scholarly journals Zinc against COVID-19? Symptom surveillance and deficiency risk groups

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. e0008895
Author(s):  
Marcin P. Joachimiak
Keyword(s):  
Zinc Deficiency ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Deficiency Symptoms ◽  
Lifestyle Choices ◽  
Essential Trace Elements ◽  
Immune Health ◽  
Stress Agent ◽  
Human Immune

A wide variety of symptoms is associated with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and these symptoms can overlap with other conditions and diseases. Knowing the distribution of symptoms across diseases and individuals can support clinical actions on timelines shorter than those for drug and vaccine development. Here, we focus on zinc deficiency symptoms, symptom overlap with other conditions, as well as zinc effects on immune health and mechanistic zinc deficiency risk groups. There are well-studied beneficial effects of zinc on the immune system including a decreased susceptibility to and improved clinical outcomes for infectious pathogens including multiple viruses. Zinc is also an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress agent, relevant to some severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms. Unfortunately, zinc deficiency is common worldwide and not exclusive to the developing world. Lifestyle choices and preexisting conditions alone can result in zinc deficiency, and we compile zinc risk groups based on a review of the literature. It is also important to distinguish chronic zinc deficiency from deficiency acquired upon viral infection and immune response and their different supplementation strategies. Zinc is being considered as prophylactic or adjunct therapy for COVID-19, with 12 clinical trials underway, highlighting the relevance of this trace element for global pandemics. Using the example of zinc, we show that there is a critical need for a deeper understanding of essential trace elements in human health, and the resulting deficiency symptoms and their overlap with other conditions. This knowledge will directly support human immune health for decreasing susceptibility, shortening illness duration, and preventing progression to severe cases in the current and future pandemics.

scholarly journals Effect of shading on zinc deficiency symptoms in rice plant

1997 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 933-936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hitoshi Obata ◽  
Atsuo Shimoyama ◽  
Masanao Umebayashi
Keyword(s):  
Zinc Deficiency ◽  
Rice Plant ◽  
Deficiency Symptoms

ZINC DEFICIENCY IN EASTERN ONTARIO ORCHARDS

1964 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. B. Heeney ◽  
G. M. Ward ◽  
W. M. Rutherford
Keyword(s):  
Zinc Oxide ◽  
Zinc Deficiency ◽  
Zinc Sulphate ◽  
Zinc Level ◽  
Average Level ◽  
Deficiency Symptoms ◽  
Eastern Ontario ◽  
Zinc Levels

Typical symptoms of zinc deficiency were found in McIntosh, Northern Spy, and Delicious varieties of apples in at least 50% of the orchards sampled in eastern Ontario. The average level of zinc in the foliage collected in mid-July from those orchards showing zinc deficiency symptoms was 10.1 p.p.m. compared with 15.9 p.p.m. in material from orchards not showing symptoms. There was no evidence of varietal effects on zinc level. There was considerable variation in zinc levels in deficient orchards between 1959 and 1960 but no variation in the level of foliage from normal trees. Summer sprays of 0.2% zinc oxide or 0.15% zinc sulphate applied May 30 corrected the symptoms.

scholarly journals Health benefits and health claims of probiotics: bridging science and marketing

2011 ◽  
Vol 106 (9) ◽  
pp. 1291-1296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ger T. Rijkers ◽  
Willem M. de Vos ◽  
Robert-Jan Brummer ◽  
Lorenzo Morelli ◽  
Gerard Corthier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Risk ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Clinical Endpoints ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
Immune Health ◽  
Open Dialogue

Health claims for probiotics are evaluated by the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies of the European Food Safety Authority. Despite a substantial amount of basic and clinical research on the beneficial effects of probiotics, all of the evaluated claim applications thus far have received a negative opinion. With the restrictions on the use of clinical endpoints, validated biomarkers for gut health and immune health in relation to reduction in disease risk are needed. Clear-cut criteria for design as well as evaluation of future studies are needed. An open dialogue between basic and clinical scientists, regulatory authorities, food and nutrition industry, and consumers could bridge the gap between science and marketing of probiotics.

scholarly journals Future Developments and Applications of the Vaccines against Dangerous Viral Infections, RNA-Replicon-Based, Obtained from the Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus

2014 ◽  
pp. 86-91
Author(s):  
A. A. Petrov ◽  
V. N. Lebedev ◽  
T. M. Plekhanova ◽  
L. F. Stobva ◽  
O. N. Sidorova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Infections ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Heterologous Gene Expression ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Public Health Care ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fevers ◽  
Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers ◽  
Etiological Agents ◽  
Rna Replicon

The members of the Filoviridae (Marburg and Ebola viruses) and Arenaviridae (Lassa, Lujo, Machupo, Junin, Guanarito, Sabia viruses) families are the etiological agents of particularly dangerous viral hemorrhagic fevers. These agents pose a potential threat to public health care in view of the possibility of their unintended import into the non-endemic regions, and thus construction of specific medical protectors as regards induced by them diseases is a pressing issue. According to leading experts, vaccination of the cohorts that fall in the risk groups is the most effective and least expensive method to prevent the development of epidemics. The review contains information on a new prospective line of protective preparations development as regards particularly dangerous viral infections - construction of alphavirus-replicon-based vaccine. Elaboration of recombinant replicons does not require cultivation of pathogenic microorganisms. RNA-replicons are distinguished by their incapacity to produce infective progeny, which is of a great importance for the development of vaccines against particularly dangerous viral hemorrhagic fevers. Advantages of alphaviral replicons over other RNA-replicons are as follows: high levels of heterologous gene expression and resistance to anti-vector immunity. RNA-replicons of alphaviruses combine the safety of inactivated, and immunogenicity of live attenuated vaccines. Alphaviruses-based replicons are suitable for express vaccine development with the purpose of specific prophylaxis of viral infectious diseases.

