Infectious viral load in unvaccinated and vaccinated patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 WT, Delta and Omicron

Abstract Background Viral load (VL) is one determinant of secondary transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Emergence of variants of concerns (VOC) Alpha and Delta was ascribed, at least partly, to higher VL. Furthermore, with parts of the population vaccinated, knowledge on VL in vaccine breakthrough infections is crucial. As RNA VL is only a weak proxy for infectiousness, studies on infectious virus presence by cell culture isolation are of importance. Methods We assessed nasopharyngeal swabs of COVID-19 patients for quantitative infectious viral titres (IVT) by focus-forming assay and compared to overall virus isolation success and RNA genome copies. We assessed infectious viral titres during the first 5 symptomatic days in a total of 384 patients: unvaccinated individuals infected with pre-VOC SARS-CoV-2 (n= 118) or Delta (n= 127) and vaccine breakthrough infections with Delta (n= 121) or Omicron (n=18). Findings Correlation between RNA copy number and IVT was low for all groups. No correlation between IVTs and age or sex was seen. We observed higher RNA genome copies in pre-VOC SARS-CoV-2 compared to Delta, but significantly higher IVTs in Delta infected individuals. In vaccinated vs. unvaccinated Delta infected individuals, RNA genome copies were comparable but vaccinated individuals have significantly lower IVTs, and cleared virus faster. Vaccinated individuals with Omicron infection had comparable IVTs to Delta breakthrough infections. Interpretation Quantitative IVTs can give detailed insights into virus shedding kinetics. Vaccination was associated with lower infectious titres and faster clearance for Delta, showing that vaccination would also lower transmission risk. Omicron vaccine breakthrough infections did not show elevated IVTs compared to Delta, suggesting that other mechanisms than increase VL contribute to the high infectiousness of Omicron. Funding This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation 196644, 196383, NRP (National Research Program) 78 Covid-19 Grant 198412, the Fondation Ancrage Bienfaisance du Groupe Pictet and the Fondation Privée des Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève.

Download Full-text

Work characteristics and well-being of Swiss apprentices entering the labor market 1This article is based on the research project “Work Experience and Quality of Life in Switzerland: Work, Stress, and Personality Development” funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation within the Swiss Priority Program “Switzerland: Towards the Future” (Grant No. 5004-047898 to N.K. Semmer [principal investigator] and J.-P. Dauwalder [co-principle investigator]).

Swiss Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1024//1421-0185.59.4.272 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 59 (4) ◽

pp. 272-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Wolfgang Kälin ◽

Norbert K. Semmer ◽

Achim Elfering ◽

Franziska Tschan ◽

Jean-Pierre Dauwalder ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Work Experience ◽

National Science Foundation ◽

Personality Development ◽

Well Being ◽

Project Work ◽

Work Characteristics ◽

Swiss National Science Foundation ◽

National Science ◽

Principle Investigator

Download Full-text

Linkage to intensive adherence counselling among HIV-positive persons on ART with detectable viral load in Gomba district, rural Uganda

AIDS Research and Therapy ◽

10.1186/s12981-021-00349-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rita Nakalega ◽

Nelson Mukiza ◽

Henry Debem ◽

George Kiwanuka ◽

Ronald Makanga Kakumba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Health Center ◽

Health Facility ◽

Transmission Risk ◽

World Health ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Art Adherence ◽

Detectable Viral Load ◽

Adherence Support ◽

Adherence Counselling

Abstract Background Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence is a primary determinant of sustained viral suppression, HIV transmission risk, disease progression and death. The World Health Organization recommends that adherence support interventions be provided to people on ART, but implementation is suboptimal. We evaluated linkage to intensive adherence counselling (IAC) for persons on ART with detectable viral load (VL). Methods Between January and December 2017, we conducted a retrospective chart review of HIV-positive persons on ART with detectable VL (> 1000 copies/ml), in Gomba district, rural Uganda. We abstracted records from eight HIV clinics; seven health center III’s (facilities which provide basic preventive and curative care and are headed by clinical officers) and a health center IV (mini-hospital headed by a medical doctor). Linkage to IAC was defined as provision of IAC to ART clients with detectable VL within three months of receipt of results at the health facility. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate factors associated with linkage to IAC. Results Of 4,100 HIV-positive persons on ART for at least 6 months, 411 (10%) had detectable VL. The median age was 32 years (interquartile range [IQR] 13–43) and 52% were female. The median duration on ART was 3.2 years (IQR 1.8–4.8). A total of 311 ART clients (81%) were linked to IAC. Receipt of ART at a Health Center level IV was associated with a two-fold higher odds of IAC linkage compared with Health Center level III (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.78; 95% CI 1.00–3.16; p = 0.01). Age, gender, marital status and ART duration were not related to IAC linkage. Conclusions Linkage to IAC was high among persons with detectable VL in rural Uganda, with greater odds of linkage at a higher-level health facility. Strategies to optimize IAC linkage at lower-level health facilities for persons with suboptimal ART adherence are needed.

