scholarly journals Are We Paving the Way to Dig Out of the “Pandemic Hole”? A Narrative Review on SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: From Animal Models to Human Immunization

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Tardiolo ◽  
Pina Brianti ◽  
Daniela Sapienza ◽  
Pia dell’Utri ◽  
Viviane Di Dio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Viral Vector ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Preclinical Research ◽  
Inactivated Vaccines ◽  
Preclinical And Clinical Studies ◽  
Social Upheaval

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a new pathogen agent causing the coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19). This novel virus originated the most challenging pandemic in this century, causing economic and social upheaval internationally. The extreme infectiousness and high mortality rates incentivized the development of vaccines to control this pandemic to prevent further morbidity and mortality. This international scenario led academic scientists, industries, and governments to work and collaborate strongly to make a portfolio of vaccines available at an unprecedented pace. Indeed, the robust collaboration between public systems and private companies led to resolutive actions for accelerating therapeutic interventions and vaccines mechanism. These strategies contributed to rapidly identifying safe and effective vaccines as quickly and efficiently as possible. Preclinical research employed animal models to develop vaccines that induce protective and long-lived immune responses. A spectrum of vaccines is worldwide under investigation in various preclinical and clinical studies to develop both individual protection and safe development of population-level herd immunity. Companies employed and developed different technological approaches for vaccines production, including inactivated vaccines, live-attenuated, non-replicating viral vector vaccines, as well as acid nucleic-based vaccines. In this view, the present narrative review provides an overview of current vaccination strategies, taking into account both preclinical studies and clinical trials in humans. Furthermore, to better understand immunization, animal models on SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis are also briefly discussed.

scholarly journals A Review on Vaccination Drive for COVID-19 in India

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 137-142
Author(s):  
Yukta . ◽  
R.K Patil ◽  
H.C Patil
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Viral Vector ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Controller General ◽  
Inactivated Vaccines ◽  
Health Experts

The Covid-19 pandemic is destructing the whole world rapidly and also results in changing the order of human life. Various strategies and efforts are being applied by health experts to fight against the pandemic. Various vaccines are developed by researchers of different countries. The aim for developing the vaccines is to produce Herd immunity i.e. to resist the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus. 8-12 years are required for the development of vaccine in normal circumstances but in emergency like Covid-19 pandemic vaccines get ready in 10 months by various methods like viral vector vaccines, mRNA based vaccines, inactivated vaccines. In India only three vaccines i.e. Covaxin, Covishield, and Sputnik-V get the Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) from the drug controller general of India (DCGI). Vaccines vary in their efficacy that’s why only few vaccines get the emergency approval across the globe. These vaccines also show mild to moderate and in some case rare adverse effects. Key words: Pandemic, Vaccines, Covid-19, Herd immunity, Adverse effects.

scholarly journals Immersive virtual reality health games: a narrative review of game design

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon Tao ◽  
Bernie Garrett ◽  
Tarnia Taverner ◽  
Elliott Cordingley ◽  
Crystal Sun
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
Head Mounted Display ◽  
Sufficient Detail

Abstract Background High quality head-mounted display based virtual reality (HMD-VR) has become widely available, spurring greater development of HMD-VR health games. As a behavior change approach, these applications use HMD-VR and game-based formats to support long-term engagement with therapeutic interventions. While the bulk of research to date has primarily focused on the therapeutic efficacy of particular HMD-VR health games, how developers and researchers incorporate best-practices in game design to achieve engaging experiences remains underexplored. This paper presents the findings of a narrative review exploring the trends and future directions of game design for HMD-VR health games. Methods We searched the literature on the intersection between HMD-VR, games, and health in databases including MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Compendex. We identified articles describing HMD-VR games designed specifically as health applications from 2015 onwards in English. HMD-VR health games were charted and tabulated according to technology, health context, outcomes, and user engagement in game design. Findings We identified 29 HMD-VR health games from 2015 to 2020, with the majority addressing health contexts related to physical exercise, motor rehabilitation, and pain. These games typically involved obstacle-based challenges and extrinsic reward systems to engage clients in interventions related to physical functioning and pain. Less common were games emphasizing narrative experiences and non-physical exercise interventions. However, discourse regarding game design was diverse and often lacked sufficient detail. Game experience was evaluated using primarily ad-hoc questionnaires. User engagement in the development of HMD-VR health games primarily manifested as user studies. Conclusion HMD-VR health games are promising tools for engaging clients in highly immersive experiences designed to address diverse health contexts. However, more in-depth and structured attention to how HMD-VR health games are designed as game experiences is needed. Future development of HMD-VR health games may also benefit from greater involvement of end-users in participatory approaches.

