scholarly journals Rapid Global Spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.1.617.2) Variant: Spatiotemporal Variation and Public Health Impact

Zoonoses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Shi ◽  
Xiao-Ping Dong
Keyword(s):  
Rna Virus ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Spatiotemporal Variation ◽  
Clinical Severity ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Viral Strain ◽  
Vaccine Type ◽  
Global Spread ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
In The Beginning

The COVID-19 pandemic has already affected human society for more than 1.5 years. As of August 8, 2021, this pandemic had caused more than 203 million infected and 4.3 million deaths worldwide. As an RNA virus, SARS-CoV-2 is prone to genetic evolution, thus resulting in development of mutations over time. Numerous variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been described globally, four of which are considered variants of concern (VOCs) by the WHO: Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P1) and Delta (B.1.617.2). The Delta VOC was first reported in India in December of 2020 and has since affected approximately 130 different countries and regions. Herein, the spatiotemporal spread of the Delta VOC during April to July 2021 in 20 selected countries with available data were analyzed. The prevalence of the Delta VOC sequences was maintained at low levels in the beginning of April, increased rapidly in the following 3 months and is now becoming the predominant viral strain in most regions of the world. We also discuss the effects of the Delta VOC on transmissibility, clinical severity and vaccine effectiveness according to the latest data. The Delta VOC has greater transmissibility and risk of hospitalization than the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strains and the other three VOCs. The Delta VOC places partially or unvaccinated sub-populations at high risk. Currently authorized vaccines, regardless of vaccine type, still have reliable effectiveness against symptomatic infections and hospitalizations due to the Delta VOC.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 Lambda Variant: Spatiotemporal Distribution and Potential Public Health Impact

Zoonoses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cao Chen ◽  
Qi Shi ◽  
Xiao-Ping Dong
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South America ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Spatiotemporal Distribution ◽  
Clinical Severity ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Efficient Protection ◽  
Low Levels

Various SARS-CoV-2 variants have continually emerged since the summer of 2020. Recently, the spread and potential effects of the Lambda variant on public health have caused great scientific and public concern. The Lambda variant (C.37), first identified in Peru in December 2020, contains a novel deletion (Δ246–252) and two novel mutations, L452Q and F490S, not present in the ancestral strain and other variants. The Lambda variant was designated a variant of interest in April of 2021. By the end of July, this variant sequence was detected in more than 30 countries worldwide, mostly in South America. This study analyzed the global spatiotemporal distribution of the Lambda variant from the beginning of January to the end of July from publicly available data. The Lambda variant spread rapidly in Peru and became predominant in March. Circulation of the Lambda variant has also been observed in some neighboring countries, i.e., Argentina, Chile and Ecuador, where it has remained at remarkably low levels. The circulation of the Lambda variant in other countries in South America (e.g., Brazil and Colombia) and other regions of the world has also occurred at very low levels, even though this variant has been known for a long time. Multivariate linear regression analyses of the proportion of case fatalities attributable to the Lambda variant, the new deaths and the new confirmed cases per million (7-day rolling average) in Peru did not show significant associations. A review of the most recent data on the Lambda variant has suggested this variant’s relatively high infectivity in cultured cells and low neutralizing titers of convalescent sera and vaccine-elicited antibodies in vitro. However, the exact effects of this variant on clinical severity and vaccine effectiveness remain poorly documented. The currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines are still believed to provide efficient protection against the Lambda variant.

Possible Targets and Therapies of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (18) ◽  
pp. 1900-1907
Author(s):  
Kasturi Sarkar ◽  
Parames C. Sil ◽  
Seyed Fazel Nabavi ◽  
Ioana Berindan-Neagoe ◽  
Cosmin Andrei Cismaru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Viral Replication ◽  
Viral Infection ◽  
Human Activity ◽  
Viral Proteins ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Global Spread ◽  
Repurposed Drugs

The global spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 has become a source of grave medical and socioeconomic concern to human society. Since its first appearance in the Wuhan region of China in December 2019, the most effective measures of managing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been social distancing and lockdown of human activity; the level of which has not been seen in our generations. Effective control of the viral infection and COVID-19 will ultimately depend on the development of either a vaccine or therapeutic agents. This article highlights the progresses made so far in these strategies by assessing key targets associated with the viral replication cycle. The key viral proteins and enzymes that could be targeted by new and repurposed drugs are discussed.

scholarly journals Efficacy of a Protein Vaccine and a Conjugate Vaccine Against Co-Colonization with Vaccine-Type and Non-Vaccine Type Pneumococci in Mice

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 278
Author(s):  
Gabriela B. C. Colichio ◽  
Giuliana S. Oliveira ◽  
Tasson C. Rodrigues ◽  
Maria Leonor S. Oliveira ◽  
Eliane N. Miyaji
Keyword(s):  
No Reduction ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Surface Protein ◽  
Protein Formulation ◽  
Protein Vaccine ◽  
Conjugate Vaccines ◽  
Serotype Replacement ◽  
Vaccine Type ◽  
Pneumococcal Serotype ◽  
Low Levels

Widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) has led to substitution of vaccine-type (VT) strains by non-vaccine type (NVT) strains in nasopharyngeal carriage. We compared the efficacy of PCV13 and a nasal protein formulation containing pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) adjuvanted with the whole-cell pertussis vaccine (wP) in the protection against co-colonization challenge models in mice with VT and NVT strains expressing different PspAs. Immunized mice were challenged with two different mixtures: i. VT4 (PspA3) + NVT33 (PspA1) and ii. VT23F (PspA2) + NVT15B/C (PspA4). Results from the first mixture showed a reduction in loads of VT4 strain in the nasopharynx of mice immunized with PCV13. A statistical difference between the loads of the VT and NVT strains was observed, indicating a competitive advantage for the NVT strain in PCV13-immunized animals. In the second mixture, no reduction was observed for the VT23F strain, probably due to low levels of anti-23F polysaccharide IgG induced by PCV13. Interestingly, a combination of the PspA formulation containing wP with PCV13 led to a reduction in colonization with both strains of the two mixtures tested, similar to the groups immunized nasally with wP or PspA plus wP. These results indicate that a combination of vaccines may be a useful strategy to overcome pneumococcal serotype replacement.

On-line determination of nitrite in wastewater treatment by use of a biosensor

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 69-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Nielsen ◽  
N.P. Revsbech ◽  
L.H. Larsen ◽  
A. Lynggard-Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Mechanical Damage ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
Operational Lifetime ◽  
On Line ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
In The Beginning

A newly developed biosensor for nitrite having a 90% response time of about 1 min was used to monitor nitrite concentration in activated sludge exposed to oxic/anoxic cycles. The NO2− biosensor contains bacteria that reduce NO2−, but not NO3−, to N2O that is subsequently monitored by a built-in electrochemical sensor. Nitrite plus nitrate (NOx−) was simultaneously monitored by a NOx− biosensor. The maximum operational lifetime of the NO2− biosensor was 6 weeks, but much longer lifetimes can be expected as malfunctioning by the 3 sensors used for longer periods was due to either mechanical damage or ineffective internal sterilization during the construction. Insufficiently sterilized sensors became sensitive also to NO3− after some time due to development of NO3−-reducing bacterial populations within the sensor. The fraction of NO2− as compared to NO3− in the activated sludge was very dependent on prehistory, actual loading, and aeration. During balanced operation with NH4+ being exhausted during the later parts of the aerobic cycle, NO2− increased in concentration up to about 50 μM during the early part of the aeration cycle until NH4+ became limiting. At that time the NO2− concentration decreased to low levels. Under some operating conditions a peak of NO2− also appeared in the beginning of the anoxic period. NO2− and NO3− were depleted simultaneously during the anoxic period.

The Impact of Local Air Quality on the Number of Hospital Admissions with Acute Pain in Sickle Cell Disease within an Urban Environment.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 3790-3790
Author(s):  
Deborah Yallop ◽  
Edward R. Duncan ◽  
Ellie Norris ◽  
Gary Fuller ◽  
Nikki Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Acute Pain ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Clinical Severity ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The clinical severity of sickle cell disease (SCD) is dependent on genetic and environmental variables. The impact of environmental factors on disease is a major public health issue and air pollution has been consistently correlated with poor health outcomes. Environmental factors in SCD have been poorly studied. We have retrospectively studied the numbers of daily admissions with vaso-occlusive sickle cell pain to King’s College Hospital, London, in relation to local daily air quality measurements. We analysed 1047 patient episodes over 1400 days (1st January 1998 to 31st October 2001). Statistical time series analysis was performed using cross-correlation function (CCF), where the observations of one series are correlated with the observations of another series at various lags and leads, values >0.05 being significant. This showed a significant association between increased numbers of admissions and low levels of nitric oxide (NO) (CCF=0.063), low levels of carbon monoxide (CO) (CCF=0.064) and high levels of ozone (O3) (CCF=0.067). There was no association with sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitric dioxide (NO2) or dust. The significant results were further examined using quartile analysis. This confirmed that increased numbers of hospital admissions were associated with high levels of O3 (oneway ANOVA p=0.039) and low levels of CO (oneway ANOVA p=0.042). Low NO levels were also associated with increased admissions, not however reaching statistical significance on quartile analysis (oneway ANOVA p=0.158). O3 levels show marked seasonal variation, with high levels occurring in summer months in the UK. We have previously shown a trend towards increased admissions in the summer months with acute sickle related pain, whereas other groups, which are primarily based in rural tropical climates, found increased admissions in cold, rainy months. The adverse effect of high O3 levels may explain this difference. There is no direct evidence to explain the mechanism by which high O3 levels leads to vaso-occlusion in SCD but high levels of O3 have been linked to reduced respiratory function, which may in turn precipitate vaso-occlusion. Independent studies have shown high CO levels are linked to increased respiratory and cardiovascular admissions. Paradoxically we found that high CO levels were linked to decreased admission numbers and may be protective against acute pain in SCD. CO may confer benefit by forming carboxyhaemoglobin that cannot polymerise resulting in decreased sickling. Previous studies have shown prolonged red cell survival in vivo following administration of CO to patients with SCD. Our study also suggests higher levels of atmospheric NO are linked to fewer admissions. NO is known to be central in the pathophysiology of vaso-occlusion and sickle cell patients are thought to have functional deficiency of NO. Many groups have reported inhaled NO as beneficial in the treatment of sickle pain. Our study suggests air quality has a significant effect on acute pain in SCD and that patients should be counselled accordingly. Based on these findings it would be appropriate to warn patients that high O3 levels might precipitate complications of SCD. The potential beneficial effect of CO and NO is intriguing and requires further investigation.

