scholarly journals Vaccination of elite athletes against SARS-CoV-2 and broader implications for public health policy

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Sheehan

SARS-CoV-2, a human β-coronavirus implicated as thecausative agent in the COVID-19 pandemic, has been the subject of the most globally intensive vaccine development effort inrecorded history. The spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates, deployedglobally, demonstrates an expansive diversity in regardsto design philosophies and immunological mechanisms of action. In the context of an aging, physically deconditioned, and overweight global population, which finds itself heavily burdened by a high prevalence of non-communicable chronic disease; elite strength, power and endurance athletes represent a minority population comprised of extreme physiological outliers. This report explores the molecular toxicity and pathophysiology of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, the design and immunological strategies embodied by the spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates, and the intersection of these phenomena with the demographic, lifestyle and physiological characteristics of elite athletes; so as to inform vaccination strategies against SARS-CoV-2 which most protect this outlying minority population.

Crisis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Alderson ◽  
Xavier Parent-Rocheleau ◽  
Brian Mishara

Background: Research shows that there is a high prevalence of suicide among nurses. Despite this, it has been 15 years since the last literature review on the subject was published. Aim: The aim of this article is to review the knowledge currently available on the risk of suicide among nurses and on contributory risk factors. Method: A search was conducted in electronic databases using keywords related to prevalence and risk factors of suicide among nurses. The abstracts were analyzed by reviewers according to selection criteria. Selected articles were submitted to a full-text review and their key elements were summarized. Results: Only nine articles were eligible for inclusion in this review. The results of this literature review highlight both the troubling high prevalence of suicide among nurses as well as the persistent lack of studies that examine this issue. Conclusion: Considering that the effects of several factors related to nurses' work and work settings are associated with high stress, distress, or psychiatric problems, we highlight the relevance of investigating work-related factors associated with nurses' risk of suicide. Several avenues for future studies are discussed as well as possible research methods.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anam Naz ◽  
Tahreem Zaheer ◽  
Hamza Arshad Dar ◽  
Faryal Mehwish Awan ◽  
Ayesha Obaid ◽  
...  

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection and its treatment still remains a challenge to human health worldwide. A variety of antibiotics and combination therapies are currently used to treat H. pylori induced ulcers and carcinoma; however, no effective treatment is available to eliminate the pathogen from the body. Additionally, antibiotic resistance is also one of the main reasons for prolonged and persistent infection. Aim of the study: Until new drugs are available for this infection, vaccinology seems the only alternative opportunity to exploit against H. pylori induced diseases. Methods: Multiple epitopes prioritized in our previous study have been tested for their possible antigenic combinations, and results in 169-mer and 183-mer peptide vaccines containing the amino acid sequences of 3 and 4 epitopes respectively, along with adjuvant (Cholera Toxin Subunit B adjuvant at 5’ end) and linkers (GPGPG and EAAAK). Results: Poly-epitope proteins proposed as potential vaccine candidates against H. pylori include SabAHP0289-Omp16-VacA (SHOV), VacA-Omp16-HP0289-FecA (VOHF), VacA-Omp16-HP0289-SabA (VOHS), VacA-Omp16-HP0289-BabA (VOHB), VacA-Omp16-HP0289-SabA-FecA (VOHSF), VacAOmp16-HP0289-SabA-BabA (VOHSB) and VacA-Omp16-HP0289-BabA-SabA (VOHBS). Structures of these poly-epitope peptide vaccines have been modelled and checked for their affinity with HLA alleles and receptors. These proposed poly-epitope vaccine candidates bind efficiently with A2, A3, B7 and DR1 superfamilies of HLA alleles. They can also form stable and significant interactions with Toll-like receptor 2 and Toll-like receptor 4. Conclusion: Results suggest that these multi-epitopic vaccines can elicit a significant immune response against H. pylori and can be tested further for efficient vaccine development.


npj Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos C. Kyriakidis ◽  
Andrés López-Cortés ◽  
Eduardo Vásconez González ◽  
Alejandra Barreto Grimaldos ◽  
Esteban Ortiz Prado

