scholarly journals Vaccine Approaches for Pandemic COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arpit Saxena ◽  
Lalit Mohan Jeena ◽  
Joy K Pal
Keyword(s):  
Fast Track ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Viral Vector ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Development Research ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Generation Vaccine ◽  
Current Scenario ◽  
Recombinant Technology

The coronavirus strain, SARS-CoV-2 causative agent of the pandemic viral pneumonia disease COVID-19, identified in the late 2019. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine or therapeutics available to control the disease. Although, earlier research efforts of SARS pandemic (2003) provides the precious information to the researchers for fast track vaccine development. Research efforts for vaccine development of COVID-19 pandemic are unprecedented in terms of promising time period. The inactivated whole virus-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is first one developed and entered into clinical trial. However, later on after announce of complete genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2, vaccine based on recombinant viral vector, nucleic acid and immunogenic fragment also introduced. Previous experience of undesired immunopotentiation in SARS-CoV studies represents, vaccine safety should be the main concern.  Researchers believe that next generation vaccine approaches using recombinant technology such as viral vector or subunit protein-based vaccine will be more effective and safer. This review describes brief information of the major vaccine candidates and the current scenario of vaccine approaches against COVID-19 pandemic.

Carbohydrate-Binding Agents: Potential of Repurposing for COVID-19 Therapy

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 1085-1096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajesh Kumar Gupta ◽  
Girish R. Apte ◽  
Kiran Bharat Lokhande ◽  
Satyendra Mishra ◽  
Jayanta K. Pal
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Carbohydrate Binding ◽  
Atypical Pneumonia ◽  
The Novel ◽  
High Infection ◽  
Binding Agents ◽  
Current Scenario ◽  
Antiviral Activities ◽  
Novel Drug

: With the emergence of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the whole world is suffering from atypical pneumonia, which resulted in more than 559,047 deaths worldwide. In this time of crisis and urgency, the only hope comes from new candidate vaccines and potential antivirals. However, formulating new vaccines and synthesizing new antivirals are a laborious task. Therefore, considering the high infection rate and mortality due to COVID-19, utilization of previous information, and repurposing of existing drugs against valid viral targets have emerged as a novel drug discovery approach in this challenging time. The transmembrane spike (S) glycoprotein of coronaviruses (CoVs), which facilitates the virus’s entry into the host cells, exists in a homotrimeric form and is covered with N-linked glycans. S glycoprotein is known as the main target of antibodies having neutralizing potency and is also considered as an attractive target for therapeutic or vaccine development. Similarly, targeting of N-linked glycans of S glycoprotein envelope of CoV via carbohydrate-binding agents (CBAs) could serve as an attractive therapeutic approach for developing novel antivirals. CBAs from natural sources like lectins from plants, marine algae and prokaryotes and lectin mimics like Pradimicin-A (PRM-A) have shown antiviral activities against CoV and other enveloped viruses. However, the potential use of CBAs specifically lectins was limited due to unfavorable responses like immunogenicity, mitogenicity, hemagglutination, inflammatory activity, cellular toxicity, etc. Here, we reviewed the current scenario of CBAs as antivirals against CoVs, presented strategies to improve the efficacy of CBAs against CoVs; and studied the molecular interactions between CBAs (lectins and PRM-A) with Man9 by molecular docking for potential repurposing against CoVs in general, and SARSCoV- 2, in particular.

scholarly journals Principles and Challenges in anti-COVID-19 Vaccine Development

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Zuzana Strizova ◽  
Jitka Smetanova ◽  
Jirina Bartunkova ◽  
Tomas Milota
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Viral Vector ◽  
Health It ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Clinical Phase ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Limited Efficacy ◽  
Safe Vaccine

