scholarly journals TaffiX® nasal powder spray forms an effective barrier against infectious new variants of SARS-CoV-2 (Alpha, Beta and Delta)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Mandelboim ◽  
Ella Mendelson ◽  
Yaron Drori ◽  
Nofar Atari ◽  
Tair Lapidot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Virus ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Low Ph ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Effective Barrier ◽  
The World ◽  
Alpha Beta

Abstract While vaccination efforts against SARS-CoV-2 around the world are ongoing, new highly infectious virus variants continue to evolve. The protection provided by the available vaccines against some of the new variants is weaker. Additional preventive measures will therefore be needed to protect the population until effective vaccinations are widely available. TaffiX® is an anti-viral nasal powder spray comprised of low-pH hypromellose, which forms a protective mechanical barrier that prevents viruses from engaging with nasal cells. The current study aimed to test the protective effect of Taffix against Alpha (B.1.1.7; hCoV-19/Israel/CVL-46879-ngs/2020), Beta, (B.1.351; hCoV-19/Israel/CVL-2557-ngs/2020) and Delta (B.1.617.2; hCoV-19/Israel/VVL-12806/2021), three highly infectious and pathogenic SARS-CoV-2 strains. A nylon filter was treated with Taffix® gel, after which SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Beta or Delta was seeded. After a 10-min incubation, the downstream side of each filter was washed, and the rinse was collected and placed over Vero-E6 cells. After 5 days of incubation, viral RNA was extracted and subjected to SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR analysis. Taffix® fully blocked passage of all three tested SARS-CoV-2 variants, as demonstrated by a 100% reduction of recoverable viral RNA from Vero-E6 cells treated with filter rinse. These results support its use as an effective barrier against new variants of SARS-CoV-2 in conjunction with other protective measures.

TaffiX® nasal powder spray forms an effective barrier against infectious new variants of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Mandelboim ◽  
Ella Mendelson ◽  
Yaron Drori ◽  
Nofar Atari ◽  
Tair Lapidot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Rna Extraction ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Preclinical Study ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Effective Barrier ◽  
Gel Layer

Abstract Introduction: While vaccination efforts against SARS-CoV-2 around the world are ongoing -, new high-infectious variants of the virus are being detected. The protection of the available vaccines against some of the new variants is weaker, and experts are concerned that newer as yet undescribed variants of this mutated RNA virus will eventually prove stable against the current vaccines. Additional preventive measures will therefore be needed to protect the population until effective vaccinations are widely available.TaffiX® is a personal, anti-viral nasal powder spray comprised of low pH Hypromellose that upon insufflation into the nose creates a thin gel layer covering the nasal mucosa and forming a protective mechanical barrier that prevents viruses from engaging with nasal cells- the main portal of entry for viruses. Taffix is commercially available in many countries across Europe, Asia America and Africa. In a prior preclinical study, TaffiX® was found to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 Hong Kong/VM20001061/2020 in experimental in vitro conditions. A real-life clinical survey demonstrated that TaffiX® nasal spray significantly reduced the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate post mass-gathering event in a highly endemic community.Objective: The current study aimed to test the protective effect of Taffix against new pathogenic, highly infectious SARS-CoV-2 variants in vitro: the “British” B.1.1.7 (hCoV-19/Israel/CVL-46879-ngs/2020) and the “South African” B.1.351 (hCoV-19/Israel/CVL-2557-ngs/2020) variants.Study design: A TaffiX® gel was formed on a nylon filter, using an amount equivalent to a clinical dose of Taffix . Filters were then seeded with SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 (“British”) and B.1.351 (“South African”) variants. After a 10 -minute incubation at room temperature, the bottom of each filter was washed, and the resulting flow-through was collected and seeded into 24 -well plates containing Vero-E6 cells. After 5 days of incubation, a 200 µl sample from each well was taken for viral RNA extraction followed by SARS-CoV 2 RT-PCR analysis.Results: The TaffiX® gel completely blocked SARS-CoV-2 highly infectious variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 in vitro, reducing the titer of recoverable infectious virus as well as viral RNA by 100%.Conclusions: Under in vitro conditions, TaffiX® formed an effective protective barrier against SARS-COV-2 variants (British variant and South African Variant). These results are consistent with prior findings demonstrating the in vitro high efficacy of Taffix gel in preventing viruses from reaching cells and infecting them. These results, added to clinical real-life studies performed with Taffix , support its use as an effective barrier against new variants of SARS-CoV-2 in conjunction with other protective measures.

