Ineffective neutralization of the SARS-CoV-2 Mu variant by convalescent and vaccine sera

AbstractOn August 30, 2021, the WHO classified the SARS-CoV-2 Mu variant (B.1.621 lineage) as a new variant of interest. The WHO defines “comparative assessment of virus characteristics and public health risks” as primary action in response to the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants. Here, we demonstrate that the Mu variant is highly resistant to sera from COVID-19 convalescents and BNT162b2-vaccinated individuals. Direct comparison of different SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins revealed that Mu spike is more resistant to serum-mediated neutralization than all other currently recognized variants of interest (VOI) and concern (VOC). This includes the Beta variant (B.1.351) that has been suggested to represent the most resistant variant to convalescent and vaccinated sera to date (e.g., Collier et al, Nature, 2021; Wang et al, Nature, 2021). Since breakthrough infection by newly emerging variants is a major concern during the current COVID-19 pandemic (Bergwerk et al., NEJM, 2021), we believe that our findings are of significant public health interest. Our results will help to better assess the risk posed by the Mu variant for vaccinated, previously infected and naïve populations.

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Alone Together

Policy Quarterly ◽

10.26686/pq.v16i3.6555 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Holly Walker

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Public Policy ◽

Social Interaction ◽

Social Interactions ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Health Risks ◽

Income Loss ◽

Public Health Risks ◽

Significant Public Health ◽

Policy Challenge

Even prior to Covid-19, loneliness posed a significant public policy challenge. Loneliness intersects with other wellbeing factors, so prioritising wellbeing requires policies that allow social interaction to thrive. Prolonged loneliness also creates significant public health risks. Covid-19 thrust loneliness into greater prominence with enforced social isolation compounded by considerable employment and income loss. The level 4 lockdown contributed to an increase in self-reported loneliness, especially among those already at risk. Future analysis will determine the full impact of Covid-19 on loneliness; in the meantime, policy to enable social interactions to thrive will be an important part of the recovery.

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Higher Regulatory Control of Tramadol to Prevent its Abuse and Dependence

Journal of Drug Policy Analysis ◽

10.1515/jdpa-2016-0008 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Sahba Jalali ◽

Dixon Thomas ◽

Padma Shetty ◽

Jason C. Cooper

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Drug Abuse ◽

Health Risks ◽

Geographical Variation ◽

Abuse Potential ◽

Regulatory Control ◽

Public Health Risks ◽

Significant Public Health ◽

History Of ◽

Regulatory Controls

AbstractTramadol abuse potential is not well studied. While some studies claim low abuse potential, others signal significant public health risks associated with tramadol abuse. This is a review on the abuse and dependence potential of tramadol. Tramadol was originally approved as non-controlled drug, but there is a trend to recognize tramadol as a controlled substance by regulators in many countries. Several factors contribute to abuse of tramadol. The leading reasons include history of drug abuse, geographical variation, and lessened regulatory controls. Tramadol abuse can cause increases in seizures and suicidal ideations. Abusers experience withdrawal symptoms and worsening of depression. Higher regulatory control of tramadol is warranted to avoid its misuse.

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Designer Benzodiazepines: A Review of Toxicology and Public Health Risks

Pharmaceuticals ◽

10.3390/ph14060560 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 560

Author(s):

Pietro Brunetti ◽

Raffaele Giorgetti ◽

Adriano Tagliabracci ◽

Marilyn A. Huestis ◽

Francesco Paolo Busardò

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Health Risks ◽

Drug Market ◽

Driving Under The Influence ◽

Self Administration ◽

Public Health Risks ◽

Drug Offense ◽

Legal Sanctions ◽

Designer Benzodiazepines

The rising use of designer benzodiazepines (DBZD) is a cat-and-mouse game between organized crime and law enforcement. Non-prohibited benzodiazepines are introduced onto the global drug market and scheduled as rapidly as possible by international authorities. In response, DBZD are continuously modified to avoid legal sanctions and drug seizures and generally to increase the abuse potential of the DBZD. This results in an unpredictable fluctuation between the appearance and disappearance of DBZD in the illicit market. Thirty-one DBZD were considered for review after consulting the international early warning database, but only 3-hydroxyphenazepam, adinazolam, clonazolam, etizolam, deschloroetizolam, diclazepam, flualprazolam, flubromazepam, flubromazolam, meclonazepam, phenazepam and pyrazolam had sufficient data to contribute to this scoping review. A total of 49 reports describing 1 drug offense, 2 self-administration studies, 3 outpatient department admissions, 44 emergency department (ED) admissions, 63 driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) and 141 deaths reported between 2008 and 2021 are included in this study. Etizolam, flualprazolam flubromazolam and phenazepam were implicated in the majority of adverse-events, drug offenses and deaths. However, due to a general lack of knowledge of DBZD pharmacokinetics and toxicity, and due to a lack of validated analytical methods, total cases are much likely higher. Between 2019 and April 2020, DBZD were identified in 48% and 83% of postmortem and DUID cases reported to the UNODC, respectively, with flualprazolam, flubromazolam and etizolam as the most frequently detected substances. DBZD toxicology, public health risks and adverse events are reported.

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