Ambient PM2.5 in the residential area near industrial complexes: Spatiotemporal variation, source apportionment, and health impact

2017 ◽  
Vol 590-591 ◽  
pp. 204-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin-Yu Hsu ◽  
Hung-Che Chiang ◽  
Mu-Jean Chen ◽  
Chun-Yu Chuang ◽  
Chao-Ming Tsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Source Apportionment ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Residential Area ◽  
Spatiotemporal Variation ◽  
Industrial Complexes

scholarly journals Vitamin D Levels Are Reduced at the Time of Hospital Admission in Sicilian SARS-CoV-2-Positive Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3491
Author(s):  
Agostino Gaudio ◽  
Andrea Murabito ◽  
Antonella Agodi ◽  
Arturo Montineri ◽  
Pietro Castellino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Hospital Admission ◽  
Clinical Course ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Clinical Severity ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Positive Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Vitamin D Levels ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Low Levels

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a worldwide healthcare challenge that needs an efficient response. Unfortunately, to date there is no highly effective treatment, so a deep understanding of COVID-19 risk factors could be an important step in treating the disease. Vitamin D affects the immune system in many different ways, and other authors already found that COVID-19 patients have low levels of vitamin D. In our retrospective study, we evaluated the vitamin D status at the time of hospital admission in 50 COVID-19 patients in Sicily, which is the southernmost region of Italy, and compared them with 100 control subjects matched for age and sex. Our data showed markedly low levels of vitamin D in patients with a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but no association was found with inflammation markers or clinical severity. Vitamin D levels were reduced at the time of hospital admission in Sicilian SARS-CoV-2-positive patients, but it is not clear whether this condition has an impact on the clinical course of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Experiments with mathematical models to simulate hepatitis A population dynamics under different levels of endemicity

2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1531-1539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Alves de Guimaraens ◽  
Cláudia Torres Codeço
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Simulation Experiments ◽  
The Public ◽  
Sanitation Services ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Different Levels

Heterogeneous access to sanitation services is a characteristic of communities in Brazil. This heterogeneity leads to different patterns of hepatitis A endemicity: areas with low infection rates have higher probability of outbreaks, and areas with higher infection rates have high prevalence and low risk of outbreaks. Here we develop a mathematical model to study the effect of variable exposure to infection on the epidemiological dynamics of hepatitis A. Differential equations were used to simulate population dynamics and were numerically solved using the software StellaTM. The model uses parameters from serological surveys in the Greater Metropolitan Rio de Janeiro, in areas with different sanitation conditions. Computer simulation experiments show that the range of infection rates observed in these communities are characteristic of high and low levels of hepatitis A endemicity. We also found that the functional relationship between sanitation and exposure to infection is an important component of the model. The analysis of the public health impact of partial sanitation requires a better understanding of this relationship.

scholarly journals Scientific School of Management Theory

Upravlenie ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-8
Author(s):  
Латфуллин ◽  
Gennadiy Latfullin
Keyword(s):  
Production Management ◽  
Management Science ◽  
Management Theory ◽  
Scientific School ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Holistic Management ◽  
Economic Institute ◽  
Contemporary Management ◽  
In The Beginning

With man’s appearance on the earth everything of his existence, functioning and development was provided by a targeted impact on the environment. Expressing this impact the process of setting and achieving goals is now defined as a universal management of the widest range of objects, most notably human society. Naturally, this process became a matter of practical observation, applied research, theory building, causing over time, formation of management science. The initiator, founder and organizer of the first in our country scientific school of management theory and of the Department, got in the beginning, the name “Scientific fundamentals of production management” of the Moscow Engineering Economic Institute, became doctor of economic Sciences, Professor Kozlova Olympiada Vasil’evna. She united and directed the research and teaching activities of scientists and practitioners to the design, development and application of holistic management theory. Today it has become one of the fundamental principles of presentation and development of contemporary management science.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document