scholarly journals Molecular beacons allow specific RT-LAMP detection of B.1.1.7 variant SARS-CoV-2

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Sherrill-Mix ◽  
Gregory D. Van Duyne ◽  
Frederic D. Bushman
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Molecular Beacons ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Detection And Identification ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
The World ◽  
Primer Sets ◽  
Current Detection

AbstractOver the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, several SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants of concern have appeared and spread throughout the world. Detection and identification of these variants is important to understanding and controlling their rapid spread. Current detection methods for a particularly concerning variant, B.1.1.7, require expensive qPCR machines and depend on the absence of a signal rather than a positive indicator of variant presence. Here we report an assay using a pair of molecular beacons paired with reverse transcription loop mediated amplification to allow isothermal amplification from saliva to specifically detect B.1.1.7 and other variants which contain a characteristic deletion in the gene encoding the viral spike protein. This assay is specific, affordable and allows multiplexing with other SARS-CoV-2 LAMP primer sets.

scholarly journals Characterization of a Novel SARS-CoV-2 Genetic Variant with Distinct Spike Protein Mutations

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1029
Author(s):  
Anna Gladkikh ◽  
Anna Dolgova ◽  
Vladimir Dedkov ◽  
Valeriya Sbarzaglia ◽  
Olga Kanaeva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
South African ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Genetic Variant ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
The World ◽  
Protein Mutations

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in Wuhan (Hubei, China), has been ongoing for about a year and a half. An unprecedented number of people around the world have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent of COVID-19. Despite the fact that the mortality rate for COVID-19 is relatively low, the total number of deaths has currently already reached more than three million and continues to increase due to high incidence. Since the beginning of the pandemic, a large number of sequences have been obtained and many genetic variants have been identified. Some of them bear significant mutations that affect biological properties of the virus. These genetic variants, currently Variants of Concern (VoC), include the so-called United Kingdom variant (20I/501Y), the Brazilian variant (20J/501Y.V3), and the South African variant (20H/501Y.V2). We describe here a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant with distinct spike protein mutations, first obtained at the end of January 2021 in northwest Russia. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the dynamics of its spread among patients with COVID-19, as well as to study in detail its biological properties

Security Concern and Countermeasures for Cheating in Visual Cryptography

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 277
Author(s):  
Ekta Y
Keyword(s):  
Communication System ◽  
Visual Cryptography ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Information Communication ◽  
New Approach ◽  
The World ◽  
Visual Cryptography Scheme ◽  
Prevention Methods ◽  
Security Concern

As IT sector is ruling the world now,confidentiality and security of information has become the most important inseparable aspect in information communication system. Keeping in view the same, a new approach called Visual Cryptography (VC) has been suggested by many researchers but there are some limitations with this scheme and cheating is one of the main problem among them. This paper intends to show the basis of cheating in VC in terms of cheating process, its detection methods and its prevention methods suggested by various researchers along with their merits and demerits. Finally, a good Cheating Immune Visual Cryptography Scheme (CIVCS) has been discussed which states the properties to be adopted by every Visual Cryptography scheme to make it immune to cheating attacks.

scholarly journals Computational Intelligence-Based Model for Mortality Rate Prediction in COVID-19 Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6429
Author(s):  
Irfan Ullah Khan ◽  
Nida Aslam ◽  
Malak Aljabri ◽  
Sumayh S. Aljameel ◽  
Mariam Moataz Aly Kamaleldin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Computational Intelligence ◽  
Nearest Neighbor ◽  
Gradient Boosting ◽  
K Nearest Neighbor ◽  
Detection And Identification ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Extreme Gradient Boosting ◽  
The World ◽  
Detection And Diagnosis

