusted life year (QALY) and that the costs of a lockdown for 13 weeks from mid-June would be vastly greater than any plausible estimate of the benefits, even if easing produced a second infection wave causing over 7000 deaths weekly by mid-September.   I note here two key problems that significantly affect their estimates and cast doubt on their conclusions. Firstly, their calculations arbitrarily cut off after 13 weeks, without costing the epidemic end state. That is, they assume indifference between mid-September states of 13 or 7500 weekly deaths and corresponding infection rates. This seems indefensible unless one assumes that (a) there is little chance of any effective vaccine or improved medical or social interventions for the foreseeable future, (b) notwithstanding temporary lockdowns, COVID-19 will very likely propagate until herd immunity. Even under these assumptions it is very questionable. Secondly, they ignore the costs of serious illness, possible long-term lowering of life quality and expectancy for survivors. These are uncertain, but plausibly at least as large as the costs in deaths.In summary, policy on tackling COVID-19 cannot be rationally made without estimating probabilities of future medical interventions and long-term illness costs. More work on modelling these uncertainties is urgently needed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-181
Author(s):  
Halim M ◽  
Halim A ◽  
Trivana V

Introduction: Herd immunity refers to developing immunity in individuals by acquiring natural immunity or through vaccination. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in a city in China, Wuhan. Currently, no vaccines are available to treat and cure the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: Information was gathered from electronic databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar. These articles were checked for relevance with recent articles and journals were included while older ones were excluded. Data analysis was then performed using MS Excel and SPSS. Results: Current epidemiological evidence suggests different countries have varying infection rates, therefore varying rates of reproduction number. The current minimum threshold required for herd immunity currently stands between 50-66.67%, although rates vary differently across the globe. Conclusion: A vaccine development is anticipated to be critical in controlling the Covid-19. However, there are several limitations, including changing and managing trends at the virus epitope, differences in the reproduction number across different countries and varying geographical locations, underreporting of infection rates across countries across the globe, and the varying infectious nature of the virus among the demographic population. Regarding the presented information, the vaccine development would significantly accelerate herd immunity and play a key role in managing the disease.


1979 ◽  
Vol 42 (04) ◽  
pp. 1135-1140 ◽  
Author(s):  
G I C Ingram

SummaryThe International Reference Preparation of human brain thromboplastin coded 67/40 has been thought to show evidence of instability. The evidence is discussed and is not thought to be strong; but it is suggested that it would be wise to replace 67/40 with a new preparation of human brain, both for this reason and because 67/40 is in a form (like Thrombotest) in which few workers seem to use human brain. A �plain� preparation would be more appropriate; and a freeze-dried sample of BCT is recommended as the successor preparation. The opportunity should be taken also to replace the corresponding ox and rabbit preparations. In the collaborative study which would be required it would then be desirable to test in parallel the three old and the three new preparations. The relative sensitivities of the old preparations could be compared with those found in earlier studies to obtain further evidence on the stability of 67/40; if stability were confirmed, the new preparations should be calibrated against it, but if not, the new human material should receive a calibration constant of 1.0 and the new ox and rabbit materials calibrated against that.The types of evidence available for monitoring the long-term stability of a thromboplastin are discussed.


Author(s):  
Valery А. Gruzdev ◽  
◽  
Georgy V. Mosolov ◽  
Ekaterina A. Sabayda ◽  
◽  
...  

In order to determine the possibility of using the method of mathematical modeling for making long-term forecasts of channel deformations of trunk line underwater crossing (TLUC) through water obstacles, a methodology for performing and analyzing the results of mathematical modeling of channel deformations in the TLUC zone across the Kuban River is considered. Within the framework of the work, the following tasks were solved: 1) the format and composition of the initial data necessary for mathematical modeling were determined; 2) the procedure for assigning the boundaries of the computational domain of the model was considered, the computational domain was broken down into the computational grid, the zoning of the computational domain was performed by the value of the roughness coefficient; 3) the analysis of the results of modeling the water flow was carried out without taking the bottom deformations into account, as well as modeling the bottom deformations, the specifics of the verification and calibration calculations were determined to build a reliable mathematical model; 4) considered the possibility of using the method of mathematical modeling to check the stability of the bottom in the area of TLUC in the presence of man-made dumping or protective structure. It has been established that modeling the flow hydraulics and structure of currents, making short-term forecasts of local high-altitude reshaping of the bottom, determining the tendencies of erosion and accumulation of sediments upstream and downstream of protective structures are applicable for predicting channel deformations in the zone of the TLUC. In all these cases, it is mandatory to have materials from engineering-hydro-meteorological and engineering-geological surveys in an amount sufficient to compile a reliable mathematical model.