scholarly journals Quantitative measurement of infectious virus in SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Delta and Epsilon variants reveals higher infectivity (viral titer:RNA ratio) in clinical samples containing the Delta and Epsilon variants.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah W Despres ◽  
Margaret G Mills ◽  
David J Shirley ◽  
Madaline M Schmidt ◽  
Meei-Li Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Measurement ◽  
Infectious Virus ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Genome Copy ◽  
Live Virus ◽  
High Degree ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Rna Levels

ABSTRACT Background Novel SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VoC) pose a challenge to controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies indicate that clinical samples collected from individuals infected with the Delta variant may contain higher levels of RNA than previous variants, but the relationship between viral RNA and infectious virus for individual variants is unknown. Methods We measured infectious viral titer (using a micro-focus forming assay) as well as total and subgenomic viral RNA levels (using RT-PCR) in a set of 165 clinical samples containing SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Delta and Epsilon variants that were processed within two days of collection from the patient. Results We observed a high degree of variation in the relationship between viral titers and RNA levels. Despite the variability we observed for individual samples the overall infectivity differed among the three variants. Both Delta and Epsilon had significantly higher infectivity than Alpha, as measured by the number of infectious units per quantity of viral E gene RNA (6 and 4 times as much, p=0.0002 and 0.009 respectively) or subgenomic E RNA (11 and 7 times as much, p<0.0001 and 0.006 respectively). Conclusion In addition to higher viral RNA levels reported for the Delta variant, the infectivity (amount of replication competent virus per viral genome copy) may also be increased compared to Alpha. Measuring the relationship between live virus and viral RNA is an important step in assessing the infectivity of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants. An increase in the infectivity of the Delta variant may further explain increased spread and suggests a need for increased measures to prevent viral transmission.

A Comparison of Machine Risk Acceptance Results Among Trained Users of ANSI B11-TR3

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Etherton
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Iterative Process ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Acceptable Risk ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
The World ◽  
Company Culture ◽  
Local Risk ◽  
Risk Acceptance ◽  
A Company

The ANSI guideline on machine risk assessment, B11-TR3, describes risk assessment as an iterative process. This implies that protective measures of varied levels of technology can be successively evaluated until a risk that is acceptable is attained. The theories of risk acceptance are many. Reducing risk to a level that is agreed to be 'as low as reasonably practicable' (ALARP) is said to give focus to making a decision about when risk has been adequately reduced. Main (2004) says that "Although the concept of acceptable risk is becoming more commonly adopted throughout the world, a single level of acceptability cannot be universally applied. Acceptable risk is a function of many factors, and is specific to a company, culture, and time-era." Fischhoff et al. (1981) have argued that "the risk associated with the most acceptable option is not acceptable in any absolute sense. One accepts options, not risks, which are only one feature of options." This paper describes risk assessment groups in five manufacturing workplaces and discusses training that led to acceptable risk decisions for a hazardous machine system in each workplace. The composition of the five teams in this study ranged from a team with just a single engineer to teams involving several workplace personnel. The applied preventive measures ranged from measures that were tailored to meet corporate safety goals to measures that evolved from the local risk assessment team's ingenuity. The paper concludes with suggestions on how to make the risk acceptance concept meaningful in the training of future machine risk assessment teams.

scholarly journals Commitment to protective measures during COVID-19 pandemic in Syria: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mosa Shibani ◽  
Mhd Amin Alzabibi ◽  
Abdul Fattah Mohandes ◽  
Humam Armashi ◽  
Tamim Alsuliman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Financial Status ◽  
The World

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 continues to impose itself on all populations of the world. Given the slow pace of vaccination in the developing world and the absence of effective treatments, adherence to precautionary infection control measures remains the best way to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from spiraling out of control. In this study, we aim to evaluate the extent to which the Syrian population adheres to these measures and analyze the relationship between demographic variables and adherence. Methods This cross-sectional study took place in Syria between January 17 and March 17, 2021. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The questionnaire was distributed in both electronic and printed versions. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS v.25. The chi-square test was used to address the correlation between adherence and demographic variables. Results Of the 10083 reached out, only (74.6%) responded. Of them, 4026 (53.5%) were women, 3984 (52.9%) were single, and 1908 (25.3%) had earned university degrees. 5286 (70.25) were classified as the good adherers to protective measures. Statistically significant differences across age, sex, marital status, financial status, employment, and educational attainment when correlated against commitment to preventive measures. Young age, female sex, good financial status, and having a full-time job and post-graduate education were positively correlated to the stronger commitment to preventive measures. Furthermore, those who believed that COVID-19 poses a major risk to them or society were more committed to preventive measures than those who did not. Conclusion The participants in this study generally showed a high level of adherence to the preventive measures compared to participants in other studies from around the world, with some concerns regarding risk perception and the sources of information they depend on. Public health and community education efforts should focus on maintaining, if not expanding, this level of commitment, which would mitigate the pandemic’s impact on Syrian society.