scholarly journals Neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2: current understanding, challenge and perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 285-299
Author(s):  
Yang Huang ◽  
Hui Sun ◽  
Hai Yu ◽  
Shaowei Li ◽  
Qingbing Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Viral Escape ◽  
Global Burden ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Us ◽  
Preclinical And Clinical Studies ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Rapid Emergence

Abstract The rapid emergence of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) as a pandemic that presents an urgent human health crisis. Many SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) were developed with efficient therapeutic potential. NAbs-based therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 are being expedited to preclinical and clinical studies with two antibody drugs, LY3819253 (LY-CoV555) and REGN-COV2 (REGN10933 and REGN10987), approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization for treating COVID-19. In this review, we provide a systemic overview of SARS-CoV-2 specific or cross-reactive NAbs and discuss their structures, functions and neutralization mechanisms. We provide insight into how these NAbs specific recognize the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 or cross-react to other CoVs. We also summarize the challenges of NAbs therapeutics such as antibody-dependent enhancement and viral escape mutations. Such evidence is urgently needed to the development of antibody therapeutic interventions that are likely required to reduce the global burden of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Virotherapy in Germany—Recent Activities in Virus Engineering, Preclinical Development, and Clinical Studies

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1420
Author(s):  
Dirk M. Nettelbeck ◽  
Mathias F. Leber ◽  
Jennifer Altomonte ◽  
Assia Angelova ◽  
Julia Beil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cell ◽  
Targeted Delivery ◽  
Viral Vector ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Therapeutic Proteins ◽  
Cancer Therapeutics ◽  
Cell Killing ◽  
Oncolytic Viruses ◽  
Preclinical Research ◽  
Research Activities

Virotherapy research involves the development, exploration, and application of oncolytic viruses that combine direct killing of cancer cells by viral infection, replication, and spread (oncolysis) with indirect killing by induction of anti-tumor immune responses. Oncolytic viruses can also be engineered to genetically deliver therapeutic proteins for direct or indirect cancer cell killing. In this review—as part of the special edition on “State-of-the-Art Viral Vector Gene Therapy in Germany”—the German community of virotherapists provides an overview of their recent research activities that cover endeavors from screening and engineering viruses as oncolytic cancer therapeutics to their clinical translation in investigator-initiated and sponsored multi-center trials. Preclinical research explores multiple viral platforms, including new isolates, serotypes, or fitness mutants, and pursues unique approaches to engineer them towards increased safety, shielded or targeted delivery, selective or enhanced replication, improved immune activation, delivery of therapeutic proteins or RNA, and redirecting antiviral immunity for cancer cell killing. Moreover, several oncolytic virus-based combination therapies are under investigation. Clinical trials in Germany explore the safety and potency of virotherapeutics based on parvo-, vaccinia, herpes, measles, reo-, adeno-, vesicular stomatitis, and coxsackie viruses, including viruses encoding therapeutic proteins or combinations with immune checkpoint inhibitors. These research advances represent exciting vantage points for future endeavors of the German virotherapy community collectively aimed at the implementation of effective virotherapeutics in clinical oncology.

scholarly journals Cellular and Molecular Players in the Interplay between Adipose Tissue and Breast Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 1359
Author(s):  
Francesca Reggiani ◽  
Paolo Falvo ◽  
Francesco Bertolini
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Metabolic Disorders ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Preclinical Research ◽  
The World ◽  
Adipose Cells