The number of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected patients keeps rising in most of the European countries despite the pandemic precaution measures. The current antiviral and anti-inflammatory therapeutic approaches are only supportive, have limited efficacy, and the prevention in reducing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus is the best hope for public health. It is presumed that an effective vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infection could mobilize the innate and adaptive immune responses and provide a protection against severe forms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease. As the race for the effective and safe vaccine has begun, different strategies were introduced. To date, viral vector-based vaccines, genetic vaccines, attenuated vaccines, and protein-based vaccines are the major vaccine types tested in the clinical trials. Over 80 clinical trials have been initiated; however, only 18 vaccines have reached the clinical phase II/III or III, and 4 vaccine candidates are under consideration or have been approved for the use so far. In addition, the protective effect of the off-target vaccines, such as <i>Bacillus</i> Calmette-Guérin and measles vaccine, is being explored in randomized prospective clinical trials with SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. In this review, we discuss the most promising anti-COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials and different vaccination strategies in order to provide more clarity into the ongoing clinical trials.

scholarly journals Faster than warp speed: early attention to COVD-19 by anti-vaccine groups on Facebook

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth C Kalichman ◽  
Lisa A Eaton ◽  
Valerie A Earnshaw ◽  
Natalie Brousseau
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
The Us ◽  
Us Government ◽  
Vaccine Information

Abstract Background The unprecedented rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines has faced SARS-CoV- (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy, which is partially fueled by the misinformation and conspiracy theories propagated by anti-vaccine groups on social media. Research is needed to better understand the early COVID-19 anti-vaccine activities on social media. Methods This study chronicles the social media posts concerning COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines by leading anti-vaccine groups (Dr Tenpenny on Vaccines, the National Vaccine Information Center [NVIC] the Vaccination Information Network [VINE]) and Vaccine Machine in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic (February–May 2020). Results Analysis of 2060 Facebook posts showed that anti-vaccine groups were discussing COVID-19 in the first week of February 2020 and were specifically discussing COVID-19 vaccines by mid-February 2020. COVID-19 posts by NVIC were more widely disseminated and showed greater influence than non-COVID-19 posts. Early COVID-19 posts concerned mistrust of vaccine safety and conspiracy theories. Conclusion Major anti-vaccine groups were sowing seeds of doubt on Facebook weeks before the US government launched its vaccine development program ‘Operation Warp Speed’. Early anti-vaccine misinformation campaigns outpaced public health messaging and hampered the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

Understanding Online Conversation about COVID-19 Vaccine on Twitter: Data Mining Approach (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Malova
Keyword(s):  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
Twitter Users ◽  
The Government ◽  
Online Conversation

BACKGROUND Timely vaccination against COVID-19 can prevent a large number of people from getting infected. However, given the disease novelty and fast vaccine development, some people are hesitant to vaccinate. Online social networks like Twitter produce huge amounts of public health information and impact peoples' vaccination decisions. Hence, it is important to understand the conversation around the COVID-19 vaccination through the lens of social media. OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to define the nature of a larger Twitter conversation around the COVID-19 vaccine and explored interaction patterns between Twitter users engaged in such a conversation. METHODS Data collection took place in November 2020 on the wave of the news about the COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough. In total, 9600 Twitter posts were analyzed using a combination of text and network analysis. RESULTS Results of this study show that mixed-emotions reactions and discussions about potential side effects and vaccine safety dominated the online conversation. Twitter was primarily used for two purposes: information dissemination and opinion expression. Overall, the communication network was sparse, non-reciprocal, decentralized, and highly modular. Four main network clusters highlighted different groups of conversation stakeholders. CONCLUSIONS This study provides important insights into public sentiments, information-seeking behaviors, and online communication patterns during a major COVID-19 crisis. Given the popularity of Twitter among different types of communities and its power for rapid information dissemination, it can be an effective tool for vaccination promotion. Thus, it should be actively used to promote safe and effective vaccination through major stakeholders in the government, science, and health sectors.

scholarly journals GROUNDED THEORY METHODOLOGY IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIAL INNOVATIONS FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasa PRANSKŪNIENĖ
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Rural Development ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Development Research ◽  
Grounded Theory Methodology ◽  
Research Participants ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
The World

