Estimation of the in vivo neutralization potency of eCD4Ig and conditions for AAV-mediated production for SHIV long-term remission

eCD4Ig has an in vivo IC 50 of 25 μg/ml, and it may induce ART-free virus control if produced continually at 10 5 μg/day or more.

Outsmarting the Virus

Variants in the SARS-CoV-2 virus control infectivity, severity, and immunity. Against this hydra, the best modes of defense are multipronged. John Hewitt takes stock of currently available SARS-CoV-2 therapies; in particular, he notes new combination therapies that strike at the heart of the virus to complement vaccinations and provide a defense the virus cannot outsmart.

Evaluation of antiviral activity of Manuka honey against SARS-CoV-2.

Background and aims: In 2020 a global pandemic was declared caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The pandemic is still ongoing and continues to cause considerable mortality and morbidity world-wide and new variants of the virus are emerging. Rapid development and rollout of vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 is in progress to counter the pandemic but has been tempered by the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, many of which exhibit reduced vaccine effectiveness. To date there is no approved antiviral treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Several studies have shown that Manuka honey has virucidal/antiviral effect. Methylglyoxal (MG), a bioactive component in Manuka honey, has antiviral activity in vitro. MG may modify arginine residues in the functional domains of viral spike and nucleocapsid proteins, resulting in loss of charge, protein misfolding and inactivation. The aim of this study was to characterize the antiviral activity of Manuka honey against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro Materials and methods: Wild-type SARS-CoV-2 with titers of multiplicities of infection (MOI) 0.1 and 0.05 were incubated with 2-fold serial dilutions of 250+ Manuka honey (equivalent to 250 to 31 µM) in infection medium (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium + 2% fetal bovine serum + 100 units/ml penicillin + 100 µg/ml streptomycin) for 3 h. Manuka honey treated and untreated control SARS-CoV-2 was incubated with confluent cultures of Vero cells in vitro for 1 h, cultures washed with phosphate-buffered saline and incubated in fresh infection medium at 37°C for 4 - 5 days until 70% of virus control cells displayed cytopathic effect. We also studied the effect of scavenging MG in Manuka Honey with aminoguanidine (AG; 500 µM) on virucidal activity. The antiviral activity of MG was judged by median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) assays. Data analysis was by logistic regression. TCID50 (mean ± SD) was deduced by interpolation. Results: Diluted Manuka honey inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero cells. SARS-CoV-2 was incubated in diluted Manuka honey in medium at 37°C for 3 h before adding to Vero cells. Manuka honey dilutions down to 125 µM MG equivalents completely inhibited cytopathic effect of SARS-CoV-2 whereas 31.25 µM and 62.5 µM MG equivalents had limited effect. Logistic regression and interpolation of the cytopathic effect indicated that the TCID50 = 72 ± 2 µM MG equivalents for MOI of 0.1. Prior scavenging of MG by addition of AG resulted in virus replication levels equivalent to those seen in the virus control without AG. Conclusion: Manuka honey has antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 when incubated with the virus in cell-free media at no greater than ca. 40-fold dilutions of 250+ grade. Anti-viral activity was inhibited by AG, consistent with the anti-viral effect being mediated by MG. Manuka honey dilutions in MG equivalents had similar antiviral effect compared to authentic MG, also consistent with MG content of Manuka honey mediating the antiviral effect. Whilst Manuka honey may inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in cell-free culture medium, its antiviral activity in vivo for other than topical application may be limited because of the rapid metabolism of MG by the glyoxalase system and limited bioavailability of oral MG.

A Global Perspective on Controlling West Nile Virus Identifying Efficient and Effective Public Health Strategies

West Nile Virus has been an increased concern for many countries over the past couple of decades. We examine West Nile Virus surveillance strategies around the world and identify West Nile Virus control methods in endemic countries and demonstrate their effectiveness and efficiency. Despite the ample amount of research, monitoring and control methods conducted by public health agencies, West Nile Virus remains a continuous health threat to the public. Countries that report West Nile Virus cases are identified and searched for articles and national protocols to explore their strategies in controlling the virus. It is essential to discuss all methods of prevention in a global context and demonstrate the most efficient and effective strategy. Data were collected from published articles on PubMed and governmental websites. All the documents were selected upon descriptive surveillance and control methods in endemic countries. The generated data were identified and compared to Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. Thorough details about West Nile Virus control methods were identified in Canada and the United States, while strategies in the endemic countries are sparse. There is a substantial lack of published data in some endemic countries. Therefore, it is suggested that public health agencies publish the strategies found to be most efficient and effective and share them at an international level. This paper provides reference to public health agencies at a global level to strengthen the interventions in controlling the West Nile Virus.

Tackling the Threat of Rabies Reintroduction in Europe

Rabies is one of the oldest, most important zoonoses worldwide due to its extreme and inevitably lethal nature, causing one death every 9 min worldwide. Recent reports have demonstrated that the Lyssavirus continues more alive than ever, despite the control carried out against the virus throughout Europe. In this context, this work reviews the main immunological implications, transmission risk factors and current prevention measures for virus control in Europe, and especially in Spain.