COVID-19 RNA Based Vaccines and the Risk of Prion Disease

Development of new vaccine technology has been plagued with problems in the past. The current RNA based SARSCoV-2 vaccines were approved in the US using an emergency order without extensive long term safety testing. In this paper the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was evaluated for the potential to induce prion-based disease in vaccine recipients. The RNA sequence of the vaccine as well as the spike protein target interaction were analyzed for the potential to convert intracellular RNA binding proteins TAR DNA binding protein (TDP-43) and Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) into their pathologic prion conformations. The results indicate that the vaccine RNA has specific sequences that may induce TDP-43 and FUS to fold into their pathologic prion confirmations. In the current analysis a total of sixteen UG tandem repeats (ΨGΨG) were identified and additional UG (ΨG) rich sequences were identified. Two GGΨA sequences were found. Potential G Quadruplex sequences are possibly present but a more sophisticated computer program is needed to verify these. Furthermore, the spike protein, created by the translation of the vaccine RNA, binds angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a zinc containing enzyme. This interaction has the potential to increase intracellular zinc. Zinc ions have been shown to cause the transformation of TDP-43 to its pathologic prion configuration. The folding of TDP-43 and FUS into their pathologic prion confirmations is known to cause ALS, front temporal lobar degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological degenerative diseases. The enclosed finding as well as additional potential risks leads the author to believe that regulatory approval of the RNA based vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 was premature and that the vaccine may cause much more harm than benefit.

Global Impact and Implications of Covid-19: Call for Multi-Dimensional Perspectives towards Sustainable Solutions

The COVID-19 pandemic poses an enormous challenge, and it is evidently presenting itself as one of the greatest threats to humanity. The aim of this paper is to review the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global health impact and implications of COVID-19 relative to other recent viral disease outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with the aim to propose the implementation of sustainable solutions. The magnitude of COVID-19 deaths is incomparable to other coronaviruses (CoVs) disease outbreaks experienced in recent history. The high number of deaths observed in developed countries compared to developing countries may have been triggered by the late response/preparedness to the pandemic rather than by the socio-economic statuses. CoVs will remain a serious health threat to humanity due to absence of vaccines and anti-viral treatments. The absence of specific treatment regimens also lead to heavy reliance on chemical disinfectants and could significantly contribute to the rise in AMR, further raising some important questions surrounding hygiene, microbes, ecosystem health and human diseases. The CEASE approach, comprising of five key elements; Communication, Education, Advocacy, Socialization, and Experimentation is proposed for implementation at a global level. CEASE approach is critical especially for African countries and can be used to further explore opportunities that can lead to improvements in sanitation, access to clean water, health care, education and infectious disease surveillance systems.

Borrelia Invasion of Brain Pyramidal Neurons and Biofilm Borrelia Plaques in Neuroborreliosis Dementia with Alzheimer’s Phenotype

Dementia in Lyme borreliosis complex has been reported, mainly in post-mortem studies without available antemortem evidence of active borrelia infection. Blanc in 2014 studied living patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis dementia and several dementia phenotype illnesses including an Alzheimer’s Phenotype. Herein we report an additional case study of a longitudinal evolution of European neuroborreliosis over eight years from tick bite to mild cognitive disease, to advanced dementia to death with a brain Alzheimer’s disease phenotype and concurrent borrelia deposits in brain Alzheimer’s disease sites at autopsy. Intrathecal borrelia specific antibodies were detected by commercial diagnostic laboratories (antemortem). Molecular autopsy tissue imaging was completed with borrelia specific DNA probes and an immunomicroscopic detection histopathology method. Results: Autopsy showed intact spirochetes, fragmented spirochetes, deposits of borrelia-specific proteins inside plaque lesions and inside of neurons, and borrelia DNA deposits in plaque and neuronal sites. Pure Alzheimer’s disease (without Lewy bodies) was a routine neuropathological finding. CSF evidence for a brain compartment immune response is established here. Intrathecal antibodies to infection presented as oligoclonal total CSF IgG bands (n=twelve increase to n=13 bands) and separate borrelia IgG western blot band analysis in cerebrospinal fluids (seven diagnostic borrelia CSF antibody bands). Blood western blot disclosed triple borrelia species infection; burgdorferi European type (eighteen bands), garinii (twelve bands) and afzelii (eighteen bands). Total borrelia IgG antibodies in blood during life were two hundred-fold higher than normal range. Western blot of cerebrospinal fluid prior to death disclosed 7 protein bands which were not represented in simultaneous blood western blot studies, further validating the intrathecal fingerprint of a separate brain compartment immune response to neuroborreliosis infection. Conclusion: Borrelia protein antigenic stimulation of intrathecal borrelia antibodies was caused by resident deposits of spirochetal protein deposits in plaques, in diseased neurons, and in neuropil brain sites, and in intact brain spirochetes. Deposits of borrelia proteins inside neurons and brain phagocytes and in neuropil sites (invasosomes) confirm remnants of chronic brain infection.