scholarly journals Evaluating use cases for human challenge trials in accelerating COVID-19 vaccine development

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linh Chi Nguyen ◽  
Christopher W Bakerlee ◽  
T Greg McKelvey ◽  
Sophie M Rose ◽  
Alexander J Norman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Use Cases ◽  
Challenge Virus ◽  
Correlates Of Protection ◽  
Practical Guidelines ◽  
Human Immune Response ◽  
Human Immune

Recently, human challenge trials (HCTs) have been proposed as a means to accelerate the development of an effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. In this paper, we discuss the potential role for such studies in the current COVID-19 pandemic. First, we present three scenarios in which HCTs could be useful: evaluating efficacy, converging on correlates of protection, and improving understanding of pathogenesis and the human immune response. We go on to outline the practical limitations of HCTs in these scenarios. We conclude that, while currently limited in their application, there are scenarios in which HCTs would be vastly beneficial and, thus, the option of using HCTs to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine development should be preserved. To this end, we recommend an immediate, coordinated effort by all stakeholders to (1) establish ethical and practical guidelines for the use of HCTs for COVID-19; (2) take the first steps toward an HCT, including preparing challenge virus under GMP and making preliminary logistical arrangements; and (3) commit to periodically re-evaluating the utility of HCTs amid the evolving pandemic.

scholarly journals Modified Desolvation Method Enables Simple One-Step Synthesis of Gelatin Nanoparticles from Different Gelatin Types with Any Bloom Values

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1537
Author(s):  
Pavel Khramtsov ◽  
Oksana Burdina ◽  
Sergey Lazarev ◽  
Anastasia Novokshonova ◽  
Maria Bochkova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Isopropyl Alcohol ◽  
Colloidal Stability ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Food Science ◽  
Fish Gelatin ◽  
Gelatin Nanoparticles ◽  
Complex Procedure ◽  
One Step ◽  
Human Immune ◽  
Poor Solvent

Gelatin nanoparticles found numerous applications in drug delivery, bioimaging, immunotherapy, and vaccine development as well as in biotechnology and food science. Synthesis of gelatin nanoparticles is usually made by a two-step desolvation method, which, despite providing stable and homogeneous nanoparticles, has many limitations, namely complex procedure, low yields, and poor reproducibility of the first desolvation step. Herein, we present a modified one-step desolvation method, which enables the quick, simple, and reproducible synthesis of gelatin nanoparticles. Using the proposed method one can prepare gelatin nanoparticles from any type of gelatin with any bloom number, even with the lowest ones, which remains unattainable for the traditional two-step technique. The method relies on quick one-time addition of poor solvent (preferably isopropyl alcohol) to gelatin solution in the absence of stirring. We applied the modified desolvation method to synthesize nanoparticles from porcine, bovine, and fish gelatin with bloom values from 62 to 225 on the hundreds-of-milligram scale. Synthesized nanoparticles had average diameters between 130 and 190 nm and narrow size distribution. Yields of synthesis were 62–82% and can be further increased. Gelatin nanoparticles have good colloidal stability and withstand autoclaving. Moreover, they were non-toxic to human immune cells.

scholarly journals Evaluating Use Cases for Human Challenge Trials in Accelerating SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Development

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linh Chi Nguyen ◽  
Christopher W Bakerlee ◽  
T Greg McKelvey ◽  
Sophie M Rose ◽  
Alexander J Norman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Use Cases ◽  
Stages Of Development ◽  
Challenge Virus ◽  
Vaccine Candidates ◽  
Correlates Of Protection ◽  
Human Immune Response ◽  
Human Immune ◽  
Potential Use

Abstract Human challenge trials (HCTs) have been proposed as a means to accelerate SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development. We identify and discuss 3 potential use cases of HCTs in the current pandemic: evaluating efficacy, converging on correlates of protection, and improving understanding of pathogenesis and the human immune response. We outline the limitations of HCTs and find that HCTs are likely to be most useful for vaccine candidates currently in preclinical stages of development. We conclude that, while currently limited in their application, there are scenarios in which HCTs would be extremely beneficial. Therefore, the option of conducting HCTs to accelerate SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development should be preserved. As HCTs require many months of preparation, we recommend an immediate effort to (1) establish guidelines for HCTs for COVID-19; (2) take the first steps toward HCTs, including preparing challenge virus and making preliminary logistical arrangements; and (3) commit to periodically re-evaluating the utility of HCTs.

scholarly journals Human immune responses during schistosomiasis mansoni

1992 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Gazzinelli ◽  
Daniel G. Colley
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Exposure Condition ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Technological Developments ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Human Immune ◽  
Host Parasite

Studies of immune responses as they occur in patients with schistosomiasis appear to progress relative to corrent technological advances, and to advance despite the understandable inability to pursue in vivo manipulations in this host/parasite system. Emphasis is most often placed on making immunological comparisons between such patient groups as reinfected/non-reinfected, intestinals/hepatosplenic, high/low intensities of infection, infected/uninfected within endemic areas, and those born of infected/uninfected mothers. Based on these types of comparisons, reasonable conjectures can be made regarding the immunological occurrences during this chronic exposure condition. Some consideration is now being given to the immune mechanisms of some of the observations made, and while some of these must then be carried back to experimental models for further manipulation-based analysis, new technological developments continue to assist in the field/bench ability to ask questions that might assist our understanding to a point where this knowledge can be applied to shaping developmental approaches to vaccine development and the goal of alleviating morbidity.

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