Download Full-text

Special Challenges in dealing the COVID-19 Pandemic in Swiss Prisons

10.31124/advance.14546220 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Melanie Wegel ◽

sabera wardak ◽

Darleen Jennifer Meyer

Keyword(s):

National Science Foundation ◽

Prevention Strategy ◽

Prevention Strategies ◽

Research Project ◽

Swiss National Science Foundation ◽

Social Distancing ◽

Limited Space ◽

National Science

Within a research project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation the implementation of COVID-19 prevention strategies in prisons allover Switzerland were focused. This paper presents an example of the prevention strategy of a closed prison, which faced particular challenges in the implementation of social distancing measures due to its special architecture and limited space.<br>

Download Full-text

The value of research funding for knowledge creation and dissemination: A study of SNSF Research Grants

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications ◽

10.1057/s41599-021-00891-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rachel Heyard ◽

Hanna Hottenrott

Keyword(s):

Knowledge Creation ◽

National Science Foundation ◽

Swiss National Science Foundation ◽

Funding Program ◽

National Science ◽

New Research ◽

Citation Metrics ◽

Number Of Citations ◽

The Impact ◽

Output Indicators

AbstractThis study investigates the effect of competitive project funding on researchers’ publication outputs. Using detailed information on applicants at the Swiss National Science Foundation and their proposal evaluations, we employ a case-control design that accounts for individual heterogeneity of researchers and selection into treatment (e.g. funding). We estimate the impact of the grant award on a set of output indicators measuring the creation of new research results (the number of peer-reviewed articles), its relevance (number of citations and relative citation ratios), as well as its accessibility and dissemination as measured by the publication of preprints and by altmetrics. The results show that the funding program facilitates the publication and dissemination of additional research amounting to about one additional article in each of the three years following the funding. The higher citation metrics and altmetrics by funded researchers suggest that impact goes beyond quantity and that funding fosters dissemination and quality.

Download Full-text

Keep calm and fill in your DMP: Lessons Learnt from a Swiss DMP-template initiative

International Journal of Digital Curation ◽

10.2218/ijdc.v13i1.617 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 215-222 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lorenza Salvatori ◽

Ana Sesartic ◽

Nathalie Lambeng ◽

Eliane Blumer

Keyword(s):

National Science Foundation ◽

Life Cycle Management ◽

Management Plan ◽

National Data ◽

Swiss National Science Foundation ◽

Horizon 2020 ◽

Data Life Cycle ◽

Institutes Of Technology ◽

National Science ◽

École Polytechnique

Aligning with other funders such as Horizon 2020, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) requires researcherswho apply for project funding to provide a Data Management Plan (DMP) as an integral part of their research proposal.In an attempt to assist and guide researchers filling out this document, and to provide a service as efficient as possible, the libraries of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and ETH Zurich took the lead to elaborate on a DMP template with content suggestions and recommendations. In this practice paper, we will describe the collaborative effort between the two Swiss federal institutes of technology, namely EPFL and ETH Zurich, as well as some partners of the national Data Life Cycle Management (DLCM) project, which resulted in a very helpful document as reported by our researchers.

Download Full-text

Duration of Infectious Virus Shedding in Patients With Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 Who Required Mechanical Ventilation

10.21203/rs.3.rs-395009/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Toshihito Nomura ◽

Hiroki Kitagawa ◽

Keitaro Omori ◽

Norifumi Shigemoto ◽

Masaki Kakimoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Symptom Onset ◽

Infectious Virus ◽

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

University Hospital ◽

Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽

Test Results ◽

Virus Shedding ◽

Viral Culture ◽

Respiratory Management

Abstract Approximately 5% of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 develop severe COVID-19. Severe COVID-19 requires respiratory management with mechanical ventilation and an extended period of treatment. Prolonged infectious virus shedding is a concern in severe COVID-19 cases, but few reports have examined the duration of infectious virus shedding. Therefore, we investigated the duration of infectious virus shedding in patients transferred to Hiroshima University Hospital with severe COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation. Nasopharyngeal swab specimens were collected and analyzed using both viral culture and reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) tests between December 2020 and February 2021. Of the 23 patients tested, the proportions of those with positive test results at first specimen collection on RT-qPCR and viral culture tests were 95·7% and 30·4%, respectively. All six patients with positive viral culture test results who were followed-up tested negative 24 days after symptom onset but remained positive on RT-qPCR. The longest negative conversion time was observed in a dialysis patient on immunosuppressive drugs. This study indicated that patients with severe COVID-19 remain culture positive for ≥ 10 days after symptom onset. Additionally, immunosuppressed patients with severe COVID-19 could consider isolation for ≥ 20 days.

Download Full-text