The COVID-19 outbreak is currently one of the biggest challenges facing countries around the world. Millions of people have lost their lives due to COVID-19. Therefore, the accurate early detection and identification of severe COVID-19 cases can reduce the mortality rate and the likelihood of further complications. Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) models have been shown to be effective in the detection and diagnosis of several diseases, including COVID-19. This study used ML algorithms, such as Decision Tree (DT), Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and DL model (containing six layers with ReLU and output layer with sigmoid activation), to predict the mortality rate in COVID-19 cases. Models were trained using confirmed COVID-19 patients from 146 countries. Comparative analysis was performed among ML and DL models using a reduced feature set. The best results were achieved using the proposed DL model, with an accuracy of 0.97. Experimental results reveal the significance of the proposed model over the baseline study in the literature with the reduced feature set.

scholarly journals Real-time SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic and variants tracking over multiple candidates using nanopore DNA sequencing

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
François Stüder ◽  
Jean-Louis Petit ◽  
Stefan Engelen ◽  
Marco Antonio Mendoza-Parra
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Spike Gene ◽  
Long Period ◽  
The World ◽  
Receptor Recognition ◽  
Nanopore Dna Sequencing ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

AbstractSince December 2019, a novel coronavirus responsible for a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) is accountable for a major pandemic situation. The emergence of the B.1.1.7 strain, as a highly transmissible variant has accelerated the world-wide interest in tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants’ occurrence. Similarly, other extremely infectious variants, were described and further others are expected to be discovered due to the long period of time on which the pandemic situation is lasting. All described SARS-CoV-2 variants present several mutations within the gene encoding the Spike protein, involved in host receptor recognition and entry into the cell. Hence, instead of sequencing the whole viral genome for variants’ tracking, herein we propose to focus on the SPIKE region to increase the number of candidate samples to screen at once; an essential aspect to accelerate diagnostics, but also variants’ emergence/progression surveillance. This proof of concept study accomplishes both at once, population-scale diagnostics and variants' tracking. This strategy relies on (1) the use of the portable MinION DNA sequencer; (2) a DNA barcoding and a SPIKE gene-centered variant’s tracking, increasing the number of candidates per assay; and (3) a real-time diagnostics and variant’s tracking monitoring thanks to our software RETIVAD. This strategy represents an optimal solution for addressing the current needs on SARS-CoV-2 progression surveillance, notably due to its affordable implementation, allowing its implantation even in remote places over the world.

scholarly journals Importance of immunoglobulin therapy for COVID-19 patients with lymphocytopenia

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heba K. Nabih
Keyword(s):  
Passive Immunization ◽  
Immunoglobulin Therapy ◽  
World Health ◽  
Clinical Feature ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Plasma Therapy ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was announced as pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). With the increased number of infected and dead victims daily all over the world, it becomes necessary to stop or overcome its rapid spread. Main body Although the production of vaccine or even specified effective anti-virus may take about six months to a year, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) may be clinically used as a safe treatment to save and improve the quality of life of patients with a variety of immunodeficiency diseases such as lymphocytopenia, which is a common clinical feature in COVID-19. Conclusion Through the current review, it was concluded that this passive immunization may promote the immunity to better fight against the virus, so the survival of the patients could be kept longer. The efficacy of immunotherapy with IVIg would be greater if the immune IgG antibodies were collected from convalescent plasma therapy.

scholarly journals Marker Development for Differentiation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Niveum Race 3 from Races 1 and 2

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 822
Author(s):  
Owen Hudson ◽  
Sumyya Waliullah ◽  
James C. Fulton ◽  
Pingsheng Ji ◽  
Nicholas S. Dufault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Fusarium Oxysporum ◽  
Fusarium Wilt ◽  
Conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Pcr Marker ◽  
Primer Sets ◽  
Race Differentiation ◽  
Race 2