scholarly journals IMPLEMENTING COVID-19 MITIGATION AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN GHANA AND SWEDEN: SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Caroline Isunu ◽  
Dilys Sharona Quartey ◽  
Thobeka Ntini
Keyword(s):  
African Country ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Response Strategies ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
The World ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Development Gap

COVID-19 has punctured the thickest borders in the world, and even surpassed the global development gap. Containing the spread of COVID-19 is an unquestionable global socioeconomic priority that required immediate protective and mitigation measures across nations, whether developing or developed. Through the case of Ghana, a developing African country and Sweden, a developed European country, we aimed to understand both countries’ preparedness and response strategies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. We conducted a literature review of publicly available information from December 2019 through June 2020; a period in which the virus was first reported and quickly went to its peak. We explored socio-economic challenges and opportunities borne from the preventive and protective responses implemented in Ghana and Sweden. We also explored existing challenges and opportunities that hindered or enhanced the implementation of these protective and preventive measures. We drew on the Strengths and Resilience theoretical perspectives to recognize citizens’ strengths, capacities and resources as an indispensable part of the solution. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0774/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

scholarly journals Role of Nucleocapsid Protein Antigen Detection for Safe End of Isolation of SARS-CoV-2 Infected Patients with Long Persistence of Viral RNA in Respiratory Samples

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (18) ◽  
pp. 4037
Author(s):  
Antonella Mencacci ◽  
Alessio Gili ◽  
Anna Gidari ◽  
Elisabetta Schiaroli ◽  
Carla Russo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleocapsid Protein ◽  
Infectious Virus ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Concomitant Disease ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Antigen Assay ◽  
Diagnosis Of Infection ◽  
Better Than

Background. In SARS-CoV-2 infection, viral RNA may persist in respiratory samples for several weeks after the resolution of symptoms. Criteria to assess the end of infectivity are not unequivocally defined. In some countries, time from diagnosis is the unique criterion used, in addition to symptom cessation. This study evaluates the role of the Lumipulse® Antigen Assay (LAA) for the safe end of isolation of patients ≥21 days after the diagnosis of infection. Methods. A total of 671 nasopharyngeal swabs from patients diagnosed with infection at least 21 days before were assessed by RT-PCR and LAA, and the role of LAA in predicting the absence of infectivity was evaluated by virus cell culture. Results. Viable virus was present in 10/138 cultured samples. Eight out of ten infective patients suffered from a concomitant disease, predisposing them to long-term shedding of infective virus. In particular, infectious virus was isolated from 10/20 RT-PCR+/LAA+ cultured samples, whereas no viable virus was found in all 118 RT-PCR+/LAA– cultured swabs. LLA and RT-PCR agreed in 484/671 (72.1%) samples, with 100% and 26.7% concordance in RT-PCR negative and positive samples, respectively. Conclusions. Viable virus can be found ≥21 days after diagnosis in immunocompromised or severely ill patients. LAA better than RT-PCR predicts non-infectivity of patients and can be safely used to end isolation in cases with long persistence of viral RNA in the respiratory tract.

scholarly journals Ophthalmologic evidence against the interpersonal transmission of 2019 novel coronavirus through conjunctiva

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunyun Zhou ◽  
Yuyang Zeng ◽  
Yongqing Tong ◽  
Changzheng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Clinical Analysis ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
Ocular Symptoms ◽  
The World ◽  
Conjunctival Swab ◽  
Clinical Protection ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

AbstractBackgroundThe emerging 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has pushed several countries into state of emergency all over the world. The possible transmission of 2019-nCoV by conjunctiva is controversial and has substantial public health implications.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was initiated to investigate the possible transmission of 2019-nCoV through aerosol contact with conjunctiva. We enrolled 67 cases of confirmed or suspected cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) during 17–28 Jan 2020. Nasopharyngeal and conjunctival swabs were collected for real time RT-PCR analysis to detect 2019-nCoV.Results63 patients were identified as laboratory-confirmed NCP and the remaining four were suspected NCP. Conjunctival swab samples from one NCP patient yielded positive PCR results and two NCP patients yielded probable positive PCR results. None of the three patients had ocular symptoms. The only one NCP patient with conjunctivitis as the first symptom had negative conjunctival sac 2019-nCoV test. Conjunctival swab samples from the four suspected cases of NCIP were negative.Conclusion2019-nCoV can be detected in the conjunctival sac of patients with NCP. Through clinical analysis, viral transmission via the conjunctival route was not supported by the data. Good clinical protection can effectively cut off the transmission path.