AbstractThe new SARS-CoV-2 virus is an RNA virus that belongs to the Coronaviridae family and causes COVID-19 disease. The newly sequenced virus appears to originate in China and rapidly spread throughout the world, becoming a pandemic that, until January 5th, 2021, has caused more than 1,866,000 deaths. Hence, laboratories worldwide are developing an effective vaccine against this disease, which will be essential to reduce morbidity and mortality. Currently, there more than 64 vaccine candidates, most of them aiming to induce neutralizing antibodies against the spike protein (S). These antibodies will prevent uptake through the human ACE-2 receptor, thereby limiting viral entrance. Different vaccine platforms are being used for vaccine development, each one presenting several advantages and disadvantages. Thus far, thirteen vaccine candidates are being tested in Phase 3 clinical trials; therefore, it is closer to receiving approval or authorization for large-scale immunizations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Ajibola ◽  
M. F. Diop ◽  
A. Ghansah ◽  
L. Amenga-Etego ◽  
L. Golassa ◽  
...  

AbstractGenetic diversity of surface exposed and stage specific Plasmodium falciparum immunogenic proteins pose a major roadblock to developing an effective malaria vaccine with broad and long-lasting immunity. We conducted a prospective genetic analysis of candidate antigens (msp1, ama1, rh5, eba175, glurp, celtos, csp, lsa3, Pfsea, trap, conserved chrom3, hyp9, hyp10, phistb, surfin8.2, and surfin14.1) for malaria vaccine development on 2375 P. falciparum sequences from 16 African countries. We described signatures of balancing selection inferred from positive values of Tajima’s D for all antigens across all populations except for glurp. This could be as a result of immune selection on these antigens as positive Tajima’s D values mapped to regions with putative immune epitopes. A less diverse phistb antigen was characterised with a transmembrane domain, glycophosphatidyl anchors between the N and C- terminals, and surface epitopes that could be targets of immune recognition. This study demonstrates the value of population genetic and immunoinformatic analysis for identifying and characterising new putative vaccine candidates towards improving strain transcending immunity, and vaccine efficacy across all endemic populations.


F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald Voss ◽  
Danilo Casimiro ◽  
Olivier Neyrolles ◽  
Ann Williams ◽  
Stefan H.E. Kaufmann ◽  
...  

The Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine can provide decades of protection against tuberculosis (TB) disease, and although imperfect, BCG is proof that vaccine mediated protection against TB is a possibility. A new TB vaccine is, therefore, an inevitability; the question is how long will it take us to get there? We have made substantial progress in the development of vaccine platforms, in the identification of antigens and of immune correlates of risk of TB disease. We have also standardized animal models to enable head-to-head comparison and selection of candidate TB vaccines for further development.  To extend our understanding of the safety and immunogenicity of TB vaccines we have performed experimental medicine studies to explore route of administration and have begun to develop controlled human infection models. Driven by a desire to reduce the length and cost of human efficacy trials we have applied novel approaches to later stage clinical development, exploring alternative clinical endpoints to prevention of disease outcomes. Here, global leaders in TB vaccine development discuss the progress made and the challenges that remain. What emerges is that, despite scientific progress, few vaccine candidates have entered clinical trials in the last 5 years and few vaccines in clinical trials have progressed to efficacy trials. Crucially, we have undervalued the knowledge gained from our “failed” trials and fostered a culture of risk aversion that has limited new funding for clinical TB vaccine development. The unintended consequence of this abundance of caution is lack of diversity of new TB vaccine candidates and stagnation of the clinical pipeline. We have a variety of new vaccine platform technologies, mycobacterial antigens and animal and human models.  However, we will not encourage progression of vaccine candidates into clinical trials unless we evaluate and embrace risk in pursuit of vaccine development.