The incidence and severity of obesity are rising in most of the world. In addition to metabolic disorders, obesity is associated with an increase in the incidence and severity of a variety of types of cancer, including breast cancer (BC). The bidirectional interaction between BC and adipose cells has been deeply investigated, although the molecular and cellular players involved in these mechanisms are far from being fully elucidated. Here, we review the current knowledge on these interactions and describe how preclinical research might be used to clarify the effects of obesity over BC progression and morbidity, with particular attention paid to promising therapeutic interventions.

scholarly journals 520. Longitudinal Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Viruses in Hospitalized Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S325-S326
Author(s):  
Lacy Simons ◽  
Ramon Lorenzo-Redondo ◽  
Hannah Nam ◽  
Scott C Roberts ◽  
Michael G Ison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Load ◽  
Genome Sequencing ◽  
Viral Genome ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Viral Loads ◽  
Qrt Pcr ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has been accompanied by the emergence of viral mutations, some of which may have distinct virological and clinical consequences. While whole genome sequencing efforts have worked to map this viral diversity at the population level, little is known about how SARS-CoV-2 may diversify within a host over time. This is particularly important for understanding the emergence of viral resistance to therapeutic interventions and immune pressure. The goal of this study was to assess the change in viral load and viral genome sequence within patients over time and determine if these changes correlate with clinical and/or demographic parameters. Methods Hospitalized patients admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test were enrolled in a longitudinal study for the serial collection of nasopharyngeal specimens. Swabs were administered to patients by hospital staff every 4 ± 1 days for up to 32 days or until the patients were discharged. RNA was extracted from each specimen and viral loads were calculated by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). Specimens with qRT-PCR cycle threshold values less than or equal to 30 were subject to whole viral genome sequencing by reverse transcription, multiplex PCR, and deep sequencing. Variant populations sizes were estimated and subject to phylogenetic analysis relative to publicly available SARS-CoV-2 sequences. Sequence and viral load data were subsequently correlated to available demographic and clinical data. Results 60 patients were enrolled from March 26th to June 20th, 2020. We observed an overall decrease in nasopharyngeal viral load over time across all patients. However, the temporal dynamics of viral load differed on a patient-by-patient basis. Several mutations were also observed to have emerged within patients over time. Distribution of SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in serially collected nasopharyngeal swabs in hospitalized adults as determined by qRT-PCR. Samples were collected every 4 ± 1 days (T#1–8) and viral load is displayed by log(copy number). Conclusion These data indicate that SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in the nasopharynx decrease over time and that the virus can accumulate mutations during replication within individual patients. Future studies will examine if some of these mutations may provide fitness advantages in the presence of therapeutic and/or immune selective pressures. Disclosures Michael G. Ison, MD MS, AlloVir (Consultant)

scholarly journals Genome and Epigenome Editing in Mechanistic Studies of Human Aging and Aging-Related Disease

Gerontology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cia-Hin Lau ◽  
Yousin Suh
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Logic Gate ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Human Aging ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Epigenome Editing ◽  
Related Disease ◽  
Age Related

The recent advent of genome and epigenome editing technologies has provided a new paradigm in which the landscape of the human genome and epigenome can be precisely manipulated in their native context. Genome and epigenome editing technologies can be applied to many aspects of aging research and offer the potential to develop novel therapeutics against age-related diseases. Here, we discuss the latest technological advances in the CRISPR-based genome and epigenome editing toolbox, and provide insight into how these synthetic biology tools could facilitate aging research by establishing in vitro cell and in vivo animal models to dissect genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying aging and age-related diseases. We discuss recent developments in the field with the aims to precisely modulate gene expression and dynamic epigenetic landscapes in a spatial and temporal manner in cellular and animal models, by complementing the CRISPR-based editing capability with conditional genetic manipulation tools including chemically inducible expression systems, optogenetics, logic gate genetic circuits, tissue-specific promoters, and the serotype-specific adeno-associated virus. We also discuss how the combined use of genome and epigenome editing tools permits investigators to uncover novel molecular pathways involved in the pathophysiology and etiology conferred by risk variants associated with aging and aging-related disease. A better understanding of the genetic and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms underlying human aging and age-related disease will significantly contribute to the developments of new therapeutic interventions for extending health span and life span, ultimately improving the quality of life in the elderly populations.