Pharmacophore Investigations of Potential COVID-19 RNA Polymerase (Rdrp) Inhibitors: Repurposing FDA-Approved Drugs

Authors: Valentina L. Kouznetsova, Caroline Kellogg, Aidan Zhang, Mahidhar Tatineni, Mark A. Miller, Igor F. Tsigelny Background: SARS-CoV-2 has caused tens of millions of infections worldwide and millions of deaths. Currently, no effective treatment has been identified against the virus. Of its viral proteins, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is a promising target for drug design because of its importance in the replication of the virus. Material and Methods: After the identification of an RdRp pocket site based on the crystal structure of the RdRp– nsp7–nsp8 complex and the triphosphate form of remdesivir (PDB ID: 7BV2), we created a pharmacophore model consisting of 11 different features. These features include two acceptors, three donors, one acceptor and donor, three donor or acceptor, and one hydrophobic; an excluded volume of R=1.1 Å was also added. We then ran a pharmacophore search on our conformational database (DB) of approximately 2500 FDA-approved drugs and 600 000 conformations to identify potential drug-candidates. To determine the drugs that bound the best, we conducted multi conformational docking of these results to the previously identified pocket site. Results: The pharmacophore search found 315 different potential inhibitors of RdRp, of which 85 were chosen based on the number of H-bonds and hydrophobic interactions in the best docking pose. Several of the drugs selected, including ritonavir, dasatinib, imatinib, and sofosbuvir, have previously been shown to be effective against other viruses. Conclusions: These findings highlight compounds that could lead to both in vitro and in vivo studies to identify potential treatments against SARS-CoV-2.

Sexually Transmitted Infections Among College Students

Objective: To review the common types and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among college students. Methods: Conducted a literature search in Google and PubMed, and 33 reports were analyzed on this subject. Results: The highest prevalence of STIs are among college aged students with approximately two thirds of students reporting having sex in the last year; men and women having 14 and 12 sex partners, respectively, on average in college. STIs range from common curable ones like chlamydia to deadly incurable ones like human immunodeficiency virus. Conclusion: Strategies to prevent STIs to help protect not only one’s health, but the health of others, are to limit the number of sex partners, wear a condom, get tested, and receive vaccinations that prevent STIs.

A Rare Cardiovascular Complication of Covid-19, Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy – Review

As the COVID-19 cases are anticipated to rise globally, there may be rise in associated cardiovascular complications. COVID-19 could trigger several cardiomyopathies, including a rare complication of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TCM). It is often presumed that mental trauma, elevated catecholamine’s excessive immune responses, and viral cytotoxicity could be pathways for inducing TCM. Health professionals should be familiar with different cardiovascular complications and appropriate screening tools, which include cardiac ultrasound and bedside echocardiography. In high-risk COVID-19 patients, a simple history of previous psychiatric conditions and some other possible risk factors for the Takotsubo syndrome could assist in screening. Besides, the diagnosis must be considered, and efficient management should be initiated. There can be multiple direct and indirect factors manifesting as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in COVID-19 patients. On other hand, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy may also be observed in the non-COVID-19 patients due to other stressors. Therefore, more extensive research work and further studies are required to learn more about the exact mechanism and relation between Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and COVID-19. Here, we aim to complete a literature review of suspected or known Takotsubo cardiomyopathy related to COVID-19. The main objective of this manuscript is to provide information reported by healthcare providers across the globe on reported comorbidities, potential pathophysiology, and optimal management of stress cardiomyopathy that generally has a favorable outcome.