Although the Grounded Theory (GT) methodology has been developed for over 50 years and is one of the most popular methodologies in the world, it is not often used in rural development research. In order to update the possibilities of applying GT in rural development research, this article is based on the analysis of scientific literature and presents the evolution of the development of GT methodology and the possibilities of its application in rural development research. The classic GT strategy is discussed in more detail, as methodology which provides the possibility to researcher to look at the phenomenon from inside without formulating the hypothesis, i.e., to “emerge” the theory, which reveals the main concern and explains how it is resolved, by conceptualizing the authentic experiences of research participants. The article aims to explain that classic GT is a “full package” approach, discusses its coding process; reveales the principles of the emerging classic GT. The GT methodology is discussed as the paradigm that can help researchers discover new insights and develop new theories, explaining the processes of social innovations for rural development.

scholarly journals Pharmacovigilance in Covid-19 vaccines

2021 ◽  
Vol 319 ◽  
pp. 01012
Author(s):  
Hanane Bahouq ◽  
Madiha Bahouq ◽  
Abdelmajid Soulaymani ◽  
Rachida Soulaymani-Bencheikh
Keyword(s):  
Viral Vector ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Protein Subunit ◽  
Vaccine Strategy ◽  
Subunit Vaccines ◽  
National Regulatory Authority ◽  
Pharmacovigilance Center ◽  
Inactivated Vaccines

The ongoing pandemic coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), originated from Wuhan, China, has caused universal challenging and threatening with considerable health impact and economic losses. Therefore, vaccination, as preventive and protective medical countermeasure, remains an excellent issue for reducing morbidity and mortality of this emerging infectious disease. As of April 2021 and by Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) process, 16 vaccines were authorized by at least one national regulatory authority for public use: two Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) vaccines (Pfizer–BioNTech and Moderna), seven conventional inactivated vaccines (BBIBP-CorV manufactured by Siinopharm, CoronaVac, Covaxin, WIBP-CorV, CoviVac, Minhai-Kangtai and QazVac), five viral vector vaccines (Sputnik Light, Sputnik V, Oxford–AstraZeneca, Convidecia, and Johnson & Johnson) and two protein subunit vaccines (EpiVacCorona and RBD-Dimer). As other countries, Morocco has established an anti-COVID-19 vaccine strategy in order to effectively contribute to the monitoring of vaccine safety supported by the national platform health vigilance and regulated by the National Anti-Poison and Pharmacovigilance Center (CAPM). In this review, we recorded the main current developed COVID-19 vaccines and discussed pharmacovigilance strategies and tools related safety and tolerability of those therapies. In parallel, a review of the Moroccan experience in this field is also conducted.

Recent Advances in Clinical Trials of HCV Vaccines

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongneng Luo ◽  
Limin Jiang ◽  
Zi'an Mao
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Viral Vectors ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Viral Vector ◽  
Core Protein ◽  
Therapeutic Vaccine ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Protein Subunit ◽  
Preclinical Development

<p>  Hepatitis C virus infects nearly 3% of the global population, and spreads to 3-4 million new people annually. HCV infection is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and end-stage liver diseases and causes liver-related death in more than 300,000 people each year. Unfortunately, there is currently no vaccine for HCV prevention (prophylactic vaccine) or treatment (therapeutic vaccine). Circulating HCV is genetically diverse, and therefore a broadly effective vaccine must target conserved T- and B-cell epitopes of the virus and induce strong cross-reactive CD4+/CD8+ T-cell and neutralizing antibody responses in preventing or clearing HCV infection. So far, a few of vaccine development approaches are successful and some of the HCV vaccine candidates have reached human clinical trials, including those modalities mainly based on recombinant proteins (envelope proteins and core protein subunit), synthetic peptides, DNA (plasmid) and viral vectors (virosome). Encouraging results were obtained for those HCV vaccine formulations consisting of prime-boost regimen involving a live recombinant viral vector vaccine alone or in combination with DNA or subunit vaccine. Among several other vaccine strategies under preclinical development, the most promising one is virus like particle based vaccine that will be moving into human studies soon.</p>

scholarly journals COVID-19: Current Developments and Further Opportunities in Drug Delivery and Therapeutics

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 945
Author(s):  
Saman Zafar ◽  
Muhammad Sohail Arshad ◽  
Sameen Fatima ◽  
Amna Ali ◽  
Aliyah Zaman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Viral Vector ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
World Health ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Plasma Therapy ◽  
Antiviral Therapies ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Spread Of Infection