Animal models of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: optimal choices for the best outcomes

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lan Huang ◽  
Fengyan Zhao ◽  
Yi Qu ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
Yan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Small Animal ◽  
Underlying Disease ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy ◽  
Large Animal ◽  
Large Animal Models ◽  
Neurological Research ◽  
Serious Disease ◽  
Ischemic Encephalopathy

AbstractHypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a serious disease leading to neonatal death, is becoming a key area of pediatric neurological research. Despite remarkable advances in the understanding of HIE, the explicit pathogenesis of HIE is unclear, and well-established treatments are absent. Animal models are usually considered as the first step in the exploration of the underlying disease and in evaluating promising therapeutic interventions. Various animal models of HIE have been developed with distinct characteristics, and it is important to choose an appropriate animal model according to the experimental objectives. Generally, small animal models may be more suitable for exploring the mechanisms of HIE, whereas large animal models are better for translational studies. This review focuses on the features of commonly used HIE animal models with respect to their modeling strategies, merits, and shortcomings, and associated neuropathological changes, providing a comprehensive reference for improving existing animal models and developing new animal models.

scholarly journals Animal models of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The term mouse models

2014 ◽  
Vol 307 (12) ◽  
pp. L936-L947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Berger ◽  
Vineet Bhandari
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Lung Injury ◽  
Mouse Models ◽  
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ◽  
Lung Development ◽  
Invasive Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Injury Models

The etiology of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is multifactorial, with genetics, ante- and postnatal sepsis, invasive mechanical ventilation, and exposure to hyperoxia being well described as contributing factors. Much of what is known about the pathogenesis of BPD is derived from animal models being exposed to the environmental factors noted above. This review will briefly cover the various mouse models of BPD, focusing mainly on the hyperoxia-induced lung injury models. We will also include hypoxia, hypoxia/hyperoxia, inflammation-induced, and transgenic models in room air. Attention to the stage of lung development at the timing of the initiation of the environmental insult and the duration of lung injury is critical to attempt to mimic the human disease pulmonary phenotype, both in the short term and in outcomes extending into childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The various indexes of alveolar and vascular development as well as pulmonary function including pulmonary hypertension will be highlighted. The advantages (and limitations) of using such approaches will be discussed in the context of understanding the pathogenesis of and targeting therapeutic interventions to ameliorate human BPD.

scholarly journals MORRIS WATER MAZE – A BENCH MARK TEST FOR LEARNING AND MEMORY DISORDERS IN ANIMAL MODELS: A REVIEW

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Ch Venkataramaiah ◽  
G Swathi ◽  
W Rajendra
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Morris Water Maze ◽  
Water Maze ◽  
Escape Latency ◽  
Bench Mark ◽  
Spatial Learning And Memory ◽  
Preclinical Research ◽  
Escape Route ◽  
Laboratory Rats

 The morris water maze (MWM) was developed by morris as a device to investigate spatial learning and memory in laboratory rats. MWM has become one of the most frequently used laboratory tools in behavioral neuroscience. The MWM task has been often used in the validation of rodent models for neurocognitive disorders (e.g., Parkinson, Alzheimer, Epilepsy, and Schizophrenia), and the evaluation of possible neurocognitive treatments. It is also being used to assess the properties of established potential antipsychotics in animal models of Schizophrenia. The MWM task requires rats to find a hidden platform in a large, circular pool of water that is colored opaque with powdered non-fat milk (or) non-toxic tempera paint where they must swim to the hidden platform. Because they are in the opaque water, the animals cannot see the platform and cannot rely on scent to find the escape route. Instead, they must rely on extra-maze cues. The behavior of rat can be evaluated by analyzing the different parameters such as escape latency, swim speed, and path length, and probe trail. The purpose of this review is to briefly describe procedural aspects, interpretational difficulties of data and advantages of MWM. This paradigm has become a benchmark test for learning and memory difficulties in animal models and preclinical research in general.

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