Fusarium wilt of watermelon, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON), is pathogenic only to watermelon and has become one of the main limiting factors in watermelon production internationally. Detection methods for this pathogen are limited, with few published molecular assays available to differentiate FON from other formae speciales of F. oxysporum. FON has four known races that vary in virulence but are difficult and costly to differentiate using traditional inoculation methods and only race 2 can be differentiated molecularly. In this study, genomic and chromosomal comparisons facilitated the development of a conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay that could differentiate race 3 from races 1 and 2, and by using two other published PCR markers in unison with the new marker, the three races could be differentiated. The new PCR marker, FNR3-F/FNR3-R, amplified a 511 bp region on the “pathogenicity chromosome” of the FON genome that is absent in race 3. FNR3-F/FNR3-R detected genomic DNA down to 2.0 pg/µL. This marker, along with two previously published FON markers, was successfully applied to test over 160 pathogenic FON isolates from Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Together, these three FON primer sets worked well for differentiating races 1, 2, and 3 of FON. For each marker, a greater proportion (60 to 90%) of molecular results agreed with the traditional bioassay method of race differentiation compared to those that did not. The new PCR marker should be useful to differentiate FON races and improve Fusarium wilt research.

scholarly journals Coronavirus Disease 2019 Occupational Considerations for Surgeons: A Review Article

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-41
Author(s):  
Seyed Hesamaddin Banihashemi ◽  
Ahmadreza Karimi ◽  
Hasti Nikourazm ◽  
Behnaz Bahmanyar ◽  
Dariush Hooshyar
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
Review Article ◽  
World Health ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
And Control

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus and its associated disease, called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), first appeared in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and quickly spread around the world. Coronavirus was officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization and was recognized as a pandemic due to its rapid spread worldwide. Based on the published data, it is hoped to provide a source for later studies and to help prevent and control the contagious COVID-19 and its characteristics, and considerations that surgeons and medical staff must observe during the epidemic.

scholarly journals Wellness Constraints Among International University Students Transitioning Through Covid 19

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 3444-3456
Author(s):  
Mr J Dorasamy, Et. al.
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
World Health ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
The World ◽  
International University ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization (Who) In March 2020 Declared Covid 19 A Pandemic, Due To The  Global And Rapid Spread Of A Novel Coronavirus (Who, 2020). The Covid 19 Pandemic Being Highly Infectious And Unpredictable, Has  Disrupted  Social, Economic, Environmental And Political Spheres Of Life. Globally, People Have Ventured Into A “Lockdown World”, Increasing Uncertainty About Their Future Amidst The Covid 19 Pandemic. As A Result Of The Pandemic, Social Alteration Has Taken The Form Of Social Distancing, Self-Isolation And Self-Quarantine.  Many Were Unprepared For The Shift From The “Normal”, Propelling  Undue  Stress Under The New Normal Way Of Doing Things During The Current Global Pandemic Crisis. This Has Been Accompanied By Social, Emotional And Mental Effects, As The Ongoing And Fluid Nature Of The Pandemic Has Created Uncertainty For Many People. The Covid 19 Pandemic, As A Multidimensional Stressor Affecting Wellbeing, Has Affected Individuals, Families, Educational, Occupational, And Broader Societal Systems.  

scholarly journals Nepal COVID-19 Governmental Response

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar S. Abdellatif ◽  
Ali Behbehani
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
International Health ◽  
Who Guidelines ◽  
Member States ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
The World ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Current Cycle ◽  
The Face

The International Health Regulations (2005) are legally binding on 196 States Parties, Including all WHO Member States. The IHR aims to keep the world informed about public health risks, through committing all signatories to cooperate together in combating any future “illness or medical condition, irrespective of origin or source, that presents or could present significant harm to humans.” Under IHR, countries agreed to strengthen their public health capacities and notify the WHO of any such illness in their populations. The WHO would be the centralized body for all countries facing a health threat, with the power to declare a “public health emergency of international concern,” issue recommendations, and work with countries to tackle a crisis. Although, with the sudden and rapid spread of COVID-19 in the world, many countries varied in implementing the WHO guidelines and health recommendations. While some countries followed the WHO guidelines, others imposed travel restrictions against the WHO’s recommendations. Some refused to share their data with the organization. Others banned the export of medical equipment, even in the face of global shortages. The UN Compliance Research group will focus during the current cycle on analyzing the compliance of the WHO member states to the organizations guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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