SARS-CoV-2 has affected people from all age groups, races and ethnicities. Given that many infected individuals are asymptomatic, they transmit the disease to others unknowingly, which has resulted in the spread of infection at an alarming rate. This review aims to provide an overview of the pathophysiology, preventive measures to reduce the disease spread, therapies currently in use, an update on vaccine development and opportunities for vaccine delivery. The World Health Organization has advised several precautions including social distancing, hand washing and the use of PPE including gloves and face masks for minimizing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. At present, several antiviral therapies previously approved for other infections are being repositioned to study their efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. In addition, some medicines (i.e., remdesivir, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine) have received emergency use authorisation from the FDA. Plasma therapy has also been authorised for emergency use for the treatment of COVID-19 on a smaller scale. However, no vaccine has been approved so far against this virus. Nevertheless, several potential vaccine targets have been reported, and development of different types of vaccines including DNA, mRNA, viral vector, inactivated, subunit and vaccine-like particles is in process. It is concluded that a suitable candidate delivered through an advanced drug delivery approach would effectively boost the immune system against this coronavirus.

scholarly journals Characterization of the Immune Response of MERS-CoV Vaccine Candidates Derived from Two Different Vectors in Mice

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Entao Li ◽  
Feihu Yan ◽  
Pei Huang ◽  
Hang Chi ◽  
Shengnan Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Antibody Response ◽  
Rabies Virus ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Viral Vector ◽  
Vaccine Vector ◽  
Vaccine Candidates ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Cellular Immune

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is an acute, high-mortality-rate, severe infectious disease caused by an emerging MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) that causes severe respiratory diseases. The continuous spread and great pandemic potential of MERS-CoV make it necessarily important to develop effective vaccines. We previously demonstrated that the application of Gram-positive enhancer matrix (GEM) particles as a bacterial vector displaying the MERS-CoV receptor-binding domain (RBD) is a very promising MERS vaccine candidate that is capable of producing potential neutralization antibodies. We have also used the rabies virus (RV) as a viral vector to design a recombinant vaccine by expressing the MERS-CoV S1 (spike) protein on the surface of the RV. In this study, we compared the immunological efficacy of the vaccine candidates in BALB/c mice in terms of the levels of humoral and cellular immune responses. The results show that the rabies virus vector-based vaccine can induce remarkably earlier antibody response and higher levels of cellular immunity than the GEM particles vector. However, the GEM particles vector-based vaccine candidate can induce remarkably higher antibody response, even at a very low dose of 1 µg. These results indicate that vaccines constructed using different vaccine vector platforms for the same pathogen have different rates and trends in humoral and cellular immune responses in the same animal model. This discovery not only provides more alternative vaccine development platforms for MERS-CoV vaccine development, but also provides a theoretical basis for our future selection of vaccine vector platforms for other specific pathogens.

scholarly journals COVID-19: Coronavirus Vaccine Development Updates

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zhao ◽  
Shan Zhao ◽  
Junxian Ou ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Wendong Lan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Viral Vector ◽  
Peptide Vaccine ◽  
Adenovirus Vector ◽  
Human Adenovirus ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Nucleic Acid Vaccines ◽  
Inactivated Vaccines ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Genus

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a newly emerged coronavirus, and has been pandemic since March 2020 and led to many fatalities. Vaccines represent the most efficient means to control and stop the pandemic of COVID-19. However, currently there is no effective COVID-19 vaccine approved to use worldwide except for two human adenovirus vector vaccines, three inactivated vaccines, and one peptide vaccine for early or limited use in China and Russia. Safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19 are in urgent need. Researchers around the world are developing 213 COVID-19 candidate vaccines, among which 44 are in human trials. In this review, we summarize and analyze vaccine progress against SARS-CoV, Middle-East respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and SARS-CoV-2, including inactivated vaccines, live attenuated vaccines, subunit vaccines, virus like particles, nucleic acid vaccines, and viral vector vaccines. As SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV share the common genus, Betacoronavirus, this review of the major research progress will provide a reference and new insights into the COVID-19 vaccine design and development.

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