scholarly journals Does sampling saliva increase detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR? Comparing saliva with oro-nasopharyngeal swabs

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ozlem Akgun Dogan ◽  
Betsi Kose ◽  
Nihat Bugra Agaoglu ◽  
Jale Yildiz ◽  
Gizem Alkurt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Standard ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Standard Samples ◽  
Rna Detection ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Gold Standard Method ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Isolation Period

The gold standard method in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is the detection of viral RNA in nasopharyngeal sample by RT-PCR. Recently, saliva samples has been suggested as an alternative due to being fast, reliable and non-invasive, rather than nasopharyngeal samples. We compared RT-PCR results in nasopharyngeal, oro-nasopharyngeal and saliva samples of COVID-19 patients. 98 of 200 patients were positive in RT-PCR analysis performed before the hospitalization. In day 0, at least one sample was positive in 67% of 98 patients. Positivity rate was 83% for both oro-nasopharyngeal and nasopharyngeal samples, while it was 63% for saliva samples (p<0.001). On day 5, RT-PCR was performed in 59 patients, 34% had at least one positive result. The positivity rate was 55% for saliva and nasopharyngeal samples, while it was 60% for oro-nasopharyngeal samples. Our study shows that the sampling saliva does not increase the sensitivity of RT-PCR tests at early stages of infection. However, on 5th day, viral RNA detection rates in saliva were similar to nasopharyngeal and oro-nasopharyngeal samples. In conclusion, we suggest that, in patients receiving treatment, virus presence in saliva, in addition to the standard samples, is important to determine the isolation period and to control the transmission.

scholarly journals AN AYURVEDIC APPROACH TO FIGHT AGAINST CORONA VIRUS

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 4535-4540
Author(s):  
Priyanka Ganguly ◽  
Subhose V. ◽  
Shivanshu Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Corona Virus ◽  
The World ◽  
Micro Organisms ◽  
Exact Term

The Global Health Scenario has been changed at present due to unpredictable outbreak of pandemic novel Corona virus (SARS-Co V- 2) in the community of nation. The coronavirus has already transmitted the disease COVID -19 all over 213 countries and territories around the world. So as a resultant factor, 22,862,661 confirmed corona virus case already detected and among them 797,117 deceased cases noted as of August 21st, 2020. In spite of extensive efforts to resolve the pandemic conditions, transmission as well as their treatment modalities still now could not be established satisfyingly. The exact term Corona vi-rus is not mentioned in Ayurvedic treatise but viruses as well as any micro-organisms and their preventive measures also illustrated in Ayurvedic manuscript in Susrut Samhita Sutra Sthana as Jantu or Nisachara. Even the pandemic situation also described in Charak Samhita, Viman Sthana as the term of “Jana Pada Dhangsha”. The classical medical science Ayurveda, already proven its efficacy over flu like condition as well as viral & respiratory distress in human being is having such of similarity with Agantuja Sannipatika Roga as well as highly contagious disorder, so for the purpose of breaking the chain of Corona virus transmission in human being, Ayurvedic preventive as well as protective measures could be beneficial.

Effect of Disinfectants on SARS-CoV-2 RNA Detection in Swabs from Various Surfaces

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 78-84
Author(s):  
E.A. Lazareva ◽  
S.P. Yatsentyuk
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Uv Irradiation ◽  
Sodium Salt ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Rna Detection ◽  
The World ◽  
Porous Surfaces ◽  
Rna Fragments ◽  
Dichloroisocyanuric Acid

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread rapidly around the world, and some countries have introduced controls on imported products, including testing for viral nucleic acids. In this work, the influence of disinfectants for treatment of various SARS-CoV-2-contaminated surfaces on the detection of viral RNA fragments in swabs from these surfaces was analyzed using quantitative RT-PCR. The effect of disinfectants based on quaternary ammonium salt, hydrogen peroxide, 1-propanol, sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid and ultraviolet radiation was investigated. Our results show that without the exposure to disinfectants, viral RNA can be detected on the surface of all examined materials for at least three days. UV irradiation or irrigation with a disinfectant containing 0.2% active chlorine had the greatest effect on the decontamination of non-porous surfaces as measured by RT-PCR of swabs from these surfaces. Irrigation of porous surfaces (cardboard) with disinfectants had practically no effect on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-PCR. Key words: SARS-CoV-2, viral RNA, RT-PCR, disinfectants, UV irradiation, surface swabs Funding - This work was supported by the Federal Service of Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor).

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