Author(s):  
Floralinda Garc

El aumento de la esperanza de vida ha producido en las últimas décadas un importante crecimiento de la población adulta mayor, estimándose que en el año 2050 casi un tercio de la población mundial estará compuesta por personas mayores de 65 años. Se pretende revisar desde diferentes puntos de vista los múltiples factores que influyen en la autopercepción de salud de los adultos mayores. Se seleccionaron y revisaron artículos científicos publicados en las bases de datos LILACS, SCIELO, OVID, EBSCO, REDALYC, HINARI y SCIENCE DIRECT, sobre la autopercepcion de salud y envejecimiento. En la estrategia de búsqueda, se incluyeron las palabras clave “envejecimiento y salud”, “autopercepcion de salud”, “redes sociales y envejecimiento”, entre otros. El proceso de envejecimiento se plantea como un proceso dinámico, no sólo a nivel individual sino también a nivel histórico-social. Se trata de un proceso que determina grandes cambios en la sociedad y frente a los cuales es necesario intervenir, a través de una política integral que ampare los derechos del adulto mayor y promueva una actitud social positiva, así como una autoercepción activa, autónoma, responsable e independiente. ABSTRACTThe increase in life expectancy has occurred in recent decades a significant increase in the older population, it is estimated that in 2050 nearly one third of the global population will consist of people over 65 years. Intends to review the multiple factors that influences the self-perception of health of older adults from different starting points. Were selected and reviewed scientific articles published in LILACS, SCIELO, OVID, EBSCO, REDALYC, HINARI y SCIENCE DIRECT databases on the subject of self-perception of health and aging. The search strategy included keywords "aging and health", "self-perception of health", "social networks and aging", among others. The aging process is a dynamic process, not only individually but also in a historical-social sense, a process that determines large changes in society and against which it will be necessary to intervene through the creation of a comprehensive policy that covers the rights of older persons and promote positive social attitudes and active, autonomous, responsible and independent self-perceptions.


Parasitology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 141 (6) ◽  
pp. 725-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
XIAOSONG LIU ◽  
SHELLEY WALTON ◽  
KATE MOUNSEY

SUMMARYScabies is an infectious disease that is endemic in poorly resourced communities, and also common in industrialized countries. Although the disease, which is caused by infestation of Sarcoptes scabiei, is generally mild, the need for a vaccine against S. scabiei is proposed. The immunological mechanisms that control S. scabiei infection are discussed and the current status of scabies vaccine development reviewed. Future directions for scabies vaccine development are also addressed.


Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Entao Li ◽  
Feihu Yan ◽  
Pei Huang ◽  
Hang Chi ◽  
Shengnan Xu ◽  
...  

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 185 ◽  
pp. 03042
Author(s):  
Yu Fang

The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a critical economic crash around the globe, affecting billions of people worldwide. Without a cure, the number of cases continues to increase exponentially. Countries, including the United States, Brazil, and India, currently lead in the number of cases with numbers soaring in the millions. Immunization is crucial to preventing the spread of infectious diseases and can help a large number of individuals quickly while keeping current cases under control. Following the publication of the genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2, vaccine development has been accelerated at an unprecedented rate. 115 vaccine candidates are currently under study with the hope of finding an ideal solution and mitigating the Coronavirus incidence rate. With some vaccine candidates having more potential than others, this review focuses on the characterization of different vaccine options. The analysis of probable vaccines, including mRNA vaccines and adenovirus vaccines, is conducted, and the scientific reasoning behind the vaccines is also discussed. In this review, the latest strategy vaccine is introduced and the effective vaccines are analysed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 3-8
Author(s):  
Ji Hui Neo ◽  
Siao Ting Teo ◽  
Chiew Lan Lee ◽  
Cong Cong Cai

Background and objectives: Frozen shoulder is a common musculoskeletal condition. Telerehabilitation has seen emerging use in a variety of conditions. This case report aims to investigate the feasibility of adopting telerehabilitation in treating frozen shoulder. Case presentation: A 43-year old female presented with frozen shoulder of insidious onset. She underwent four sessions of physiotherapy. Sessions two and three were telerehabilitation sessions; the initial and final sessions were conducted in-person. Results: The subject was compliant with all exercises prescribed during her rehabilitation and achieved all rehabilitation goals in four sessions. She was then discharged from physiotherapy. Conclusion: Telerehabilitation is feasible in treating frozen shoulder. One barrier to implementation of telerehabilitation includes the lack of technical skills and knowledge despite the high prevalence of technology in today’s society. Telerehabilitation increases accessibility and ease of rehabilitation. Telerehabilitation can be considered for segments of the population that are most inclined to use technology.


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