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 133-136
Author(s):  
R. N. Ibragimov

The article examines the impact of internal and external risks on the stability of the financial system of the Altai Territory. Classification of internal and external risks of decline, affecting the sustainable development of the financial system, is presented. A risk management strategy is proposed that will allow monitoring of risks, thereby these measures will help reduce the loss of financial stability and ensure the long-term development of the economy of the region.


Author(s):  
Mohamed H Al-Thani ◽  
Elmoubasher Farag ◽  
Roberto Bertollini ◽  
Hamad Eid Al Romaihi ◽  
Sami Abdeen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Qatar experienced a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic that disproportionately affected the craft and manual worker (CMW) population who comprise 60% of the total population. This study aimed to assess ever and/or current infection prevalence in this population. Methods A cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted during July 26-September 09, 2020 to assess both anti-SARS-CoV-2 positivity through serological testing and current infection positivity through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Associations with antibody and PCR positivity were identified through regression analyses. Results Study included 2,641 participants, 69.3% of whom were <40 years of age. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 55.3% (95% CI: 53.3-57.3%) and was significantly associated with nationality, geographic location, educational attainment, occupation, and previous infection diagnosis. PCR positivity was 11.3% (95% CI: 9.9-12.8%) and was significantly associated with nationality, geographic location, occupation, contact with an infected person, and reporting two or more symptoms. Infection positivity (antibody and/or PCR positive) was 60.6% (95% CI: 58.6-62.5%). The proportion of antibody-positive CMWs that had a prior SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was 9.3% (95% CI: 7.9-11.0%). Only seven infections were ever severe and one was ever critical—an infection severity rate of 0.5% (95% CI: 0.2-1.0%). Conclusions Six in every 10 CMWs have been infected, suggestive of reaching the herd immunity threshold. Infection severity was low with only one in every 200 infections progressing to be severe or critical. Only one in every 10 infections had been previously diagnosed suggestive of mostly asymptomatic or mild infections.


Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Malgorzata Kloc ◽  
Ahmed Uosef ◽  
Martha Villagran ◽  
Robert Zdanowski ◽  
Jacek Z. Kubiak ◽  
...  

The small GTPase RhoA, and its down-stream effector ROCK kinase, and the interacting Rac1 and mTORC2 pathways, are the principal regulators of the actin cytoskeleton and actin-related functions in all eukaryotic cells, including the immune cells. As such, they also regulate the phenotypes and functions of macrophages in the immune response and beyond. Here, we review the results of our and other’s studies on the role of the actin and RhoA pathway in shaping the macrophage functions in general and macrophage immune response during the development of chronic (long term) rejection of allografts in the rodent cardiac transplantation model. We focus on the importance of timing of the macrophage functions in chronic rejection and how the circadian rhythm may affect the anti-chronic rejection therapies.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Verena te Kamp ◽  
Virginia Friedrichs ◽  
Conrad M. Freuling ◽  
Ad Vos ◽  
Madlin Potratz ◽  
...  

The live genetically-engineered oral rabies virus (RABV) variant SPBN GASGAS induces long-lasting immunity in foxes and protection against challenge with an otherwise lethal dose of RABV field strains both after experimental oral and parenteral routes of administration. Induction of RABV-specific binding antibodies and immunoglobulin isotypes (IgM, total IgG, IgG1, IgG2) were comparable in orally and parenterally vaccinated foxes. Differences were only observed in the induction of virus-neutralizing (VNA) titers, which were significantly higher in the parenterally vaccinated group. The dynamics of rabies-specific antibodies pre- and post-challenge (365 days post vaccination) suggest the predominance of type-1 immunity protection of SPBN GASGAS. Independent of the route of administration, in the absence of IgG1 the immune response to SPBN GAGAS was mainly IgG2 driven. Interestingly, vaccination with SPBN GASGAS does not cause significant differences in inducible IFN-γ production in vaccinated animals, indicating a relatively weak cellular immune response during challenge. Notably, the parenteral application of SPBN GASGAS did not induce any adverse side effects in foxes, thus supporting safety studies of this oral rabies vaccine in various species.


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